Restorative Dentistry is involved with the diagnosis of the disease conditions in one’s mouth and restoring it to a condition of health through improved dental hygiene, gum treatments, fixed dental restoratives (fillings, inlays/onlays, crowns, bridges), removal prostheses (dentures, partials), endodontics, and surgery (extractions). These treatments are made for the purpose of improving the health of the patient.
In contrast, Cosmetic Dentistry is involved with the esthetics of dentistry, in which veneers, crowns, and whitening are used in order to improve the patient’s smile. Cosmetic Dentistry may also improve the patient’s outlook on life, his/her attractiveness to others, and his/her opportunities in the job market.