Is there such a thing as a cosmetic dentist?

Many dental clinics offer cosmetic dental procedures, but is this considered a specialty that a dentist can specialize in? Our dentists in Edmonton are here to help.

Are there cosmetic dentists?

While cosmetic dental procedures are incredibly popular and some dentists may choose to focus on cosmetic procedures, there is no such thing as a 'cosmetic dentist'.

What cosmetic procedures can my dentist perform?

If your dentist decides to offer cosmetic procedures at their office, you may be curious about which ones would be beneficial to your smile. Teeth whitening, dental veneers, crowns, dental bonding, and inlays or onlays are some of the cosmetic procedures commonly offered at dental clinics.

Your dentist may be able to perform these procedures, but that does not make specifically make them a 'cosmetic dentist' as that is not a recognized dental specialty in Canada.

What Dental Specialties are recognized in Canada?

There are nine recognized dental professions in Canada. The Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) reviews and accredits the education programs in those nine dental specialties. 

These are the nine dental professions:

Dental Public Health - The diagnosis, prevention, and control of dental diseases, as well as the promotion of oral health through organized community efforts, are all part of dental public health.

Endodontics - The morphology, physiology, and pathology of the dental pulp and periradicular tissues are the focus of endodontics, a branch and specialty of dentistry. Its research and practice include basic clinical sciences such as normal pulp biology and the etiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and injuries of the pulp and associated tissues.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - The diagnosis, surgical, and supplementary treatment of disorders, diseases, injuries, and defects involving the functional and aesthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the mouth and related structures is the focus of this branch and specialty of dentistry.

Oral Medicine and Pathology - This is a branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis, nature, and primarily non-surgical treatment of oral, maxillofacial, and TMJ diseases and disorders, as well as the dental treatment of patients who have medical complications. This specialty includes two applied components: oral medicine and oral pathology.

Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology - Prescription, production, and interpretation of diagnostic images for the diagnosis and management of diseases and disorders of the craniofacial complex are all part of this dental specialty.

Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics - These dentists specialize in the supervision, guidance, and correction of developing and mature dentofacial structures, as well as the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of any abnormalities that may occur.

Pediatric Dentistry - Pediatric dentists provide a primary and comprehensive oral health diagnosis, care, and consultative expertise for infants and children through adolescence, including those of all ages with special care needs.

Periodontics - The diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth or their substitutes, as well as the maintenance of health, function, and aesthetics, is the focus of this specialty.

Prosthodontics - Prosthodontists diagnose, restore, and maintain the patient's oral function, comfort, appearance, and health through the restoration of natural teeth and/or the artificial replacement of missing teeth and oral tissues.

If you would like to learn more about cosmetic procedures performed by our Edmonton dentists, contact us today.