What's the Difference Between Dallas General Dentistry and Cosmetic Work?

Today you can often find many cosmetic procedures that are provided by your family dentist. A good zoom whitening can take years off your appearance since yellow teeth can often age a person's face. Most dentists offer this service and it's very safe and fast. In fact, it’s much safer than the products you buy at the supermarket.

Other cosmetic procedures may be able to be performed at a Dallas general dentistry practice, but not all. Cosmetic work is part skill and part art form, and a dentist needs to study and train for many months and even years to develop this skill. They also need to be up to date on the latest procedures offered and the best products to use to accomplish the look you want.

Let’s take a look at how a general dentist is different than a cosmetic dentist so you know when it's good to see a dentist skilled in cosmetic work rather than relying on your family dentist.

Cleanings and Exams

Obviously you would choose Dallas general dentistry for things like routine cleanings and exams. They will take X-rays and discover whether or not you have cavities developing or if you're losing enamel due to acid erosion or another cause. For procedures like root canals or extractions, you would also choose a general dentist.

Your general dentist may also offer other procedures, such as whitening or some minor bonding work. Bonding will sometimes address undersized teeth or make crooked teeth appear straighter. However, a general dentist’s skill set for cosmetic work usually stops there. If you want to address crooked, broken, chipped, grossly undersized, or missing teeth, you may need a cosmetic dentist in Dallas. They will have the knowhow and the experience needed to correct these problems for you.

Cosmetic Work

When you need cosmetic work done, you need a cosmetic dentist. In Dallas, these professionals will have more experience and skill in the procedures that you need to get your perfect smile. These procedures may include veneers, which are used to cover chipped, broken teeth or undersized teeth. Veneers are like bonding in that they are applied to the base of a tooth and then built up so it looks like you have a new tooth. This can make undersized teeth look normal and make crooked teeth look as if they are in line.

Severely chipped, cracked or missing teeth can be replaced by a tooth implant, which is typically offered by a cosmetic dentist. This is a permanent false tooth that literally screws into your gum line. It too needs to be shaped and molded so it resembles your normal teeth.

When you're not sure of the extent of the cosmetic work you need done, it's good to rely on a cosmetic dentist. This will allow you to get the work done by a professional with the best experience. Your everyday dentist is good for maintenance work, but cosmetic work should be left to a cosmetic dentist.