Restorative is health-oriented, while cosmetic is appearance-oriented.

Most people have heard of cosmetic dentistry as a way to get a perfect smile. But sometimes before cosmetic procedures can take place there needs to be a little work done to lay a proper foundation. This is where restorative dentistry comes in. Never heard of it? Not to worry, we’ve broken down both areas of the dental profession to give you all the information you need and get you one step closer to the smile of your dreams.Restorative dentistry refers to management and procedures that your dentist performs to keep your mouth healthy and functional. These procedures include putting in dental implants, dentures, fillings, and crowns. This kind of dentistry does not require specialization; it just refers to the preventative and corrective steps that general practice dentists take to make sure that our mouths stay as healthy as possible. Restorative dentistry is first and foremost concerned with keeping the mouth functioning as best it can and, in the process of doing so, can improve the overall look of one’s smile. This is what separates restorative dentistry from cosmetic dentistry — the latter is more concerned with aesthetics.Whereas restorative dentistry is primarily concerned with keeping mouths healthy and functioning, cosmetic dentistry is more focused on improving the look of your smile. While dentists always put the health of your mouth first, having cosmetic procedures done may not necessarily improve how well your mouth works as much as how it looks.Both restorative and cosmetic procedures can be done in the same mouth, yes. Often, restorative dentistry will fix any major issues, such as missing or broken teeth, then cosmetic measures can be taken, such as reshaping, to put the finishing touches on a new smile.