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Smile by Design Blog

Oral Health and the Health of Your Heart

February 11, 2014

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 9:35 pm
In just a few days, couples across the country will be
celebrating Valentine’s Day. Given
how much the heart figures into Valentine’s cards, candy and decorations, now
seems like a good time to make you aware of the connection between your oral
health—and specifically gum disease—and
your overall health. Are you surprised to hear that there’s a connection at
all? Many people don’t realize that one exists, but according to recent data,
it does.
Gum disease
starts with the accumulation of bacteria and plaque around the gum line. Over
time, as these two irritate the mouth’s soft tissues, an infection will develop,
resulting in symptoms like bleeding, sensitivity, swelling and more. Given enough
time, gum disease creates pockets
between the teeth and gum line. From these pockets bacteria and plaque can gain
access to the body’s bloodstream, traveling to, among other places, the heart,
where they can contribute to clotting and even heart attacks.
Gum disease has
also been linked to other
kinds of health problems, including:
  • Alzheimer’s
  • Stroke
  • Pre-term birth
  • Diabetes
  • Pneumonia
How can you prevent health problems related to gum disease? By following a few simple
steps.
First, make sure you’re following a good brushing and
flossing regimen. Brushing twice a day—or after every meal, if you can—will help
you keep bacteria and plaque from building up around your teeth, while flossing
once a day will help you clean between your teeth. You can also add an
antibacterial mouthwash to your routine to make it more effective.
The next step you can take is to see Dr. Folck or Dr. Santos on
a regular basis for checkups and cleanings. Checkups will help us spot gum disease before it develops into a
serious problem; cleanings give us a chance to remove bacteria and plaque you
couldn’t get by yourself at home.
Do you have questions about the oral health-heart health
connection? Is it time for your next checkup and cleaning? Call Smile by Design today for an
appointment. We serve patients from Virginia
Beach, Fort Story, Sandbridge, and beyond.

Why Are Dental Implants So Effective?

January 31, 2014

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 8:00 am
You may have heard about dental implants
and how effective they are, but do you know why they’re so effective? It’s
because of how they’re structured and how they interact with your smile.
Natural teeth are made up of two parts: the tooth itself,
which is what everyone sees, and the root underneath that anchors each tooth to
the jaw. A full row of healthy teeth is important for smiling, speaking clearly
and enjoying a nutritious diet. Meanwhile, your tooth roots have the very
important job of holding those teeth in place and keeping the jaw healthy
throughout life.
What happens when you lose one or more teeth? You not only
lose what’s on top, you also lose the root underneath. As a result, you’ll
eventually lose bone tissue where the root was. Traditional bridges, partials
and dentures replace what you’ve lost but don’t replace the part of your smile
responsible for keeping the rest of your jaw strong and healthy.
The only service that replaces missing roots is dental implants. Using small posts made
of titanium—a biocompatible metal—this restorative service can help you achieve
results that look natural and functional naturally as well. Imagine smiling
with confidence and enjoying all your favorite foods again. With dental implants from Smile by Design, Dr. Santos and Dr. Folck
can help.
Do you want to know if you’re a candidate for dental implants? Call us today for a
consultation. Dr. Santos and Dr. Folck want to help you enjoy
optimal oral health, and for some patients dental
implants are the best way to make that happen.

Smile by Design
offers restorative care to patients from Virginia
Beach, Fort Story, Sandbridge, and beyond. 

Help Your Family Achieve Optimal Oral Health In 2014

January 29, 2014

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 6:05 pm
Among the questions that dentists get asked on a regular
basis, one of the most common is: How often should I have a checkup and
cleaning? For a basic medical checkup, once a year is a good rule of thumb, but
for your oral health the ideal number of visits per year is two.
Why so often? Because common oral health issues like tooth
decay and gum disease can develop easily, in children as well as adults. With regular
checkups, your local dentist can help you watch for changes and provide care
early on, when it can be less invasive.
At Smile by Design
in Virginia Beach, family dental care
is a central focus of ours. Every day, we’re helping children, parents, and
seniors enjoy better oral health through oral exams and cleanings.
What are we looking for during a checkup? The most common
oral health issues are tooth decay and gum disease. But that’s not all Dr. Santos and
Dr. Folck
will be on the lookout for. During your exam, our Virginia Beach team will also check for signs of teeth grinding
(bruxism), TMJ dysfunction, and even oral cancer, because treating any of these
early is very important.
Dr. Santos and Dr. Folck can also talk to you and your
little one about home care. Two checkups a year aren’t enough to keep your
smile in tip-top shape. Regular brushing and flossing are also important. If
you have any questions about how to brush and floss effectively, we’d be more
than happy to answer them.

Do you want to schedule your family’s first visit of 2014? Call Smile by Design today. Dr. Santos and Dr. Folck are happy to offer family dentistry to patients from Fort Story, Sandbridge, and nearby communities.

Restorative Dentistry for Virginia Beach and Beyond

January 9, 2014

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 3:16 pm
A full, healthy smile is important for a wide variety of
reasons. Not only does a full smile make it easier to enjoy a broadly
nutritious diet, it also makes it easier to speak clearly and smile
confidently. A smile with missing teeth, on the other hand, or one held by back
cavities or a broken tooth, can make it more difficult to do all of these.
That’s why Dr. Stephanie
Santos and Dr.
Vinita Folck of Smile by Design
offer several of today’s best restorative
dentistry services. With these services, we can help patients enjoy good
oral health, in addition to restoring appearance and functionality.
Our restorative
dentistry services include:

During the course of a consultation visit, Dr. Santos or Dr. Folck will get to know you personally before thoroughly
assessing your oral health needs. Every treatment plan we put together is
designed to meet the very specific needs of our patients. If you have any
questions about what we recommend, we’re happy to answer any questions or
concerns you might have.

Are you ready to make 2014 the year you restore your smile’s
functionality and appearance? Find out how Dr.
Folck and Dr. Santos can help. Call Smile by Design in Virginia Beach today for an appointment. We’re happy to help
patients from Fort Story, Sandbridge, and beyond.

Quality, Custom-Made CEREC Crowns in a Single Hour

December 27, 2013

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 8:00 am

When a tooth becomes damaged, whether by decay or an injury,
it needs to be repaired. In many cases that’s done with a dental crown. During a crown procedure, Dr. Folck or Dr. Santos
will cover (or cap) your damaged tooth with a custom-made restoration that resembles
the tooth they’re treating.

The goal with a crown
is to restore your smile’s appearance and functionality for both the short and
long term. In the short term, you’re free from the discomfort that comes with a
damaged tooth; in the long term, the supportive root underneath your tooth is
preserved, ensuring that your jaw stays strong. Losing a tooth, and the root
underneath it, can cause the jaw to weaken and can put otherwise healthy teeth
in danger of becoming lost as well. The idea behind capping a tooth with a
crown is that the entire tooth is saved, and functionality and appearance are
restored as well.
Traditional crowns
take at least two appointments to put in place. CEREC crowns
from Smile by Design take just a
single appointment. In just one visit, Dr.
Folck or Dr. Santos will assess
your health, design your crown, and
use their CEREC machine to mill a
high-quality, porcelain restoration while you wait comfortably in our Virginia Beach dental office. Once your
brand new CEREC crown has been
completed and attached, you can leave our office feeling better about your oral
health and about how you look.
Do you need help restoring a tooth with a custom-made crown? Call Smile by Design today for an
appointment with Dr. Folck or Dr. Santos. We offer restorative care
to patients from Virginia Beach, Fort Story, and Sandbridge.

What Are Your Oral Health Goals for 2014?

December 13, 2013

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 3:31 pm
There are still a few weeks left in 2013, but that doesn’t
mean you can’t start thinking about your oral health goals for 2014. In fact,
now’s the perfect time to start thinking about what you’d like to change and
what you’d like to do differently. With early planning, you can give your smile
a fresh start for the New Year.
At Smile by Design,
Dr. Santos
and Dr. Folck
offer a wide variety of general, cosmetic, and
restorative
services to help you make whatever kind of change you need. Maybe all you want
is a whiter smile. With Zoom! Whitening,
you can brighten your teeth by six to ten shades in about an hour. Or maybe you
want a smile that looks whiter and straighter. Our Virginia Beach team can help you achieve stunning results with porcelain veneers
in just two appointments.
We also offer helpful restorative services, like CEREC
one-visit crowns, dentures &
partials, and dental
implants. Other patients may just need to commit seeing Dr. Santos or Dr. Folck more regularly for checkups and cleanings.

Do you want to schedule an appointment with Smile by Design for early January? Call us today to
reserve an appointment. We will listen to your goals and design a personalized treatment
plan to help you achieve the smile you’re dreaming of. Dr. Santos and Dr. Folck
serve patients from Virginia Beach, Fort Story, and Sandbridge.

New Possibilities for Your Smile with Cosmetic Dentistry

December 6, 2013

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 5:39 pm

We don’t have to tell you how important a healthy smile is, but a beautiful smile also has its advantages.Whether you’re hoping to make a good impression with a new client or you’re about to re-enter the dating scene, a white, dazzling smile can be to your advantage.

At Smile by Design, Dr. Stephanie Santos and Dr. Vinita Folck offer three popular cosmetic dentistry services to help patients from Virginia Beach and beyond enjoy better oral health but also improved self-esteem. Those services include:

Depending on your needs, Dr. Santos or Dr. Folck will recommend one or more service during a consultative appointment. Every plan we create is designed to deliver truly personal results. If you have any questions about what we propose, don’t hesitate to let us know. We want our patients from Virginia Beach and beyond to feel comfortable with the solution we put forward.

Often you can achieve a healthier, more beautiful smile in just one appointment, though some services require at least two. Find out how long your smile makeover could take during a consultation appointment.

Call us today. Dr. Santos and Dr. Folck offer exceptional cosmetic dental care to patients from Virginia Beach, Fort Story, Sandbridge, and nearby communities.

Root Canal Therapy for Virginia Beach and Beyond

November 27, 2013

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 8:00 am
If you’re experiencing sensitivity or pain because of decay,
damage, or an injury, you may benefit from a root canal. During
a root canal, Dr. Folck and Dr. Santos
will remove your tooth’s infected nerve and replace it with a safe substance
before capping it with a protective crown. This treatment will relieve your
painful symptoms, restore your oral health, and prevent the need for a tooth
extraction.
But despite the changes made to your tooth, you won’t have
to worry about your smile’s functionality changing. In fact, root canals are designed to preserve
them. A root canal only removes your
tooth’s nerve; it doesn’t remove your tooth root, which is essential for
anchoring your tooth to your jaw. Tooth roots also promote bone growth in the
jaw so that it stays healthy throughout the years.
Conversely, when you lose a tooth root, your jawbone begins
to shrink, potentially throwing your smile out of alignment and leading to the
loss of other teeth. A root canal
will help you prevent this by treating infection before extraction becomes
necessary.
What are the signs that you might need a root canal? Consider these:
  • Sensitivity to hot or cold foods and beverages
  • Pain when biting or chewing
  • Sensitivity to pressure
  • Pain that keeps you awake at night
  • Pimple-like sore on the gums
  • Pain in head, neck, or shoulders
  • Swelling

Do these symptoms sound familiar? Call Smile by Design today to reserve a consultation appointment with our Virginia Beach

Use Your Dental Benefits Before the Year Is Over

November 13, 2013

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 9:57 pm
The end of November isn’t that far away, and after that 2014
is just around the corner. That doesn’t just mean that it’s time to replace
your calendar. It will also mean a change in your dental benefits.
Right now, if you’ve paid your deductible for the year and
you still have some of your yearly maximum left, you’re insurance company will
help you pay for select dental services. At the beginning of 2014, though, you’ll
be looking at a new deductible and a fresh yearly maximum. You may also see
changes in your premiums and co-pays.
But between now and the end of the year, you can take full
benefit of your dental benefits as
they currently are, getting the most out of what’s left. For instance, maybe you
already know that you need general or restorative help. Or maybe you just need
to schedule your second checkup for the year.
Dr. Folck and Dr. Santos recommend
that all of their Virginia Beach
patients come in twice a year for a regular exam and cleaning. Why are regular
checkups so important? Because the buildup of plaque and bacteria around the
teeth and gums is what causes two of the most common oral health problems—gum disease
and tooth decay.

Do you need to schedule a year-end visit with Smile by Design? Call us today. We’re
happy to help patients from Virginia
Beach, Fort Story, Sandbridge, and nearby communities.

Virginia Beach Dentures & Partials

October 31, 2013

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 7:00 am

Patients can lose teeth for a variety of reasons—an injury, gum disease, severe decay, or with an extraction procedure. But regardless of why you’ve lost one or more teeth, looking for a replacement option is important. At Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, Dr. Santos and Dr. Folck offer two excellent options for patients to consider: partial dentures and full dentures.

But first, why is it important to replace missing teeth? Because of the impact they can have on your appearance, but more importantly, the impact they can have your oral and overall health. For patients missing a complete upper or lower row of teeth, eating can be extremely difficult. For patients missing a few upper or lower teeth, it’s easy for remaining teeth to shift out of alignment. With a partial denture, you can help retain your smile’s healthy alignment, and with a full denture you can enjoy eating and smiling again.

What’s more, patients can get either of these options in an implant-supported form. Dental implants provide patients with an enormous amount of stability, because of the way implants mimic the natural structure of teeth.

Do you need a partial or full set of dentures? Dr. Santos and Dr. Folck can help you understand your needs and pinpoint a solution that will give you the best help. During a consultation visit with us, we’ll asses your oral health and create a treatment plan that can meet your needs.

Call us today to set up an appointment. We serve patients from Virginia Beach, Fort Story, Sandbridge and beyond.

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