When it comes to maintaining a healthy smile, patients may hear the terms general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry, but don’t understand their differences. While they both play an important role in oral health, they have different purposes. General dentistry focuses more on preventing, diagnosing, and treating common dental issues, while cosmetic dentistry works to improve how your teeth and gums look.
By understanding the difference, you can make more informed decisions as a patient about your dental care and on choosing a dentist that suits your needs best.
What is General Dentistry?
General dentistry focuses on comprehensive oral health for patients of all ages, including:
- Preventive care: This includes teeth cleanings, regular dental exams, and fluoride treatments.
- Restorative care: Bridges, crowns, fillings, and root canals all repair damage to your teeth.
A general dentist diagnoses, treats, and helps manage different dental conditions, including tooth decay and gum disease. For more complex situations, they may refer you to a specialist like an endodontist or oral surgeon.
With general dentistry, the focus of care is on prevention & treatment, while cosmetic dentistry enhances how the teeth look with teeth whitening, dental bonding, or veneers.
Common General Dentistry Procedures
Common general dentistry procedures include dental exams and cleanings, fillings to repair tooth decay, bridges and crowns to restore damaged teeth, extractions for impacted or severely damaged teeth, or root canal treatment for infected teeth.
Preventive and Diagnostic Procedures
Some of the most popular procedures include:
- Oral Exams and X-rays: A dentist will perform a visual inspection and use X-rays to detect cavities, gum disease, and other dental issues that may not be apparent to the naked eye.
- Dental Cleanings: These professional teeth cleanings remove plaque and tartar buildup to help prevent decay and gum disease.
Popular Cosmetic Procedures
Cosmetic treatments involve procedures that may be involved in a smile makeover, like teeth whitening, veneers, or orthodontic treatments that improve the spacing or look of the teeth, such as braces or Invisalign.
Overlap Between the Two Dentistry Types
However, there is some overlap between the two dentistry types. First, they do share some procedures. Also, they both share goals with improving how a patient can speak, chew, and maintain their oral health. Both dentistry types improve a patient’s confidence to keep their smile looking its best.
The main difference is that a general dentist makes sure your teeth and gums stay healthy, while a cosmetic dentist makes sure they look good while doing exactly that.
Insurance Coverage for General Vs. Cosmetic Dentistry
Dental insurance will cover general dentistry like preventive care and restorative procedures. Because cosmetic dentistry focuses on the appearance of the teeth, it generally is not covered, as it is considered elective and not medically necessary. However, some cosmetic procedures, like repairing a chipped tooth, may be partially covered.
What is Typically Covered?
- Preventive Care: Teeth cleanings, exams, and x-rays.
- Basic Restorative Care: Fillings and tooth extractions for impacted or severely-damaged teeth.
- Major Restorative Care: Crowns, bridges, and implants that replace missing teeth or restore function should be covered.
What is Typically Not Covered
- Elective Cosmetic Procedures: Teeth whitening, cosmetic veneers, and gum contouring are usually excluded from dental coverage as these procedures enhance a smile rather than treat a particular oral health issue.
When Cosmetic Procedures May Be Covered
- Medically Necessary: If a cosmetic procedure is deemed necessary for a functional or health-related purpose.
- Structural Issues: Bonding to repair a chipped or broken tooth, which serves a restorative function, is typically covered.
- Preventing Further Damage: If a cosmetic treatment is needed to protect a compromised tooth or to prevent future issues.
The best way to determine your coverage is to carefully review your policy and ask your dentist to submit a pre-authorization to your insurance provider, which ensures you get approval before treatment begins.
Choosing the Right Dentist
When you’re considering choosing a Boynton Beach dentist, you will want to follow these tips for finding one that will work best for you:
1. Determine Your Needs
- Determine if you have general or cosmetic needs.
- Find a dentist who is close to where you live or work.
2. Gather Information
- Ask your friends, family, or coworkers for recommendations.
- Read reviews to determine patient experiences before scheduling an appointment.
3. Verify Experience
- Review their qualifications, including education, training, and affiliations.
4. Evaluate the Team
- Visit the office for an initial consultation to learn about the doctor, their team, and the office as a whole.
Patient Expectations
When it comes to cosmetic dentistry, there are some common expectations that most patients have:
- Noticeable appearance improvement: Patients expect their teeth to be straighter or whiter, depending on their goals.
- Natural-looking results: Subtle enhancements are usually desired.
- Quick treatment: Patients expect faster results with minimal discomfort.
- Improved confidence: Their new smile not only improves how a smile looks, but also a patient’s self-esteem.
Cosmetic Dentistry In Boynton Beach
When you’re considering cosmetic dentistry to make your smile look better than ever, schedule a consultation at Eriks Dental Group to discuss smile makeover procedures. Our dental team listens to your goals and creates a custom treatment plan that will help you achieve your dream smile in no time.
To schedule an appointment to discuss cosmetic dentistry, call our Boynton Beach dental office at 561-733-4004 today.