Restorative dentistry repairs or replaces damaged and missing teeth so they work and stay healthy again. Cosmetic dentistry improves how teeth look, even when they are healthy. That is the short answer. In real life the line blurs: a porcelain crown that saves a cracked tooth also changes its color and shape, and bonding that closes a gap can also repair a chip. The best plans restore health and appearance together.
This guide explains what each branch of dentistry covers, where they overlap, which comes first when you need both, how insurance tends to treat them, and how Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS plans restorative and cosmetic care together at the Timonium office.
What restorative dentistry does
Restorative dentistry is about function and health. Its job is to stop damage, rebuild what has been lost and keep your bite working properly. At the practice, restorative care includes:
- Tooth-colored fillings. Composite matched to your natural teeth and bonded in place. The practice never uses amalgam fillings.
- Inlays and onlays. Bonded ceramic or composite restorations for a tooth with partial damage, which conserve more healthy tooth structure than a full crown.
- Porcelain crowns. For teeth that are extensively damaged or cracked, restoring shape and protecting what remains.
- Root canal therapy. Saving a tooth when infection reaches the pulp, finished with a porcelain crown.
- Bridges, dental implants and dentures. Replacing missing teeth so you can chew, speak and smile with confidence.
The guiding principle is conservative: where the damage allows, a filling, inlay or onlay comes before a crown, because it keeps more of your natural tooth. Read more about restorative dentistry in Timonium.
What cosmetic dentistry does
Cosmetic dentistry is about appearance: color, shape, proportion and how your smile frames your face. Cosmetic treatments at the practice include:
- Teeth whitening, with in-office laser power whitening customized to your teeth.
- Dental bonding, tooth-colored resin sculpted directly on the tooth.
- Porcelain and prepless veneers, thin shells bonded to the front of teeth to correct stains, chips, gaps and crooked teeth.
- A gum lift, which moves the gum line up when too much gum shows.
- Smile makeovers, which combine treatments in one customized plan.
- Cosmetic imaging, which previews the result on screen before treatment.
See every option on the cosmetic dentistry in Timonium page.
Where restorative and cosmetic dentistry overlap
Crowns
A crown is a restorative treatment first, but it is also used in cosmetic treatment. Each porcelain crown is made to replicate the color and translucence of your natural teeth, and a crown can improve the shape of a tooth. When a filled front tooth has chipped or stained and a veneer is not a suitable solution, a crown may work well. If you are weighing the two, read crown or veneer for a front tooth?
Bonding
Bonding repairs damage from decay, fractures, discoloration and chipping, which is restorative work. It also closes gaps and changes the shape of teeth, which is cosmetic. It can even be used as an alternative to amalgam fillings. Few treatments sit so squarely in both camps.
Replacing old metal fillings
Old silver fillings can wear, fracture or pull away at the edges, which can let decay develop underneath. Metal can also discolor and age teeth. Replacing them with tooth-colored materials is restorative and cosmetic at once. Old amalgam fillings are removed under rigorous safety protocols designed to minimize your exposure to mercury vapor. Learn about mercury-free dentistry.
Dental implants
An implant replaces both the root and the crown of a missing tooth, which helps prevent bone deterioration. It is a restorative treatment with a very visible cosmetic benefit: a gap in your smile disappears, and neighboring teeth are left alone. Learn more about dental implants in Timonium.
Restoring smiles to better than before
Restoration used to mean putting a tooth back the way it was. Modern materials often make it possible to do better than that. A tooth repaired with bonding or porcelain can be shaped and shaded so it blends in more evenly than the original tooth did.
Take teeth that are slightly misshapen or look a little out of line. If they do not actually need to be moved, porcelain veneers can often correct their shape and color together, making them look straighter without braces. When teeth do need to move first, Invisalign clear aligners can shift them into a better position before a veneer makeover begins.
One patient who arrived with years of dental work described the outcome: “I came in with every tooth broken, patched, and filled… I have been thrilled with my new smile. I get compliments everywhere I travel and I am loving it.”
Which comes first when you need both?
Health comes before appearance. Cosmetic work lasts and looks best on a healthy foundation, so a combined plan usually follows this order:
- Treat infection and active disease. Bleeding or receding gums, bad breath and deep pockets in the gums are signs of infection, and gum disease is treated before cosmetic work. Gum care at the practice is non-surgical and removes the bacteria causing the infection. Decay and infected teeth are treated too.
- Stabilize the bite. Teeth that are worn, cracked or breaking can point to bite problems. Dr. Haywood has advanced TMJ and reconstructive training at the Peter Dawson Institute, and the joint and bite are assessed as part of a thorough restorative approach.
- Restore damaged and missing teeth. Fillings, onlays, crowns, bridges or implants rebuild what has been lost, with conservative options first.
- Refine the appearance. Whitening, bonding, veneers or a gum lift bring the smile together. Often this step is planned alongside the restorations, so everything matches.
Some steps overlap in practice. A tooth that needs a crown anyway can be designed with the finished smile in mind from the start, which is why planning both together matters. For more on the conservative mindset, see less is more in dentistry.
How insurance treats cosmetic and restorative work
Dental plans generally distinguish between treatment that is needed for health and function and treatment done purely for appearance, and many limit or exclude cosmetic procedures. A crown on a cracked tooth and a veneer chosen for color may be viewed very differently. What your plan covers depends entirely on the plan itself, so check your benefits before treatment.
The practice is out of network with insurance companies. You pay at the time of your visit, and the office files the claim on your behalf so your plan can reimburse you for whatever it covers. HSA and flex plans are welcome. Financing is available through CareCredit, with no-interest options for up to 12 months, and Cherry, with plans from 3 to 24 months.
How Dr. Haywood plans restorative and cosmetic care together
Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS has practiced cosmetic, restorative and implant dentistry for over three decades. Dr. Haywood graduated with distinction from the University of Detroit dental school in 1987, completed the U.S. Air Force advanced residency program with internships including oral surgery and oral facial prosthodontics, trained in cosmetic dentistry at New York University’s Aesthetic Continuum, and is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
A combined plan starts with a conversation about your goals and a careful exam. Digital X-rays appear on screen and intraoral cameras zoom in, so you see what Dr. Haywood sees. For cosmetic goals, before-and-after imaging shows the potential result on the imaging computer. Your plan is explained step by step, treatment starts only when you approve it, and restorative and cosmetic care happen in the same Timonium office.
Frequently asked questions
Is a dental crown cosmetic or restorative?
Both. A crown restores a damaged tooth and protects it from further damage and decay, and it is also used in cosmetic treatment to improve a tooth’s shape and color.
Is dental bonding cosmetic?
It can be either. Bonding repairs decay, fractures, discoloration and chips, and it also closes gaps and reshapes teeth for a more even smile.
Can cosmetic dentistry fix a damaged tooth?
Sometimes. Veneers can strengthen chipped teeth, and prepless veneers can strengthen damaged or chipped teeth without crowning them. Teeth with more extensive damage may need a restorative treatment such as an onlay or crown first.
Does restorative work need to be finished before whitening?
Often the order is planned the other way around for visible teeth. Whitening does not change the color of porcelain or composite, so teeth are commonly whitened first and new tooth-colored work is matched to the brighter shade. Dr. Haywood sets the order for your plan.
Restore your smile in Timonium
Whether your smile needs repair, a cosmetic refresh or both, start with a plan that covers health and appearance together. Request an appointment or call (410) 453-9399. The office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS is at 108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, Timonium, MD 21093, serving Timonium, Towson, Pikesville and Baltimore. You may also like five practical reasons to choose cosmetic dentistry.
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