Cosmetic dentistry is the type of dental care you need when you want to improve the appearance of your smile. Orthodontics, on the other hand, is a type of specialized dental care focused on improving the position of the teeth and jaw to overcome an inadequate bite. Both orthodontics and aesthetic dentistry work with the teeth to achieve a more aesthetic and pleasant smile. However, there may be some confusion about what exactly each branch of dentistry entails and the difference between the two. Orthodontists specialize in correcting dental irregularities.
They may be consulted to help with misaligned or crooked teeth, an insufficient bite, or a crowded mouth. An aesthetic dentist, meanwhile, deals directly with the teeth, their aesthetics and feel, as well as how they work in the mouth. You can consult a cosmetic dentist for veneers to treat stained or golden teeth, for example. A cosmetic dentist has the same basic training as a general dentist. They can perform all necessary procedures that a general dentist can do, such as x-rays, dental cleaning, and other fundamental techniques.
Both general and aesthetic dentists can fill cavities and add bridges, crowns and veneers. They can also apply braces and perform other restorative procedures. Although both work with teeth, aesthetic dentists and orthodontists are not the same. Each has specific skills to help patients get the smile they deserve and address problems that have been plaguing them. Orthodontists focus on correcting dental irregularities while cosmetic dentists are trained in the latest procedures and innovative techniques to help improve the appearance of your smile, focusing on surface problems rather than structural changes in the mouth. Jason Smithson is an internationally renowned cosmetic and reconstructive dentist, formerly from London's Harley Street Medical District, and now resides in St Agnes, Cornwall, where he offers dental services, dental education and medico-legal expert witnesses.
Miller is an experienced clinical and cosmetic dentist who will be happy to help you and your family recover healthy and attractive teeth. If you have spaces between your teeth, a cosmetic dentist can use veneers to cover them and help you achieve a perfect smile in just a few visits. All other aesthetic problems such as color, tone, shape or even damage to the teeth can only be solved with a cosmetic procedure. For example, if a tooth was chipped or broken during an accident, a cosmetic dentist can repair the damage or use porcelain crowns to cover it. When considering improving your smile or straightening your child's teeth, ask your dentist if adding braces or any type of cosmetic dentistry (veneers or adhesives) to the treatment plan might not improve results. A cosmetic dentist will focus on what your teeth will look like next and can use a composite filling to match the color of your teeth.
If you want to whiten your smile or transform a malformed tooth, seek guidance from a cosmetic dentist who can design a plan to help you recover your smile. A dentist can treat many of the same problems as an orthodontist but usually they will place more cosmetically pleasing braces or aligners.
