Okemos, Lansing, East Lansing MI
This is a common question patients ask to understand the difference between a general dentist and a cosmetic dentist. It’s essential to know the difference to be sure to go to the right one for the treatments you need. However, general dentists often offer cosmetic treatments like crowns, veneers, and cosmetic bonding, and cosmetic dentists offer general dental treatments like cleanings, fillings, and tooth extractions. But how do you know which one fits your needs? Today on the blog, we answer the question, what’s the difference between a dentist and a cosmetic dentist.
Choosing a dentist is like choosing different doctors for your family. While a family doctor treats the entire body, that doesn’t make them an expert at healthcare for children, and you probably wouldn’t go to a family doctor for prenatal care. That’s why specialists exist, and the same is true for dentistry.
A general dentist primarily offers treatments to fulfill your basic dental needs. Services like checkups, cleanings, root canals, fillings, crowns, bridges, dentures, and emergency dental care like extractions often are the primary focus of a general dentist. They may still offer cosmetic dental services, but they most likely fill their schedule with general dental treatments. On the contrary, a cosmetic dentist is the opposite, mainly offering cosmetic dental treatments but can also fulfill your general dental needs as well. That way, you can receive all the treatments you need under one roof.
How to know if you’re choosing the right dentist for your cosmetic needs
When choosing the best cosmetic dentist in Okemos, you may need to look beyond their list of services. Check out their background, education, and smile gallery to determine their experience level. At Tenaglia Smiles, Dr. Tenaglia’s passion is cosmetic dentistry. She has completed courses at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, Pankey Institute, and Dawson Center, all of which have a strong focus on creating beautiful, functional smiles beyond basic dental treatments. Dr. Tenaglia has also received multiple awards in dentistry and featured in our local and national news outlets, including television appearances and mentions in The Detroit News, and The Okemos State Journal, among other popular publications.
Dr. Tenaglia has been in practice for more than 25 years and continues serving patients in East Lansing, Lansing, and Okemos, Michigan. Tenaglia Smiles offers cosmetic dental services, including teeth whitening, porcelain restorations, laser dentistry, and Invisalign and braces. The first step in determining which treatment is best for you is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Tenaglia. During this appointment, she will assess your oral health and discuss any concerns that you have about your smile, teeth, and gums. If you’d like to explore financing options, we encourage you to check out CareCredit, America’s number one choice in healthcare financing. For those that are eligible, interest-free monthly payments may be available.
Cosmetic Dental Office in Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing
If you want to learn more about our services or are ready to schedule your appointment, please call Tenaglia Smiles at (517) 347-6733 or contact us online today.