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!
Gum disease threatens teeth, gums, bone and overall health. Learn its symptoms and treatments from your Virginia Beach dentists at Smile by Design.
Virginia Beach dentists, Stephanie Santos DDS and Vinita John Folck DDS, wish to educate their patients on a condition which affects almost 50 percent of American adults. It’s called gum disease, a dangerous oral health problem that causes everything from bleeding gums to tooth loss. Studies link it to serious systemic problems issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and dementia, too. (more…)
You want a new Virginia Beach dentist. What factors into the selection? Learn important questions to ask in choosing a dental care provider.
You’re seeking a new dentist. You don’t know anyone in the area, and worry you will make the wrong choice in a Virginia Beach dentist. Drs. Stephanie Santos and Vinita John Folck invite you to look at Smile by Design and ask: “What makes this dental practice special?” (more…)
If you’ve got one or more missing teeth, you know the effect those gaps can have on your self-esteem. And it’s not just your confidence that suffers as a result of tooth loss: simple acts like eating, speaking and smiling become more difficult, too. There’s really no question about it — missing teeth simply must be replaced. If you’ve chosen dental implants for your tooth replacement, that’s wonderful! In fact, they’re the best option available to people with otherwise healthy mouths. Dental implants in Virginia Beach are completed in two phases: the placement and restoration. Keep reading to learn about the procedure from the experts at Smile by Design.
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!
If there’s one thing we know from our years of experience in dentistry, it’s this: you actually can plan for the unexpected — at least when it comes to dental emergencies. And with the holiday season upon us, we think it’s a good time to help you be a little more prepared for all the things that could go awry with teeth when the family comes together — playing football outside, chomping down on peanut brittle and everything else that puts our healthy smiles in harm’s way. Help prepare for the unplanned by keeping these tips from the emergency dentist in Virginia Beach in mind.
If you’ve got a cavity, there’s no question about it — it has to be filled. A cavity that remains unfilled for a long period of time can cause real problems. Soon that once small cavity is a severely aching tooth that needs root canal therapy or, at worst, extraction. You must have cavities filled, but you don’t have to have them filled with that noticeable, unattractive silver substance. These days you can choose tooth colored fillings in Virginia Beach for a discreet tooth restoration you won’t even remember you had. Keep reading to learn more about this cosmetic restorative option at Smile By Design!
If you’ve ever had a crown, inlay, onlay, or other dental restoration you’re likely aware that traditional dental restorations require at least two appointments. During the first visit, patients’ teeth are prepared, and impressions taken that are used by a lab to create a custom smile restoration. In the meantime, patients wear a temporary restoration. During a subsequent appointment several weeks later, patients receive their final dental restoration. At Smile by Design, we offer patients CEREC, the single-visit smile restoration alternative.
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Gum disease therapy in Virginia Beach helps patients retain their natural teeth and experience less tenderness, bleeding, bad breath, gum and bone recession and infection common to plaque accumulation beneath the gums. While Stephanie L. Santos DDS and Vinita John Folck DDS, Virginia Beach dentists at Smile by Design, advocate disciplined dental hygiene at home and in the dental chair, they understand some people are more prone to periodontitis than others.
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Chips, cracks, stains–together they detract from a healthy smile. Virginia Beach porcelain veneers from Smile by Design disguise minor cosmetic problems for great-looking teeth.
When teeth whitening or cosmetic bonding aren’t sufficient to refurbish a cracked, stained, gapped or chipped smile, porcelain veneers may solve the problem. Individually crafted for perfect fit and smile aesthetics, Virginia Beach porcelain veneers from Stephanie L. Santos DDS and Vinita John Folck DDS change smiles from dull and uneven to bright and straight.
