Preventive, Restorative, and Cosmetic Dentistry: An Overview

When you think about going to the dentist, what sorts of things come to mind? For many, a trip to the dentist involves little more than a routine cleaning and exam. For others, it means getting cavities filled or a root canal done. Some go to dentists to have their teeth whitened or to have veneers applied. All of these different treatments fall into one of three categories: preventive, restorative, or cosmetic dentistry.

Preventive Dentistry

Preventive dentistry focuses on preventing the problems and diseases that can plague the mouth. Preventive dentistry is for everyone because everyone benefits from care that prevents problems and illness. This type of care includes your routine dental cleanings, exams, checkups, x-rays, and ozone therapy. When combined with your own efforts to properly and thoroughly brush and floss your teeth, it’s quite effective at preventing problems like tooth decay and gum disease.

Restorative Dentistry

Sometimes oral health is compromised. This may be due to oral disease or simply damage suffered as a result of dental trauma. When this happens, restorative dentistry steps in to fix what has been damaged and to restore the health and beauty of the teeth. Restorative dentistry procedures include things like fillings, root canals, crowns, bridges, dentures, laser treatment, orthodontics, implants, and gum disease treatments. Once treatment has been completed, you’ll need to be diligent in caring for your teeth to prevent problems from returning.

Cosmetic Dentistry

If you want a more beautiful smile, cosmetic dentistry is the way to go. Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance of the teeth by altering their shape, color, and alignment. There is some overlap between restorative and cosmetic dentistry in terms of the procedures. Crowns, bridges, implants, fillings, dentures, and orthodontics can qualify as cosmetic dentistry as well as restorative. Other procedures like whitening, recontouring, and veneers tend to fall more squarely in the cosmetic dentistry category.

Understanding the different types of dentistry can make it easier to figure out how to get the sort of treatment you need. You wouldn’t go to a dentist who focuses solely on restorative dentistry if you wanted ozone therapy for preventive purposes. Of course, you could also go to an office like South Temple Dental. Our selection of comprehensive dental services means that you don’t have to look anywhere else to get the oral care you need.

Curious about the services we offer? Click here to learn how South Temple Dental can help you today!