Cosmetic vs. general dentistry: what's actually different

General dentistry is about function and health — a filling stops decay, a crown protects a cracked tooth. Cosmetic dentistry starts from a different question: how do you want your smile to look, and what's the smallest, most conservative way to get there?

In practice the two overlap constantly. A chipped front tooth might need a filling for health reasons and bonding for appearance in the same visit. Veneers and whitening are the more clearly 'cosmetic' end of things, but even those come with real material and bite considerations we walk through before starting anything.

The short version: if a change to your smile is something you want rather than something you need, that's a cosmetic conversation, and we'll always tell you plainly what's medically necessary versus optional.