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Virginia Beach, VA 23452
(757) 499-9639
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Don’t Let Toothache Pain Ruin Your Holidays: Get Root Canal Therapy at Smile By Design Today

November 30, 2014

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 3:10 pm
With all of the cooking, shopping, decorating, and traveling
you have to do this holiday season, the last thing you’ll want to deal with
is a toothache. Pain and soreness from a toothache can be so intense; it can
literally render you helpless. That’s why it’s so important to see a dentist to
get a sore or sensitive tooth treated, before the pain and discomfort have a
chance to ruin your holidays. Make an appointment
with the gentle and caring dentists at Smile
By Design today. Dr. Santos and Dr.
Folck can get you immediate pain and sensitivity relief with root canal
therapy. Smile By Design provides root canal therapy to patients throughout
Virginia Beach, VA, Norfolk,
Sandbridge, Portsmouth, Fort Story, and nearby communities.
What Happens During Root Canal
Therapy?
·         The dentist will complete the anesthesia, so
all pain is blocked
·        
The infected tooth will be isolated with a
rubber dam
·        
An access whole will be drilled into the core of the
tooth
·        
The root canal will be cleaned out and shaped
·        
The dentist will fill the root canal with gutta-percha and
use a dental sealer to cover the whole
·        
A temporary or permanent crown will be placed
Will Root Canal
Therapy Hurt?

No. The compassionate and gentle dentists at Smile By Design take every
precaution to ensure that you are completely calm and comfortable during the
entire procedure. They will also insure that the infected tooth and surrounding
tissues are completely numbed before beginning the root canal
therapy. Besides, the intense pain of a toothache far exceeds any
sensitivity you might experience during a standard root canal therapy
procedure.
Root Canal
Therapy Appointments in Virginia Beach, VA
If you are muddling through toothaches, you’ve already
waited too long to see a dentist. Not only can Smile By Design relive your pain,
the root canal
therapy they provide can also save your natural tooth from falling out, or
needing to be extracted. To protect your teeth and your sanity this holiday
season, make an
appointment with the experienced restorative dentists at Smile By Design today. Dr. Santos and Dr.
Folck can complete your root canal
therapy quickly and efficiently. Smile
By Design is conveniently located in Virginia Beach, VA with
comprehensive dental services to patients throughout Norfolk, Sandbridge,
Portsmouth, Fort Story, and surrounding areas.

No Long Waiting Periods with CEREC One Visit Crowns

November 15, 2014

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 2:24 pm

If you have ever needed car repairs, you know that the
process can be daunting. You have to drop your car off at the repair shop,
get a rental car, and then wait several days (or even weeks) to get your
car back. This is because the repair shop has to order special parts, wait for their delivery, and then begin working on your car. It’s all a
big hassle. The same is true for traditional dental crown procedures. In the past, if you
needed a dental crown, your dentist had to first take impressions of your teeth, construct and place a temporary crown, then wait two weeks
for the crown to be constructed by a dental lab. After this long waiting period, your dental
crown could finally be placed. Not anymore! With the new CEREC (Chairside
Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramic) one visit crowns, there’s no
long waiting period for your permanent restoration. You can be in and out with
your brand new crown in one short visit. If you need a damaged or compromised
tooth crowned, make an
appointment with the experienced restorative dentists at Smile By Design today. Dr. Santos and Dr.
Folck can restore your teeth quickly and efficiently using the new CEREC crowns
technology. Smile By Design is
conveniently located in Virginia
Beach, VA and proudly serves patients throughout Norfolk, Sandbridge,
Portsmouth, Fort Story and surrounding communities.
You may need a CEREC crown
to repair:
·        
large cavities
·        
disfiguring chips or cracks
·        
broken teeth 
·        
misshapen teeth
The CEREC crown
procedure is a simple six step process. Your dentist will:
·        
Cover the tooth with non-toxic powder and take
digital pictures
·        
Using 3-D CEREC technology, the restoration is designed 
·        
This detailed information is sent digitally to
the CEREC milling unit
·        
The personalized porcelain crown is fabricated right in your dentist’s office
·        
The new crown is polished and placed
·        
The crown is permanently bonded to your tooth
The benefits of CEREC Crowns
include:
·        
No fabrication waiting period
·        
Prepping, fitting, and placing all in one visit
·        
No temporary crown that falls off or is
sensitive
·        
You receive your final crown in one visit
·        
You get a more accurate scanned impression
·        
Your dentist can make any necessary changes
immediately
Repair Your Teeth
with CEREC
Crowns in Virginia
Beach, VA
We use technological advancements to make our lives simpler
and easier every day. This principle should also be true of our dental care. CEREC crowns
make dental crown procedures faster and less complicated for dentists and  patients. That means that your dentist has more time to focus on giving you
the best possible care. Make
an appointment with the highly qualified cosmetic and restorative dentists
at Smile By Design today. Dr. Santos and Dr.
Folck restore smiles daily throughout Virginia Beach, VA, Norfolk,
Sandbridge, Portsmouth, Fort Story, and nearby areas.

Kids, Candy and Cavities: The Case for Children’s Dentistry

October 15, 2014

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 6:48 pm
For kids, Halloween is nothing but fun. Costumes,
candy, games and parties. For parents and the other people who care about kids,
Halloween can raise a few concerns. Of course, you take every precaution to
make sure your children are safe on that night of trick-or-treating. But how
about protecting their teeth? This is the perfect time of year to be mindful of
your children’s oral health. Dr. Stephanie
Santos and Dr. Vinita Folck at Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, VA,
make children’s
dentistry an integral part of their family practice.
Children’s
Dentistry: A Partnership among Dentists, Parents and Kids

At home, you know what you should do to help your
children build a foundation of good oral health. Brush and floss at least twice
a day, usually in the morning and at night. This practice should begin as soon
as that first little white tooth shows up in your baby’s gum. Just take a soft
washcloth or gauze pad and wipe the tooth with warm water after feeding. As
more teeth grow, you’ll want to use a soft child’s toothbrush and pea-size
amount of toothpaste. Help your children brush their teeth until the age of
seven or eight, when they have the coordination to do so themselves.
That foundation for good oral health continues when
you bring your children to Smile by
Design. Your child’s first visit to the dentist should happen between the
ages of two and three, or certainly earlier if you suspect a problem. Our
dentists and their staff will do their best to make sure your child’s time in
the office is relaxed and inviting. Then, as they grow and mature, they will be
comfortable with routine dental procedures such as cleanings, fluoride
treatments and the occasional x-ray. We recommend bringing your children to the
dentist twice per year, so that we can spot concerns before they become
problems.
Contact
Our Office Today

Keep your little ghosts and goblins smiling brightly
with children’s dentistry at Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, VA.
Schedule an appointment today. We conveniently serves patients in the
surrounding communities of Fort Story, Portsmouth, Sandbridge and Norfolk. 

Straighten Your Smile with Ease with Invisalign.

August 29, 2014

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 4:58 pm
Having a misaligned or gapped smile
is never an easy thing to live with, and you may feel as though you are merely
settling for the smile you were given. Though you may have considered straightening
your smile, the idea of having a mouth full of metal may have deterred you from
seeking the orthodontic treatment you want and deserve. Dealing with wires and
brackets associated with traditional braces are never comfortable, and the
dietary restrictions are not something to look forward to either. Thankfully, Dr. Stephanie L.
Santos and Dr. Vinita John Folck
are able to straighten your smile with ease by offering Invisalign
to their patients at their Virginia Beach,
VA dental office.
The wonderful thing about Invisalign is the fact you are able to
align your smile without compromising the way you look. Invisalign works through a series of aligners that gently
straighten your teeth, and the aligners sit nearly invisibly on your smile!
That way, you are able to get orthodontic treatment without making it blatant. Our
doctors will make impressions of your smile, and send that information to have
your custom aligners made. The wonderful thing about having your aligners
custom made is the fact that your treatment is personalized specifically to you,
and it will ensure amazing results. You wear each aligner for a specific amount
of time, as no aligner is identical to the other. Each one is indicative of a
different step in your treatment process, so when you are finished wearing one
aligner, simply apply the next one in the series to continue your treatment!
One of the amazing benefits of Invisalign is that you are able to
experience complete dietary freedom. With traditional braces, there are certain
foods you cannot eat, as the wires and brackets get in the way. So now, not
only is your treatment more comfortable, but it is more enjoyable. Also, you
are able to experience better oral health with Invisalign. Any time you need to eat, drink, floss, or brush,
simply remove and reapply the aligner when needed! If you would like our
doctors to help you straighten your smile using Invisalign, contact our office today!

Contact our office in
Virginia Beach, VA today to schedule
your visit with our team, and explore the possibilities of Invisalign for yourself. We look forward to helping you reveal your
most beautiful and confident smile yet. Our practice serves patients throughout
the Virginia Beach area, including Norfolk, Sandbridge, Portsmouth, Fort Story, and beyond.

Restore Your Smile with Dental Implants!

August 15, 2014

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 4:57 pm
Having teeth missing from your
smile can be detrimental to the way you feel about yourself as well as the way
you interact with the people around you. Our smiles are how we show friendliness
to others, nourish ourselves, and communicate with people. If you have a smile
that is not complete, you may feel as though there is nothing that can bring
back the life your smile once had. Though you may have considered dentures and partials
as tooth replacements, you may be wanting a more permanent solution to your
smile woes. Thankfully, Dr. Stephanie L.
Santos and Dr. Vinita John Folck
are able to give you the smile you have been wanting by offering dental implants
to their patients at their Virginia
Beach, VA dental office.
Dental implants are a permanent solution to having a smile that is
not full, and it yields amazing results. You begin the process with a
consultation with one of our doctors. They will have to determine whether or
not you are a candidate for dental
implants my evaluating the current state of your smile, your gum health,
and your bone density. Dental implanting
involves embedding a titanium post into your jaw bone. Over time, the post will
promote healthy bone growth, as well as fuse with the implant itself, creating a strong bond. Once the proper amount of
healing has taken place, our doctors will make custom crowns to place atop the implant. The crowns look just like
natural teeth, making your smile makeover look as organic as possible.
One of the amazing things about dental implants is that you are able to
regain the confidence you may have lost. Feeling insecure about your smile is
never easy on anyone, and when you feel confident in the way you look, many
positive things are sure to follow. If you would like our doctors to help
restore your smile with dental implants,
contact our office today!

Contact our office in
Virginia Beach, VA today to schedule
your visit with our team, and explore the possibilities of dental implants for yourself. We look forward to helping you reveal
your most beautiful and confident smile yet. Our practice serves patients
throughout the Virginia Beach area,
including Norfolk, Sandbridge, Portsmouth, Fort Story,
and beyond.

It’s Time for a Stunning Summer Smile Makeover at Smile by Design

July 22, 2014

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 7:41 pm
Summer is officially in full swing, and it’s time to get
outdoors and enjoy everything the warmer weather and beautiful sunshine have to
offer. Make sure that you’re ready to soak up the sun and revel in the fun of
the season with friends and family when you come to Smile by Design. Conveniently
located in Virginia
Beach, VA, the practice of Dr. Vinita Folck
and Dr. Stephanie Santos can help get your smile ready for pool parties,
backyard cookouts, and summer vacation with a variety of cosmetic
dentistry treatments.
Say Hello
to Your Brand New Smile

Many American men and women admit that they would benefit
from some level of cosmetic enhancement when it comes to their smiles.
Sometimes, it’s a simple matter of stains or yellowing that has them feeling
down about their appearance. Deep discoloration caused by coffee, wine,
tobacco, and certain medications can make you look and feel years older than
you actually are, but professional teeth whitening can help. With the proven
power of Zoom!
Teeth Whitening, our doctors can help erase years of built-up stains from
your smile. You’ll be leaving our office with a revitalized new look and a
gorgeous set of pearly whites you can be proud of!
If yellowing isn’t your only concern, you’re not alone. What
about problems like fractures in your enamel, mild misalignment, crowding, gaps
between teeth, and more? Fortunately, we have a solution for these issues as
well. Porcelain
veneers are an ideal fix for all kinds of problems all at once, giving you
a perfectly proportioned, uniform smile in just two visits. These ultra-thin,
durable layers of customized dental porcelain fit right over your natural
teeth, giving the gorgeous smile you’ve always wanted with minimal preparation. Whatever you need to feel great about your smile this summer, you’ll find it
here at Smile by Design.

Schedule
Your Cosmetic Consultation Today

Whether your smile needs a complete transformation or you’d
simply like to give it a little boost for summer, our doctors are here to help.
Contact our office
in Virginia Beach, VA today to
schedule your visit with our team, and explore the possibilities of cosmetic dentistry for yourself. We
look forward to helping you reveal your most beautiful and confident smile yet.
Our practice serves patients from throughout the Virginia Beach area, including Norfolk,
Sandbridge, Portsmouth, Fort Story, and beyond. 

Sleep Apnea Therapy: Get the Restful Night’s Sleep You Want and Deserve

July 8, 2014

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 7:37 pm
Snoring is a common complaint among partners of men and women
with sleep apnea,
but this noisy nuisance isn’t the primary reason to treat the underlying
condition. Sleep apnea has been linked
to a wide range of associated health complications and should be treated to
avoid potentially fatal conditions. At Smile
by Design in Virginia
Beach, VA, Dr.
Stephanie Santos and Dr. Vinita Folck offer a comprehensive solution to sleep apnea and loud snoring in order to help our patients rest well, feel better,
and stay healthy.
Complications
of Untreated Sleep Apnea

When a patient suffers from obstructive sleep apnea, the tongue and soft tissues of the oral
cavity partially or fully block the airway during sleep. The level of oxygen in
the blood gradually decreases until the brain sends an urgent signal to the
body to wake up and take a full breath. Most patients don’t awaken fully,
though they do experience the sensation of lost sleep the next day. Feeling
exhausted at work and on the road can be exceedingly dangerous, particularly
for individuals who drive long distances or work with heavy machinery. Other
complications associated with untreated sleep
apnea include the following:
·        
Circulatory problems, including high blood pressure
·        
Cardiovascular disease
·        
Eye conditions, including glaucoma and conjunctivitis
·        
Increased risk of complications following surgery
·        
Coronary artery disease
·        
Stroke
·        
Respiratory failure
·        
Irregular heartbeat
·        
Pulmonary hypertension
·        
Complications during pregnancy
·        
Chronic headaches
·        
Seizures
Improve
Your Life with Sleep Apnea Therapy

Contact
our office in Virginia Beach, VA today
to schedule your consultation with our doctors and our caring, experienced
team. We look forward to helping you overcome snoring and sleep apnea in
a way that suits your lifestyle and improves your health. Our state-of-the-art
dental facility proudly serves patients from the entire Virginia Beach, VA area and nearby communities in Sandbridge, Norfolk, Fort Story,
Portsmouth, and more. Our team can’t wait to serve you and your family with
exceptional dental care. 

Over-the-Counter Teeth Whitening Products: How Effective Are They?

June 25, 2014

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 3:19 pm
Everyone wants a bright, healthy smile that they’re proud to
show off to the people in their lives, but aging and many external factors can
cause our teeth to look less than lustrous. Today, there are many
over-the-counter teeth whitening products available at your local pharmacy and
grocery stores, each of them promising amazing results. It is important,
however, to be an informed consumer when it comes to teeth whitening products
and services before you make a decision. At Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, VA,
our doctors are happy to help patients understand the intricacies of teeth whitening and how it affects your
teeth.
OTC Whitening vs.
Professional Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening
strips and comparable over-the-counter whitening products are capable of
producing temporary results because they remove surface stains from the enamel.
Unfortunately, their active ingredients aren’t powerful enough to deliver
long-lasting results and, therefore, customers must repeat the process every
month or so. In addition, because these products are used at home, there is
more margin for error in application. This means that you may not even get the
results you see on the package, particularly if the whitening solution does not
remain in contact with all surfaces of the teeth for the prescribed amount of
time.
Zoom! Whitening:
Advantages of In-Office Whitening

Unlike over-the-counter teeth whitening products,
professional whitening services – including the highly-effective Zoom! Whitening
we offer in our office – produce lasting results by removing stains from deep
within each tooth. The hydrogen peroxide gel formula we use during your Zoom! procedure
is activated by a specialized light, allowing the active ingredients to
permeate the stained layers of dentin and enamel. Years of discoloration are effectively
lifted in a single, one-hour treatment. Take-home kits can be used to touch up
your smile and maintain lasting results. Over-the-counter treatments simply
cannot penetrate the surfaces of your teeth to remove set-in stains the way
Zoom! Whitening can.
Schedule Your
Appointment Today

Do you want to experience the full benefits of a gorgeously
white smile in less time than ever before? Contact our office
today if you have any questions about teeth whitening, or if you’re ready to
schedule your appointment with our team of experienced doctors and our friendly
staff. We look forward to helping you achieve the brilliantly white, healthy
smile of your dreams. Our conveniently located office in Virginia Beach, VA proudly serves patients from the surrounding
areas as well, including Portsmouth,
Norfolk, Fort Story, Sandbridge, and beyond. 

E-Cigs and Your Smile: How Does Vaping Affect Your Teeth?

June 13, 2014

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 3:18 pm
As many cigarette smokers turn to electronic cigarettes to
get their nicotine fix, the topic of how these popular products affect oral
health inevitably comes up again and again. While it is common knowledge that
smoking cigarettes can cause a variety of oral health problems – including oral
cancer, periodontal disease, and substantially stained teeth – not much is yet
known about how e-cigs impact a person’s smile. At Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, VA,
our doctors are happy to share valuable oral health information with our
patients, including how the mouth is affected by smoking vs. vaping
e-cigarettes.
Being an Informed
Consumer

Though research is still ongoing regarding how e-cigs affect oral health, there are a
few things that medical studies have been able to tell us so far. One of these
factors involves the manner in which vaping dehydrates the mouth. A dry mouth
is an excellent environment for bacterial imbalance and the development of periodontal
disease. Patients who experience chronic dry mouth – whether it is caused by
using electronic cigarettes or not –
should contact our office for a consultation to determine the underlying issue,
as well as to seek treatment.
Other concerns regarding e-cigs and oral health revolve around the ingredients used to
create the liquid, or “juice,” these products use to deliver nicotine. More
research is needed to determine how these ingredients, including propylene
glycol and the flavorings used, impact the teeth and soft tissues of the gums,
cheek lining, and tongue.
Schedule Your
Appointment Today

Whether you are currently a smoker, an e-cig user, or simply
someone who would like to learn more about how these behaviors affect your oral
health, we are here to help. Our doctors and caring, compassionate staff are
always happy to share vital oral health information with our patients because
we want you to have the happiest, healthiest smile possible. Contact our office
today to schedule a visit to our Virginia
Beach office and discover the difference that our patient-centric approach
can make in your life. We also happily serve patients in Norfolk, Sandbridge, Fort Story, Portsmouth, and beyond. 

The Role of Fluoride in Your Dental Health

May 6, 2014

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 9:29 pm
There are a lot of misconceptions about fluoride as it relates to health, and hundreds of sites online that
offer conflicting information about its effects. At Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, VA,
our doctors want you to feel informed about all aspects of oral health,
including the ways in which fluoride can
impact your teeth.

Fluoride: Is it Good
or Bad for Teeth?

Fluoride is a
naturally occurring substance that originates from an element called fluorine.
It is found in its natural form in the water and many foods we drink and eat,
respectively. Despite much controversy regarding its effects, the amount of fluoride found in normal tap water is
not substantial enough to cause any adverse health problems. In fact, fluoride is one of the essential
factors in a healthy smile.
Fluoride treatments help
to remineralize teeth, offering improved strength and protection against common
problems like tooth decay. Adults are advised to use a toothpaste and mouthwash
that contains fluoride because of this fact, better fortifying your teeth
between visits to your dentist’s office. As with any procedure or treatment
performed at our office, we invite you to ask questions and raise any concerns
you may have regarding fluoride treatments. We’re here as a source of accurate,
up-to-date information pertaining to the overall oral health of you and your
family
.
Schedule Your Next
Visit Today

Has it been more than six months since the last time you had
your teeth and gums cleaned and examined at Smile by Design? If so, then it’s time to contact our office in
Virginia Beach, VA to schedule your
appointment. Our experienced, caring doctors and staff look forward to helping
you achieve optimal oral health through general dentistry and preventive
services, all while welcoming you into a warm, comforting atmosphere. Our
family-friendly practice happily serves patients from throughout Virginia Beach, as well as the
surrounding areas of Fort Story,
Portsmouth, Norfolk, Sandbridge, and beyond. 
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