For patients seeking out dental care solutions for their teeth, cosmetic dentistry provides a wide variety of dental procedures, including teeth whitening, veneers, and more to help their patients. However, some general dentists work with cosmetic dental procedures and offer cosmetic dentistry at their practices, which can confuse patients wanting to get proper tooth restorations. So, is it wise to visit a general dentist for cosmetic dentistry? Can any dentist perform cosmetic services? We’re here to explore the topic further and help you decide which type of dentist is right for you. 

Can A General Dentist Perform Cosmetic Dentistry?

In short, yes. A general dentist can perform cosmetic services, but it can sometimes benefit patients better to seek out a dentist that surrounds their careers in cosmetic dentistry rather than as an add-on service to their practice. This is because cosmetic and general dentists serve two completely different needs and offer different services to patients based on their oral health. To better understand this, it’s important to look at what training’s required and how general and cosmetic dentists perform the same procedures with different goals in mind. 

General dentistry refers to someone who diagnoses and treats a patient’s oral healthcare needs. They focus on health-related topics such as tooth care, oral hygiene, gum care, tooth pain, and preventative education. They require doctoral degrees to perform procedures and must be licensed within their state through residency programs to become specialized. 

In a similar way, cosmetic dentists must also complete a doctoral degree and participate in accredited programs that focus on cosmetic dentistry. They must also complete a postgraduate cosmetic, aesthetic, or restorative dentistry program to specialize in their chosen field completely. 

Not only do their credentials differ from each other, but what they focus on differs as well. General dentists will typically focus on restorative treatments that handle the initial problem, such as a broken tooth or a missing tooth, to aid in restoring their patient’s oral health. They’ll typically provide services such as: 

• Fillings
• Dental Crowns
• Tooth Extractions
• Dental Implants
• Braces

Cosmetic dentists, on the other hand, will focus on providing a wide selection of restorative options to improve their patient’s oral health and appearance. Their specialization in cosmetic treatments makes them a preferred choice for those seeking to improve their smile through aesthetics. Some services that cosmetic dentists provide include: 

• Teeth Whitening
• Teeth Bonding
• Porcelain Veneers
• Porcelain Crowns
• Smile Makeovers
• Dental Implants
• Dental Bridges
• Dentures and Partial Dentures
• Full Mouth Rehabilitations/Reconstructions

For patients looking for a quick fix without much issue, a general dentist can provide them with the necessary services and offer some cosmetic dental procedures. However, patients looking to improve their smile through drastic measures should visit a cosmetic dentist for more aesthetic-driven services, such as full mouth reconstructions, teeth whitening, and porcelain veneers. 

Visit Smile Solutions To Find a Wide Range of Cosmetic Services Today!

At Smile Solutions, you can speak with dentists that care about your oral health and appearance and provide cosmetic services that solve your problems. Under the care of Dr. Robert Berg, our team can provide cosmetic dental services in Garden City South, NY, for all of our patients. Contact us today by calling (516) 872-8780 today!