Comparing Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry: Advantages of Cosmetic Dentistry
October 10, 2024 
The terms “cosmetic dentistry” and “restorative dentistry” are often used interchangeably. One reason is that they share most of the problems they address, ranging from missing or broken teeth to discoloration. On that note, they more or less use the same solutions, from veneers to dental implants.
However, that’s where their similarities end. Even though these two utilize the same dental methods, the circumstances in which the disciplines use them differ. That’s what this post aims to discuss in detail: what the differences between cosmetic and restorative dentistry are and when one is more suitable than the other.
What is Cosmetic Dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry is a specialized discipline of dentistry that focuses on improving the appearance of teeth. Given that a person’s teeth are visible during social interactions, it’s sensible for them to seek cosmetic dentistry in New Albany to make them appealing.
Becoming a cosmetic dentist requires a Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctorate of Dental Medicine (DMD), which is the degree conferred for completing dental school. This means that a cosmetic dentist can practice general dentistry. While general dentists can perform cosmetic dentistry, formal training in the latter is more reassuring to patients.
Nevertheless, the advantage of a cosmetic dentist is that they’re qualified to practice both cosmetic and general dentistry. Such flexibility means a patient with chipped natural teeth can ask for repairs and, if recommended, veneers or crowns. Also, as discussed in a previous post not long ago, cosmetic dentistry can enhance overall health.
What is Restorative Dentistry?
Restorative dentistry is another specialized dental field that’s concerned with restoring the normal function of teeth, mainly by repairing or replacing damaged or missing teeth. This is what’s confusing as you can argue that, by extension, a cosmetic dentist can also do this.
That said, restorative dentistry leans on the essential side whereas cosmetic dentistry is elective. Appearance and functionality are two distinct aspects, and in this case, people can still have working natural teeth even if they might not look appealing. Additionally, restorative dentistry services tend to be more affordable as they’re key to keeping good overall oral health.
The path to becoming a restorative dentist is the same as to becoming a cosmetic dentist: get a DDS or DMD degree and take a specialization course. One advantage that restorative dental professionals have over their cosmetic counterparts is that their knowledge is more focused. An aching tooth will more likely be up a restorative dentist’s alley than that of a cosmetic one.
Comparing Their Services
To better understand the difference between the two disciplines, we have to compare the services they generally offer. We know that they share similar services, so let’s weigh in on the cosmetic and functional benefits they bring.
| Service | Cosmetic Benefit | Functional Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Teeth whitening | As the term suggests, teeth whitening colors your teeth several shades of white. As most people are used to the image of white teeth, this makes for a healthy smile. | Other than mental health benefits such as boosting self-confidence, making teeth much whiter doesn’t enhance their function in any way. |
| Dental veneers | They have better resistance to staining than the natural teeth they cover. They can also cover unsightly gaps and cracks on teeth, which contributes to a healthy smile. | Dental veneers provide limited protection from infection by shielding gaps and cracks from infection. They’re also less costly than crowns and dental implants. |
| Dental crowns | Their benefits are similar to veneers but with the added benefit of a full enclosure, which enables discolored teeth to blend in with the rest of the healthy ones. | The full enclosure dental crowns protect damaged and weak teeth from the pressure exerted by biting and wear and tear from bruxism or teeth grinding. |
| Dental fillings | Fillings can be formulated to blend in with the teeth’s natural hue. Alternatively, some people go for bolder options like gold to make their teeth really stand out. | Fillings are a cost-effective measure for repairing teeth that aren’t damaged to the point of needing to remove or replace them with dental implants. |
| Dental implants | They fill in for permanent teeth that are lost to dental disease or tooth extraction. The sight of a complete set of teeth can be impressive in any social setting. | Dental fillings fill in for missing or lost teeth, reducing the risk of bacteria eating away at healthy teeth from the gaps. Also, as artificial teeth, they can’t decay. |
| Dental cleaning | Thorough removal of plaque and particles can result in a cleaner-looking set of teeth. It can also remove stains, though not necessarily lead to whiter teeth. | Routine cleaning mitigates the risk of developing caries and other dental and gum diseases. It’s also a crucial step in spotting diseases before they worsen. |
Cosmetic and restorative dentistry procedures have reasonable cosmetic and functional benefits, except for teeth whitening which is purely cosmetic. While it’s easy to think that our pearly whites should be, well, pearly white, it’s also worth knowing that off-white teeth aren’t necessarily signs of poor dental health (unless caused by plaque buildup).
Cosmetic dentistry is at a slight advantage in this case, as it has slightly more to offer. Although tooth whitening doesn’t bring any functional benefit, it also doesn’t have any drawback provided it’s done properly.
Who Should I Visit?
The good news is that cosmetic and restorative dentists are trained in general dentistry, so picking one dental professional over the other has little to no consequence. That being said, there are caveats.
If your primary concern is to maintain proper eating habits, restorative or general dentists will meet your needs. You can be confident in their more focused knowledge on dental and oral health.
On the other hand, if you’re worried about how you look to others with your teeth, seeing a cosmetic dentist is the more prudent choice. Apart from their general dentistry expertise, a cosmetic dentist also applies relevant insight on dental procedures. They can help choose whether a veneer or crown is best for your chipped, cracked, or broken teeth, among other things.
