Understanding the Differences Between Cosmetic & General Dentistry

by | Apr 17, 2013 | Dental

There are many reasons why you should visit your dentist in order to improve your smile. Most people choose to visit the dentist only when required and even then, they are reluctant to set up the appointment. Some of the common reasons for visiting your dentist are to clean your teeth, take care of any problem areas such as cavities and staining, and catching any serious medical problems in their early stages. However, there is also a field of dentistry that provides services to make your smile more attractive. If you were more interested in straightening or whitening up your teeth than a cosmetic dentist in Annapolis would be an option for you. Here are some of the comparisons and differences between general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry.

General Dentistry
The first type of dentistry, which you may receive, is known as general dentistry; this type of dentistry is the treatment, management, coordination, and diagnosis of all services for your oral health. Some examples of services provided include gum care, bridges, veneers, and preventive education.

Cosmetic Dentistry
There is also a form of dentistry known as cosmetic dentistry. This type of dentistry covers pretty much anything that general dentistry does not including implants, reshaping, veneers, and whitening of the teeth. A cosmetic dentist Annapolis will be able to provide you with the information needed to determine which services are required to provide you with a perfect smile.

Main Differences
As you can see, there are several main differences between general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry. The main differences include general dentistry focusing on the care of your gums and teeth; they spend their time helping you to repair, avoid, and prevent any damage done on your teeth so that your smile will last through many more years. This type of dentistry is what you usually experience when you go in for your six-month checkups. Cosmetic dentistry on the other hand focus more on providing you with an attractive smile. Some of the services that they provide include teeth whitening and teeth straightening. Since both types of dentistry involve working with the teeth and mouth, you will often find a general dentist also working as a cosmetic dentist in Annapolis; dentists can choose to work in both specialties.

Sedation Methods
Sedation is available for those who harbor fears of visiting the dentist. Those who have had horrible experiences at the dentist, have trouble numbing properly with other methods, have difficult dental problems or experience gag reflexes that are uncontrollable may benefit from the use of sedation while at the dentist. You can speak with your dentist to determine if sedation methods are beneficial for you and discuss possible sedation methods, which are available.

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