If you are an admirer and follow up on your teeth and oral hygiene you, surely, know how to choose the the best dentist as well.

Well, as proud of yourself you should be, it has its own difficulties. Sometimes, with the advancement in dentistry which is increasing its scope, newer specialisations are also coming in everyday.

Now, you don’t always understand what kind of a dentist you need to go to for your dental issue. One such confusion occurs between the scopes of Orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry.

How are orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry similar?

This confusion is very much understandable. The scopes of orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry overlap to a great extent.

Both the fields deal with correction of teeth. Both of them do dental implants and fix teeth alignment. For both the disciplines, one has to do a specialisation in dentistry first. So, to understand the difference between the two specialisations, we need to look into the aspect of treatment where they diverge.

Cosmetic Dentistry Vs Orthodontics

• First of all, an orthodontic specialist need to pass a qualifying exam in Orthodontics. On the other hand, a cosmetic dentist should ideally have a degree in cosmetic dentistry. However, not every academic board recognizes cosmetic dentistry as a separate branch; sometimes it is included as a paper in their specialisation courses in orthodontics or prosthodontics. So, there is a trend that some dentist who do not have a separate degree for cosmetic dentistry, practice cosmetic treatment on self-proclamation. This is why, you need to be careful while choosing your doctor.
• Secondly, the sole aim of the two disciplines are completely different. Orthodontics aims at correction of your teeth, jaws etc to ease your regular dental hygienic practices. The treatments related to orthodontics correct misalignment to reduce the chances of plaque or bad breath and to reduce discomfort related to the same. So, if you are given a strong metal brace, you have been to an Orthodontic Surgeon.Cosmetic dentistry, on the other hand, aims at modifying the appearance of your oral area to make it more aesthetically pleasing. Let’s say you have a slight crowding in your teeth or a small gap which isn’t really causing a hindrance but, it looks ‘odd’. To fix that you need cosmetic dentistry. Since the correction is a small one, you could ask for Invisible Braces instead of metallic ones. Cosmetic dentistry also covers the area of Teeth Whitening, reshaping a mis-shaped tooth like a small or a big tooth, a Cracked Tooth or a chipped tooth etc., removing of an extra tooth or excessive gum tissue etc. This is why, cosmetic dentistry demands the knowledge of both orthodontics and endodontics. Modern cosmetic dentistry also includes imbibing Tooth Jewelery in your teeth or jaws, tattooing or piercing the inside of your mouth etc.

Compared to orthodontics, the range of cosmetic dentistry is much bigger and requires much more knowledge in dental science and experience in dentistry.

So, who should you go to?

Well, if your area of requirement is very distinct, you already know who you should go to. But if your dental problem lies in the area where the scopes of these two specialisations overlap, you need to do some research. The thing is aesthetic appeal is a very important aspect in modern society. Nowadays, even a teen thinks that metallic braces make him or her look like a cannibal.

So, even if you need to align your teeth, modern dentistry gives you the option of making it very subtle with invisible braces. Many orthodontic specialist also has a fluent hand on giving you a pleasing outlook while correcting your teeth. In such a scenario, the best idea will be to talk to your dentist. Your dentist will be the best person to guide you in this regard. But generally, you could either find an Orthodontic Surgeons who has experience in taking care of the cosmetic aspect or you could find a certified cosmetic dentist because s/he will also have certification in orthodontics.

Choose wisely, you get only one shot with your teeth!

About Dr. Snigdha Gowd:

Prof. Dr. Snigdha Gowd, M.D.S. FICO. Specialist in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthodontics (Switzerland), Specialist in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthodontics (Switzerland). Chairman & CEO of Dr. Gowds Dental Hospital. If there had to be someone who can take credit for lakhs of smiling faces in Hyderabad, there’s one person who’s claim to fame it can be – Prof. Dr. Snigdha Gowd. It’s the joy of making people smile without inhibitions that made her choose the field of dentistry over her other passions. This art and skill of creating beautiful smiles is in her genes. Spearheading Dr. Gowds Dental Hospital in Hyderabad, her idea behind transforming lives through corrected smiles and beautiful teeth is just a part of the bigger picture.