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Why Do Dental Implants in Virginia Beach Work So Well?

October 26, 2016

The latest and best tooth replacement option is the dental implant in Virginia Beach. Read why these prosthetics from Smile by Design work so well.

Why do patients and dentists alike praise dental implants, today’s innovative tooth replacements in Virginia Beach and across the globe? Stephanie L. Santos DDS and Vinita John Folck DDS recommend dental implants for people missing one, two or even entire arches of teeth because implants are realistic-looking, stable and preserve the density of the jaw bone. Healthy adults with sufficient bone are good implant candidates. Here are the reasons why these artificial teeth work so well.

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Tooth Loss: Common Causes from Virginia Beach Dentist

September 24, 2015

Father and daughter smiling with missing teeth. Get tooth loss facts from your Virginia Beach Dentist.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.
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All About Dental Implants Virginia Beach Prefers

September 4, 2015

Smiling woman with beautiful dental restoration with the dental implants Virginia Beach trustsMissing teeth happen for a number of reasons. It could be genes — maybe your mother gave you her knack for tennis, but she could have also given you a few gaps in your mouth. Or perhaps your missing teeth were the result of a traumatic accident, like a car wreck. Whatever caused those gaps in your smile, one thing is for sure — you’ve got to get them fixed. Did you know that nothing comes closer to a natural tooth replacement than dental implants? Today, learn how your Virginia Beach dentist can help you complete your smile with dental implants.
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How Do You Know When to Get Dentures?

September 16, 2014

The number of US adults needing dentures is projected to
increase from 33.6 million in 1991 to 37.9 million in 2020. Dentures are
not inevitable for most people if they actively practice good oral hygiene
habits and keep semi-annual dental checkups. Without these long-term measures
in place however, gum disease
and tooth decay, the main culprits of tooth loss, may win out. Gum disease causes
about 70% of adult tooth loss and affects 3 out of 4 people at some point in
their lives. Make an
appointment
with the experienced and caring dentists of Smile By Design to discuss your
tooth replacement options. Dr. Santos and
Dr. Folck
can help you decide if the time is right to get dentures to replace your
missing teeth. Smile by Design proudly serves patients throughout the Virginia Beach area,
including Norfolk, Sandbridge, Portsmouth and Fort Story
.
Dentures Can’t Fully
Replace Missing Teeth
Tooth loss is avoidable today unless you neglect your teeth
by not brushing, flossing and regularly visiting the dentist. When this happens,
tooth decay and gum disease can progress to bone loss, which in turn can lead
to tooth loss and possibly dentures.  Dentures should
be a last resort because there is no perfect substitute for your natural teeth.
Losing your natural teeth is more than just an esthetic
issue. The average adult bite force with natural teeth is somewhere around
200-250 pounds; with dentures, your bite force is reduced significantly to
about 50 pounds. This makes it increasingly difficult to chew and digest
certain foods like fruits and meats. Also, if you use upper dentures, the taste
buds on the roof of your mouth will be covered, which can significantly reduce your
sense of taste. Lastly, getting full dentures may cause your face to age more rapidly
than peers that still have their natural teeth. This is because the bone that was
used to support your natural teeth reabsorbs into the body. As the top of the
mouth reabsorbs upwards, and the bottom of the mouth reabsorbs downwards, the
space between your nose and chin shrinks, giving you an overall aged look.
Dentures and Dental
Implants in Virginia Beach, VA

If you are facing the need to replace a large number of
missing, or soon to be missing teeth, you are not alone. It’s estimated that
29% of Americans ages 45 to 55, 16% of Americans ages 35 to 44, and 3% of
Americans ages 18 to 34 wear either full or partial dentures. These dentures
don’t last forever and need to be replaced every 5-7 years, and relined every 2
years.  Although dentures aren’t always
easy to wear, not replacing your missing teeth isn’t a good option because the
pressure on the remaining teeth is too great. Fortunately today, dental implants
offer an attractive alternative to dentures. Choosing to get dental implants
eliminates the side effect of premature aging because the implant replaces the
tooth root and bone in your jaw. Also, dental implants have a bigger bite force
than regular dentures because they are cemented into the jawbone for added
stability. To discuss your tooth replacement options, make an appointment
with Smile By Design today. The
gentle dentists at Smile By Design proudly serve patients in and around Virginia Beach, VA,
Norfolk, Sandbridge, Portsmouth and Fort Story
.

Effective Restorative Care for Virginia Beach and Beyond

August 8, 2013

In our last post, we talked
about cosmetic dentistry, which is all about helping patients improve the
appearance of their teeth. Today we’d like to focus of restorative
dentistry
, which is all about improving the functionality of a patient’s
teeth. In some cases that means repairing ones that are damaged, while at other
times it means restoring ones that have been lost.
Why is restorative dental
care important? Because without it,
patients may have trouble chewing or speaking clearly. Damaged or missing teeth
also increase one’s vulnerability to gum disease or decay, plus additional
tooth loss. Patients may also experience bone loss in their jaw, develop bite
problems, or see their appearance change.
Regardless of your own needs and what you’ve experienced, Dr. Folck and Dr. Santos are
confident they can help. They offer a range of today’s best restorative
dentistry services, including:
But which one of these services is right for you? Dr. Folck and Dr. Santos would be happy to answer that for you with a
consultation visit. Following an oral exam, we can help you understand your
needs and devise a plan that will help you meet them. Depending on your needs,
completing your restorative dentistry
plan may only take one visit, or it may take several visits over the course of
a few months. Regardless, a healthier, more functional smile will be waiting
for you at the end.

Do you need restorative
dental care
? Call
Smile by Design today for an
appointment. We offer excellent restorative dental care to patients from Virginia Beach, Fort Story, Sandbridge,
and beyond.