harmony patient asks difference between restorative and cosmetic dentistry

One question patients love to ask us is, “What’s the difference between cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry?” It’s a great question! While there’s some overlap between the two disciplines, understanding the distinctions can help you determine the best path to achieve your ideal smile. Many patients undergo both restorative and cosmetic procedures as part of an overall treatment plan, but each serves a unique purpose in dental care.

Main Differences Between Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry

Is it restorative or cosmetic? This can be a difficult question to answer – especially when so many restorative dental treatments have cosmetic benefits and vice versa. Here are a few ways to think about it.

Goal of Treatment

Restorative dentistry is primarily focused on repairing and restoring the function of your teeth and oral structures. These functions may also be essential for maintaining oral health and ensuring you can chew, speak, and smile comfortably.

Cosmetic dentistry’s main goal is to enhance the appearance of your smile. It deals with aesthetics like tooth color, alignment, and overall appearance.

Urgency of Need

Restorative dentistry often addresses issues like cavities, missing teeth, or damaged teeth or oral structures. With these issues, we suggest treatment sooner rather than later as they can worsen the longer they’re left unresolved.

With cosmetic dentistry, if you put off treatment, there will generally be no long-term consequences.

Insurance Coverage

Restorative dentistry is often covered by dental insurance plans since treatments are essential for oral health. Cosmetic dentistry usually is not covered by insurance.

What Does Restorative Dentistry Do?

A restorative dentist specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions that affect the functionality of your teeth and gums. If you’re experiencing discomfort, difficulty chewing, or have missing or damaged teeth, a restorative dentist can help return your mouth to a healthy state. Their expertise requires a deep understanding of dental anatomy and proficiency in various procedures to repair and strengthen your teeth.

Common restorative dentistry procedures include:

What Does Cosmetic Dentistry Do?

A cosmetic dentist focuses on enhancing the appearance of your teeth and smile. If you’re self-conscious about discoloration, gaps, misalignment, or other aesthetic concerns, cosmetic dentistry can offer solutions to transform your smile. Their work requires an artistic eye and expertise in the latest cosmetic techniques to deliver natural-looking results.

Cosmetic dentistry procedures include:

Does Harmony Family Dentistry Specialize in Cosmetic or Restorative Dental Services?

At Harmony Family Dentistry, we specialize in both cosmetic and restorative dental services. But the bottom line is, regardless of which techniques we use or what you call it, we specialize in helping you achieve a smile you’ll love.

Ready to embark on a journey to a healthier, more confident smile? Call us today to schedule a consultation.

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