Dental care is multi-faceted. It’s no wonder that many people mistakenly interchange restorative dentistry and cosmetic dentistry. Both approaches can help you maintain a healthy, beautiful smile. But they vary in achieving this. Are you curious about restorative and cosmetic treatments and how they might apply to you? Read on to find out the differences between restorative dentistry and cosmetic dentistry.
How Restorative Dentistry Can Help You
Restorative dentistry can be either preventative or corrective. This field of dentistry diagnoses problems and fixes them. Its focus is on oral health by providing dental repair treatments. It aims to save the teeth and keep a healthy and fully functioning mouth. Restorative dentists repair damaged teeth, restore missing parts of the tooth, or replace missing teeth. Some of the most common restorative solutions include the use of:
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Fixed Bridges.
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Dental Surgery.
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Bite Adjustment.
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Dental Implants.
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Porcelain Crowns.
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Tooth Extractions.
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Inlays and Onlays.
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Root Canal Therapy.
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Dentures and Braces.
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Tooth-Colored Dental Fillings.
When You Might Need Cosmetic Dentistry
Unlike restorative treatments, cosmetic dentistry is centered more on the aesthetic appeal of your smile. The goal is to enhance the color, shape, size, and alignment of your teeth. It also helps to improve the look of your gums and bite. It’s ever-popular among models, celebrities, newscasters, and other professions where appearance is essential. Aside from teeth-whitening treatments, cosmetic dentistry may include:
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Veneers.
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Gum Lift.
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Invisalign®.
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Fixed Bridges.
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Tooth Bonding.
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Dental Implants.
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Bite Adjustment.
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Tooth Reshaping.
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Porcelain Crowns.
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Inlays and Onlays.
Can They Overlap?
Yes. Both dental care approaches can work together to achieve the best smile. Restorative work generally comes first before a cosmetic procedure can start. Your teeth and gums have to be in good health before cosmetic treatment can take place. For example, if you have a missing tooth because of tooth decay or injury, you will need a dental implant. This is generally a form of restorative dentistry treatment. Once your implant is in place, your dentist will shape and color it to match the rest of your smile. Achieving to restore a beautiful, natural-looking smile is part of cosmetic dentistry.
Simply put, restorative dentistry will be ready to help if your teeth aren’t functioning well for whatever reason. On the other hand, cosmetic dentistry will be your best friend if you’re concerned about how your smile looks.
If you’re unsure what type of procedures you need, visit Orange Door Dental Group and speak with our experts. We will be happy to assess your oral conditions and make recommendations to give you your perfect smile. We provide restorative and cosmetic dentistry solutions for a lifetime of perfect smiles for our patients. We generally carry out the restorative part first. This way, we can fix any oral health problems you have and lay down the foundation. We will then apply cosmetic treatments to improve the aesthetic of your smile. Call our office in Elkhart or Warsaw, Indiana, today to schedule your consultation.
