Family Dentistry - Virginia Beach, VA
Premier Care for Smiles of All Ages
In Virginia Beach, Smile by Design of Virginia Beach provides general dentistry and preventive services for families to keep them protected from common issues such as tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease. Dr. Santos, Dr. Folck, and our dentistry team offer comfortable, comprehensive dental care to patients of all ages—from 2 to 92! With the services listed below, we’ll ensure that you and the rest of your loved ones enjoy healthy, beautiful, and problem-free smiles year after year.
At-Home Oral Hygiene Care
Brushing and flossing are important parts of maintaining excellent oral health. Using the right products and the correct techniques ensures great checkups at our Virginia Beach office and protects you against cavities and gum disease. Our recommendations for your daily oral hygiene routine include:
- Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste.
- Clean between your teeth with dental floss at least once a day.
- Use a mouth rinse after brushing. The hygienist can recommend an appropriate one based on your individual needs.
- If you have bad breath, you might be able to alleviate it by cleaning your tongue.
Dental Checkups & Cleanings
Twice a year checkups and cleanings help our team accomplish two very important goals. One, they give us the opportunity to catch and treat small dental issues during their earliest stages, and two, they can often prevent the development of issues in the first place. These services can drastically lower a patient’s need for more involved and extensive treatments as well, helping them save thousands over time. To learn more about how these services can protect you and your family’s smiles, click on the link below.
Learn more about Dental Checkups & Cleanings
Fluoride Treatment
Although enamel is the hardest substance made by the human body, it’s not completely invincible. Overly acidic foods, unhealthy bacteria in your mouth, and the pressure of daily biting and chewing can weaken or wear it down. Unfortunately, this increases your risk of tooth decay or other damage that usually worsens the longer it goes unaddressed.
That means proper prevention is key to avoiding cavities and other injuries. Our team is happy to help strengthen your or your child’s teeth with topical fluoride treatment. Continue reading to learn more about this standard preventive service and who it can help!
What Is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in lakes, creeks, rain, soil, and growing vegetation. It’s also frequently found in dental products, like certain types of cavity-fighting toothpastes or mouthwashes. It’s also sometimes added to public sources of drinking water to help improve oral health.
In larger doses, especially if swallowed, it can cause indigestion or stomach aches, and teeth overexposed to this ingredient may develop mottling or discoloration. Thankfully, dental products and treatments include only a small, safe amount to help protect your smile without harming your overall health.
How Does Fluoride Treatment Work?
This service typically involves placing fluoride foam, gel, or varnish either directly to your teeth or into trays that fit snugly over them. It usually remains in place long enough for the active ingredients to take effect, which might take about 30 to 60 minutes.
Then, it works by pulling essential minerals, like calcium and phosphate, and infusing them into your enamel. This strengthens your teeth and can help prevent and sometimes reverse early stages of tooth decay. Our team will likely recommend that you avoid eating or drinking anything during this time for an optimal outcome.
Who Benefits from Fluoride Treatment?
This service is often recommended for kids, who might still struggle to brush and floss their teeth thoroughly, to help avoid cavities, chips, cracks, and other concerns. It even comes in fun flavors that are appealing to children.
However, adults might also benefit from topical fluoride, especially if they have mobility challenges or other issues that make it hard to keep up with their dental health, a medical condition such as diabetes that increases the risk of dental problems, or sensitivity or other concerns caused by thinning enamel. If you’re unsure why we’ve suggested this service, we are happy to provide as much information as you need to feel comfortable moving forward.
Children’s Dentistry
It’s common knowledge that children come with their own unique set of needs, and the same is true for their dental care. Our team is skilled and practiced at providing the services and information children need to create a solid foundation for their dental hygiene. And, our team will do everything we can to make sure your child feels comfortable and relaxed starting at their very first visit. We’ll go out of our way to turn their appointments into a fun and education experience!
Learn More about Children’s Dentistry
Gum Disease Therapy
Red and swollen gums or constant bad breath might indicate that you're suffering from periodontal disease, better known as gum disease. This is a common bacterial infection that can develop due to a lack of oral hygiene, and it can easily lead to tooth loss if left untreated! We can treat your symptoms thoroughly and painlessly with scaling and root planing and other methods at Smile by Design of Virginia Beach. By keeping a close eye on your gums, we’ll make sure your entire smile, not just your teeth, stays healthy as the years go by.