{"id":74,"date":"2023-02-24T17:31:06","date_gmt":"2023-02-24T17:31:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.flowermoundsmiles.com\/blog\/?p=74"},"modified":"2023-02-24T17:31:08","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T17:31:08","slug":"general-vs-cosmetic-dentist-whats-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.flowermoundsmiles.com\/blog\/general-vs-cosmetic-dentist-whats-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Choose a Cosmetic Dentist?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-75 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flowermoundsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/dentist-5-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"Smiling woman in dentist\u2019s chair\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flowermoundsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/dentist-5-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.flowermoundsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/dentist-5-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.flowermoundsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/dentist-5-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.flowermoundsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/dentist-5-1536x1020.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.flowermoundsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/dentist-5-2048x1360.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>If you\u2019re ready to love the smile you see in the mirror, your first step is to find a dentist to revamp your pearly whites. Although you\u2019ll find many reputable dentists, not all have undergone advanced training in aesthetic services. Here\u2019s why you should consider investing in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flowermoundsmiles.com\/cosmetic-dentistry.html\">cosmetic dentist<\/a> instead of going to a general practice.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">General VS Cosmetic Dentist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A general dentist focuses on the prevention and treatment of common dental problems. They provide specific skills to address pain and discomfort while preserving a patient\u2019s oral health and functions. A general practice offers a variety of services, like fillings, root canal therapy, tooth extractions, and dental prosthetics.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A cosmetic dentist differs because their primary goal is to enhance the way your teeth look. They perform many treatments to improve the color, size, shape, and alignment of your teeth, like tooth-colored fillings, porcelain veneers, and all-ceramic dental crowns.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Options for a Beautiful Smile<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You have more options than ever before to address common aesthetic issues. Your cosmetic dentist will examine your mouth and learn more about your goals to recommend procedures that can meet your needs, like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Porcelain Veneers:<\/strong> A veneer is a customized restoration applied to the front side of a tooth. Bonding them to the teeth visible when smiling can address many flaws simultaneously, like stains, chips, and gaps.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Metal-Free Dental Restorations:<\/strong> Tooth-colored materials are used for fillings, crowns, and other restorations to create natural-looking results. Although they are metal free, they are durable to last for many years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Teeth Whitening:<\/strong> A professional whitening system can treat surfaces and age-related stains by up to 8 shades. You can benefit from drastic, lasting results for a brighter smile.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Invisalign:<\/strong> Clear aligners are worn over your teeth to fix bite and alignment issues. It\u2019s a discreet, comfortable alternative to brackets and wires.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gum Recontouring: <\/strong>A soft tissue laser is used to sculpt the gum line. It\u2019s a minimally invasive option to treat a gummy smile or to make teeth look proportionate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Smile Makeover:<\/strong> Specific treatments are used to fix many imperfections to provide significant results.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Certain dental offices offer smile design technology, which allows you to see the changes your dentist will make. You\u2019ll know exactly what your new smile will look like before committing to anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Invest in a Picture-Perfect Smile<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Cosmetic dentistry is a big investment, but with the right dentist by your side, you can turn the smile of your dreams into reality. Besides reviewing the dentist\u2019s services, learn more about their training and qualifications. Choose a dentist that is a member of various professional organizations, like the American Academy of General Dentistry. You\u2019ll have peace of mind knowing you\u2019re making the best choice for a beautiful smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About Dr. Lauri Barge<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flowermoundsmiles.com\/meet-dr-lauri-barge.html\">Dr. Barge<\/a> earned her dental degree at Texas A&amp;M College of Dentistry and has completed advanced training in cosmetic dentistry at the Las Vegas Institute. She is a proud member of many professional associations, including the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the American Dental Association. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flowermoundsmiles.com\/request-an-appointment.html\">Request an appointment<\/a> through our website or call (972) 777-6687.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re ready to love the smile you see in the mirror, your first step is to find a dentist to revamp your pearly whites. Although you\u2019ll find many reputable dentists, not all have undergone advanced training in aesthetic services. Here\u2019s why you should consider investing in a cosmetic dentist instead of going to a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>General VS Cosmetic Dentist: What&#039;s the Difference?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you\u2019re ready to improve your smile, here\u2019s why you should choose a cosmetic dentist instead of a general practice.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flowermoundsmiles.com\/blog\/general-vs-cosmetic-dentist-whats-the-difference\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"General VS Cosmetic Dentist: What&#039;s the Difference?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you\u2019re ready to improve your smile, here\u2019s why you should choose a cosmetic dentist instead of a general practice.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.flowermoundsmiles.com\/blog\/general-vs-cosmetic-dentist-whats-the-difference\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Lauri Barge, DDS Family &amp; 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