The Different Types of Dental Categories

Everyone has heard of a dentist, but just like every other type of medical profession has different distinct categories, there are different categories within the dental field. The three major types of dental categories consist of general, restorative and cosmetic dentistry.

General Dentistry

General dentistry is the category that almost everyone is familiar with. A general dentist is the one who pulls teeth, conducts annual dental checkups, performs teeth cleanings and does a variety of other general dental tasks. General dentists might also fill cavities and administer root canals. Some of the procedures they do might require numbing agents or anesthesia, but many of them do not.

Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry focuses on restoring a patient's smile or other major issues, such as jaw adjustments and other dental issues that could severely impact a patient's overall health. Some of the most common types of restorative dentistry procedures include applying dental crowns, building bridgework and performing air abrasion and micro dental procedures. The main factor that differentiates restorative dentistry from other types of dentistry is that it is focused on restoring the function of a patient's teeth and mouth.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Although many of the procedures that cosmetic dentists perform are the same as the ones that restorative dentists perform, in cosmetic dentistry, the dentist goes above and beyond simply restoring the function of the patient's teeth and is focused most on achieving the most aesthetically-pleasing result. In fact, many of the people who undergo cosmetic dentistry might not have much really wrong with their teeth as far as function goes, but they are looking to achieve a perfect smile.