What is The Difference Between a Dentist and a Cosmetic Dentist?
When you are looking for a dental professional to help you take care of your teeth, it’s not unusual to come across some practices that offer general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, or even both. That makes you wonder - is there any real difference between general or family dentistry and cosmetic dentistry? While there is some overlap, there are specific differences you should understand. Here are some examples to keep in mind.
The Education and Training
All dentists must go through training at accredited dental schools before they can practice. The goal is to ensure they all know how to manage basic dental care for their patients and take care of the more common issues that arise. Cosmetic dentists receive the same and education as other types of dentists, plus additional training focused specifically on areas involving restorative or corrective dental surgery.
This overlap in education is one of the reasons some people are confused about the differences between family or general dentists and those who practice cosmetic dentistry. They share a measure of training, but the cosmetic dentist goes on to secure more specialized training in preparation for his or her career.
The Main Focus of the Practice
The typical general or family dentist is focused on promoting basic dental hygiene, diagnosing and repairing problems like cavities, tooth extractions, and similar basics. The general dentist invests a lot of effort in basic teeth maintenance and support. This is important, since a dentist serves as the front line of defense when it comes to promoting dental health.
A Markham cosmetic dentist may leave all the basic care and maintenance to a general dentist. The focus is more on employing procedures designed to improve the appearance of the teeth. That means spending more time with patients who need help with teeth straightening, whitening, or replacing missing or damaged teeth with partial dentures, full sets of dentures, or dental implants.
Read more: Why Is It Important to Get Teeth Cleaned?
The Types of Patients the Dentist Will See
A family dentist is likely to accept patients of all ages. A general dentist may focus on pediatric or adult dentistry. There may even be an emphasis on dentistry for the elderly.
In most cases, a dental professional who is part of a cosmetic dental clinic will see patients based on the type of procedure they are seeking and whether the patient is old enough to undergo that procedure. For example, the cosmetic dentist would certainly see a younger patient who had been in an accident and needed some type of reconstructive surgery to restore his or her appearance. At the same time, a person of the same age who wanted crowns might not be old enough for that type of procedure.
Keep in mind that if your dentist does not have the training to perform a certain kind of cosmetic procedure, a referral to a qualified cosmetic dental expert will be provided. In both instances, the goal of these professionals is to ensure that you receive the type of care needed in the most timely manner possible.
Read more: Why You Should Consider a Dental Implant Procedure at This Markham Dentist
See what our patients are saying:
Everyone here is very friendly and provides excellent care. I received a full exam on my first visit, and everyone took time to answer my questions and ensured I felt comfortable the entire time - exactly what you want when visiting the dentist. I highly recommend Markham Smile Centre for anyone looking for great dental care.
There is an ample parking space before you get into the office. The receptionists welcome us friendly with proper COVID-19 procedures in place. The staff worked with patient very patiently and professionally. My teeth cleaning was done by Ying, she explained every detail to me and I did not feel any pain or uncomfortable at all. Thanks to the best team !
It's been a while since I've been to a dentist but I'm trying to get back on track with health in general. Overall it was great going to Markham Smile Centre! The receptionist (I believe she was Kim) was friendly. The hygienist, Ying, was attentive and gentle during the cleaning; x-ray tech (forgot her name, sorry!) was great too. Dr. Sara Riad explained things with good detail. Looking forward to going back!
I was someone who was nervous and anxious about visiting the dentist, but the team at Markham Smile Centre has made me feel SO comfortable. Kim is so patient and helpful and Dr. Hwang and Rory are both so professional and wonderful. They thoroughly explain the procedure to make you comfortable beforehand and are very gentle. I now look forward to visiting the dentist!
I found this place on a whim when I was looking for a new dentist in Markham. My hygienist ying was super nice and her cleaning was very gentle yet thorough. I saw Dr.Jason and he was very nice and informative in regards to what needs to be done and provided me with all the information I needed to make a choice. Would recommend this place to anyone looking for a new dentist, they’re accepting new patients!!
I have been to many dentists in my life, Dr. Jason is easily the best dentist I have ever been too. He does everything he can to make you comfortable no matter the procedure and is a true professional, as does all the staff at Markham Smile Centre. Truly an amazing dentistry
The clinic was clean and the staff was very polite. I particularly liked the fact that everything was explained to me before going in for the procedure so I knew what to expect at each step. The dental hygienist who did the cleaning for me was also very gentle and took my concerns into consideration. I will definitely recommend them.
Upon arriving to the Markham Smile Centre, my son and I were greeted with a warm welcome by the receptionists. The hygienists and Dentist were very gentle and transparent with what they were doing. The hygienist that worked on my 9 year old son was patient and very friendly with him, which helped ease his nerves. Our overall experience was A+.
Since I was little, I have always hated going to the dentist... Its always uncomfortable and unpleasant. These days, visiting the dentist isn’t so bad! Dr Jason, Rory, and the lovely staff at reception make the experience 100x better. I have had absolutely no issues with the gum graft and cleanings that I’ve gotten done here. Everyone is incredibly friendly and helpful, even when I’m calling in or emailing a hundred questions :). I would highly recommend Markham Smile Centre.
Love this place! All the staffs are friendly and Professional and I mean all, cause I've been to most of their office, Markham , Stouffville, North York, and Maple. Dr. Ko is very professional and patient. Whenever I have questions and concerns he would always reply me . I would say this this dental office take care of you all the way. I would highly recommend everyone to come here for any dental works. =)