The holidays are an exciting time of year as you shop for the perfect gifts and plan tasty family meals. Despite the bright decorations and festive gatherings, do not forget to visit your family dentist in Virginia Beach. As the last few weeks of the year end, your dental insurance is about to expire. If you do not lose your remaining coverage now, you not only place the health of your smile at risk but also waste hundreds of dollars in premiums and deductibles.
(more…)
When it comes to choosing a dentist to care for your family, you need to choose a family dentist in Virginia Beach who will care for your entire family from one office. Often, not all dentists are able to offer the services each member in your family needs because everyone has unique oral health needs, which will change over the years. As a result, you end up having to schedule appointments with different dentists all over town. This makes dental appointments inconvenient and rather impersonal. However, by choosing the right dentist, each member in your family will benefit from one trusted dentist over the years to create a lifetime of beautiful, healthy smiles.
(more…)
Saving a sick tooth is better than extraction, but many people choose extraction rather than Virginia Beach root canal therapy. Learn how Dr. Stephanie Santos and Dr. Venita John Falck perform this straightforward and long-standing restorative treatment comfortably in just 2 dental visits. (more…)
Your family needs a new Virginia Beach dentist. You just moved from another state, or maybe your long-time, trusted dentist has retired. Selecting a dentist is vital to your family’s oral health and well-being–and to your peace of mind. Dr. Stephanie L. Santos and Dr. Vinita John Folck suggest several factors to consider before arriving at your new dental office in Virginia Beach.
So much has changed since you were a child — not the least of which is your smile. Your dental needs are very different from what they once were. Yes, our teeth change a lot over the years, and that means your visits to the dentist will be a little different, too. Learn about our changing dental needs throughout a lifetime from the trusted family dentist in Virginia Beach at Smile By Design today!
As your trusted family dentistry practice in Virginia Beach, we hate seeing patients use up all their dental insurance benefits at the end of the year before completing the oral care they need. We firmly believe that excellent dental care shouldn’t be limited by a list of rules and requirements. But when January rolls around, we love to bring the good news that most dental insurance plans have reset their benefits for the year! If you’re in need of dental care, take advantage of the new year and your new benefits and schedule your appointment at Smile by Design today!
However it happens, losing teeth is always a traumatizing experience. Gaps in your smile negatively affect more than your confidence — they can also interfere with the way you speak, eat and chew. The key to avoiding tooth loss is knowing why it happens, and what you can do to stop it. Keep reading to learn about the top four causes of tooth loss from the Virginia Beach dentist you trust at Smile By Design.
(more…)
Having a child is a life-changing moment. During pregnancy, there are a lot of things to think about. “How am I going to decorate the baby’s room?”, “How big should the crib be?”, “How many bibs do I need to buy?” – all of these are common questions that new parents ask themselves. A to-do list can become overwhelming during a pregnancy which can often lead to stress. Stress is the last thing you should be worrying about during a pregnancy. This is a happy time for you and your future family.
One item that should be on your to-do list is a dental checkup at our office in Virginia Beach, VA. The link between your oral health and overall health is strong. If you’re experiencing dental issues that have gone untreated, it can complicate how the rest of your health operates. This is bad news for you and your bundle of joy. Keeping your mouth healthy will in turn keep your overall health operating smoothly. Our dental team can provide a comfortable and relaxing environment for our mothers-to-be. If you’re looking for the best family dentists, Virginia Beach knows who to turn to; Dr. Santos and Dr. Folck.
(more…)
About 100 years ago, almost no one brushed their teeth. When men in the US were drafted for WWI, poor oral hygiene was considered a risk to national security, and during WWII, more recruits received medical rejection from military services because they didn’t have enough teeth than for any other medical condition. Maybe this seems like the distant past, but today, more people own smartphones than own toothbrushes and periodontal disease effects nearly 80% of US adults easily qualifying as an epidemic. Oral health has a long history of neglect. Despite the best efforts of dental professionals, most people don’t spend enough time caring for their smiles, but in the past 30 years, a significant shift has occurred in dentistry to help improve dental health. Previously, dentists focused on treatment and replacement. Today, we focus on prevention and restoration. At Smile by Design, we don’t treat your dental issues after they arise we prevent them, and if our preventive measures fail, we don’t extract and replace your teeth, we always try to restore them. It’s a whole new dental world, but without your commitment to oral health between visits, your teeth remain at risk. Call the Virginia Beach, VA dental practice of Drs. Stephanie L. Santos and Vinita John Folck to find out more about oral health or schedule an appointment today.
In order to maintain optimal oral health, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that, at minimum, people brush their teeth for 2 minutes 2 times a day, floss between teeth and below the gum line at least once per day, and receive a regular dental examination and cleaning every six months. That’s the foundation for a lifetime of oral health, but many patients are surprised to hear that their oral health is closely related to their overall physical wellbeing. Remember that 80% of US adults suffer from some form of periodontal (gum) disease? Gum disease has been linked to numerous systemic and chronic illnesses including:
Cardiovascular disease – Oral bacteria causes infection and inflammation in the mouth. This infection and inflammation can spread throughout your body in your bloodstream. Fatty plaque deposits or other blood cell irregularities make it difficult for your heart to pump blood into the rest of your body which can lead to blood clots, stroke, and atrial fibrillation.
Infection of heart, lungs and liver – Endocarditis, walking pneumonia, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease have all been linked to gum disease as a possible source or at the very least an indicator. While research hasn’t discovered a causal connection, the likelihood that patients with one of these illnesses will also suffer from gum disease is more than 50%.
Immunodeficiency – Patients with diabetes, HIV/AIDS and other diseases that affect the immune system are extremely susceptible to gum disease.
Low weight and pre-term birth – A study of periodontitis (severe gum disease) developed from “pregnancy gingivitis” (common form of mild gum disease in pregnant women), has linked periodontal disease to low weight and pre-term birth. Women with periodontitis are 50% more likely to deliver early or underdeveloped babies.
There’s no need to dread your next dental checkup. You should look forward to the opportunity to improve your oral health, and overall wellbeing. Drs. Santos and Folck and the entire Smile by Design team are dedicated to making you feel right at home because we do! Our staff loves coming to work every day, and our patients know it. Happiness is contagious, and we guarantee you’ll smile through your entire appointment. Call to schedule a checkup or teeth cleaning today. Our convenient, Virginia Beach, VA office welcomes patients from surrounding areas Virginia Beach, Northeast Virginia Beach, Fort Story, Sand Bridge and beyond.
The convenience of one-stop-shopping and the quality service offered in a specialty store is what you’ll find when you bring your family to Smile by Design. In Virginia Beach, VA, our practice is known for its fun, friendly atmosphere. Dr. Stephanie Santos is passionate about helping patients overcome dental anxiety, and Dr. Vinita John Folck things the practice feels like family and she treats her patients like they’re a part of it. Our regular patients often report looking forward to their checkups, and our superior care extends to patients of all ages. Starting at age 2, we welcome patients to visit every six months and experience dentistry that puts your comfort first. Call to schedule appointments for the whole family today.
The Smile by Design team loves to laugh and strives to make every dental appointment an anxiety free zone. Our skilled dentists, Dr.s Santos and Folck offer the best care for patients of all ages using the most up-to-date dental technology. We offer Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics or CEREC. This technology makes it possible for our office to offer patients a custom milled crown in just one visit. Our whole team is dedicated to continuing education in order to ensure the most innovative care for your whole family.
When it comes to dentistry, one size does not fit all. This is especially true when it comes to care for little smiles, and at Smile by Design, we know how to care for your child and establish a foundation for a lifetime of superior dental health. We recommend scheduling appointments every six months starting at age two. Your child will have baby teeth coming in and be able to comfortably sit for an examination. However, if you are concerned about dental development prior to age two, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with our children’s dentistry office.
During the first few dental visits, we want to build trust and make your child feel safe and welcome in our office. That’s why we offer tours so our littles patients can get used to the sights and sounds of the office. Once they feel safe and relaxed, we’ll gently examine your child’s baby teeth, provide feedback about any concerns, and offer recommendations for at home care. Once your child is old enough to begin brushing, we’ll show him how to brush and floss effectively.
Whatever your dental care needs or the size of your family, Smile by Design offers dental care to make you smile. If you’ve struggled with dental anxiety, our doctors are dedicated to making every patient comfortable. We want you to look forward to your dental checkups, and at Smile by Design, we think you will. Call to schedule an appointment today. Our state-of-the-art Virginia Beach location welcomes patients from surrounding communities including Fort Story, and Northeast Virginia Beach.
