There are more technical names floating around now than ever before. For instance, have you heard the term “cosmetic dentist”? Cosmetic dentists have been around for awhile, but now more than ever people are starting to throw the phrase around. The average person isn’t even sure what a cosmetic dentist is, much less how they differ from a regular dentist. So what is the difference between your average Austin dentist and a cosmetic dentist? As it turns out, there is a lot of difference between the two!
A Regular Dentist
Most of us know what to expect from a visit to a regular dentist. We know that a dentist works to keep our teeth clean and healthy. The average person visits a dentist twice a year to have cleanings done, and occasionally they may need to visit a bit more often, if they need to have fillings filled in or something else similar done. A dentist can do a large number of things for your teeth aside from cleanings, however, such as root canals, fillings, extractions, and various other details. One of the biggest things to remember about a regular dentists office is that you will find dental services there that related to the health of your teeth first. Dentists are first concerned with the health of your teeth, not the look of them. That’s why a dentist may recommend that you have an extraction done instead of a root canal, or why they would be unconcerned with whether teeth were perfectly straight or not as long as you could chew adequately.
Cosmetic Dentist
A cosmetic dentist, on the other hand, is worried about looks first and functionality second. Most cosmetic dentists will look into making sure that the teeth are functional, but they do so much more than a traditional dentist does. If your teeth are stained, for instance, an Austin cosmetic dentist may offer to whiten your teeth for you. White teeth have absolutely nothing to do with functionality, but it does have to do with how your teeth look. Most regular dentists do not offer teeth whitening. Then there are veneers. Almost all cosmetic dentists offer to put on veneers, which are a thin piece of material that go over your existing teeth to give your smile the look of being perfect without you actually having to go through serious orthodontic treatment. While the veneer doesn’t alter the functionality of your mouth, it does alter the look, which is why you would visit an Austin cosmetic dentist for this type of procedure instead of visiting a traditional dentist.
When you’re looking for a dentist, and are trying to decide between going to a cosmetic dentist or a traditional dentist, think first about what needs you have. If you simply need to have your teeth cleaned, then go for the traditional dentist. If, however, you’re looking to get more services than that, then you may want to look for a cosmetic dentist office that can serve you.
About the Author: Bobby Milton has worked in the dental industry for over 20 years and writes and lectures on many different dental topics
