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272 Bendix Road Suite #650,
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
(757) 499-9639
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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.

A Beautiful Smile for the Holidays with Porcelain Veneers

October 10, 2013

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 9:01 pm
The holidays are all about getting together with family and
loved ones. That means lots of catching up, smiling, and laughing. Put your
best foot forward this year with a more dazzling smile. And thanks to a
cosmetic dental service like porcelain veneers,
you can do exactly that in just two visits.
Using porcelain veneers,
Dr. Santos
and Dr. Folck
can:
  • Close gaps
  • Hide stains
  • Change tooth length
  • Cover cracks or chips
  • Whiten teeth
  • Make teeth look straighter
What’s more, the process of transforming your smile with porcelain veneers is easy. It takes
just two appointments, after which you can leave our Virginia Beach with the results you’ve always wanted.
Here’s what you can expect from the porcelain veneer process. First, Dr. Santos or Dr. Folck
will conduct a thorough exam and oral health assessment to make sure your smile
is healthy enough for the procedure. If it is, we’ll design personalized veneers based on the shade and shape of
your teeth. We’ll also talk to you about the results you’d like to see.
Once we have all the information we need, we’ll prep your
teeth by removing a small amount of enamel. This will let your finished porcelain veneers lie flat with your
teeth. Then, after our lab has made your veneers
according to our detailed instructions, we’ll apply them, completing your
procedure.

Have a whiter holiday season right now with porcelain veneers from Smile by Design. Call us today to
reserve your consultation. We’re happy to provide cosmetic care to patients
from Virginia Beach, Fort Story, Sandbridge, and beyond.

A Family Dentistry Checkup before the Holidays

October 8, 2013

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 4:15 pm
At Smile by Design,
Dr. Santos
and Dr. Folck
encourage their Virginia Beach
patients to come in for checkups at least twice a year. Why so often? Because catching
common oral health conditions like gum disease and tooth decay will lead to
less invasive, more comfortable care. And with 2013 quickly coming to an end,
is there a better time for your family to come in for a checkup than before the
holidays start?
Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the December holidays all come
with their own special treats—ones that are tasty but pose a threat to your
oral health. With a family dentistry
checkup at Smile by Design, our Virginia Beach dental team can assess
your current health and determine if you’ll need care before the holidays
arrive.
Even though you should be careful how many sweets you
consume, we want you to enjoy the time you spend with friends and family, and
that means being able to enjoy a few goodies over the next few months. What’s
more, seeing you before the holidays begin will give us a chance to offer some
nutritional advice as well.
A natural sweetener known as xylitol can be used instead of sugar in holiday treats because it’s
sweet but won’t cause the same problems as regular sugar. In fact, xylitol is used in some toothpaste
brands to guard against cavities. That’s because sugar leads to the creation of
acid in the mouth, while xylitol creates
a neutral atmosphere that makes it difficult for harmful bacteria to cling to
teeth.

 

Learn more about xylitol
by visiting Xylitol.org.
And to schedule a visit for yourself or someone else in your family, call Smile by Design today for an
appointment. We’re happy to serve patients from Virginia Beach and beyond.

Enhance Your Smile with Zoom! Teeth Whitening

September 9, 2013

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 1:29 pm

One of the most popular cosmetic dentistry services available today is teeth whitening. With this effective service, Dr. Folck and Dr. Santos can help patients improve the appearance of stained teeth and enjoy a more dazzling smile.

But first, why do teeth darken in the first place?

It’s because the protective layer of enamel on the outside is porous. As a result, dark colored foods and drinks are among the most common causes of staining. Which ones in particular? Some of the most common include:

  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Red wine
  • Soft drinks
  • Fruit juices
  • Chocolate
  • Curry
  • Blueberries

Tobacco use and some medications also contribute, as does aging. But with Zoom! Whitening, patients can enjoy a whiter, more attractive smile after just a single visit with our Virginia Beach cosmetic dentists. How much whiter? By as much as 10 shades.

Here’s what you can expect from your whitening appointment. First, your Virginia Beach cosmetic dentists will look at your teeth and gums to see if whitening is right for you. If it is, we’ll make sure you’re comfortable, then place a protective covering over your lips and gums. The special Zoom! Whitening gel will be applied to teeth and activated by a low-heat lamp. The gel will penetrate beneath the enamel and work on the stains you want to get rid of. The entire process only takes one hour.

Do you want to learn more about teeth whitening? Call Smile by Design in Virginia Beach for a consultation visit.

CEREC One-Visit Crowns

August 22, 2013

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

Earlier this month, we outlined the restorative dentistry services you’ll find at Smile by Design. For today’s post, we’d like to zero-in on just one of them: CEREC one-visit crowns.

Dentists use crowns to help patients restore badly damaged or decayed teeth. That’s important, but a typical crown restoration takes at least two appointments to complete, which can be inconvenient. CEREC one-visit crowns take the return visit out of the equation by giving patients a high-quality, custom-made crown in just a single visit.

Here’s what you can expect from a CEREC appointment. First, Dr. Volck or Dr. Santos will examine your tooth and take a series of detailed, digital pictures of it. Then, using CEREC’s special 3D technology, our Virginia Beach team will design your customized restoration. Once this information has been transmitted to the CEREC milling unit, all you have to do is sit back and relax while it goes to work. Using high-quality dental porcelain, it will create exactly what you need.

When the CEREC milling unit is done, Dr. Volck or Dr. Santos will polish and place your new crown. As we’re finishing up, we’ll just check to see that it matches the shade and shape of your smile. Then you’ll be ready to return to your normal schedule.

Do you want to learn more about how CEREC can help you improve your smile’s functionality and appearance? Call Smile by Design today to reserve a consultation appointment. We serve patients from Virginia Beach, Fort Story, Sandbridge, and all surrounding communities.

Effective Restorative Care for Virginia Beach and Beyond

August 8, 2013

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 1:02 pm
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.

Enjoy a Beautiful, New Smile with Cosmetic Dentistry

August 6, 2013

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

Every patient wants to feel confident about her smile; few are born with the kind of dazzling smile you see on TV, on magazine covers, or at the movies, though. That’s why dentists like Dr. Folck and Dr. Santos of Smile by Design offer cosmetic dentistry. With our great cosmetic services, we can help patients from all around the Virginia Beach area enjoy better self-esteem and even oral health.

Our cosmetic dentistry services include:

Depending on your needs, we may use just one of these services, or we may put together a treatment plan that combines at least two or more.

Your cosmetic dentistry procedure will begin with a consultation at our Virginia Beach dental office. Dr. Folck or Dr. Santos will complete a through oral exam and then talk to you about the goals you have for your smile. Based on what we find out, we can recommend the path that’s most right for you. Many of our services take between just one or two visits to complete.

Do you want to know more about the cosmetic services we offer? Call Smile by Design today to reserve an appointment. Every day, we’re creating beautiful smiles for patients from Virginia Beach, Fort Story, Sandbridge, and other communities.

Periodontal Therapy for Virginia Beach and Beyond

July 23, 2013

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

Periodontal therapy is treatment for periodontal disease, aka gum disease. How serious is gum disease? According to some estimates, a majority of the adult population has some form of it. What’s more, though gum disease starts out mild, if left untreated it can lead to serious oral health problems. In fact, gum disease is the number one cause of adult tooth loss. All of which means that periodontal therapy is important for anyone with even mild symptoms.

How can you know if you have gum disease? Consider these symptoms:

  • Gums that are red, swollen, or tender
  • Gums that bleed after you brush or floss
  • Persistent bad breath
  • Deep pockets between your teeth and gums
  • Loose teeth
Are you experiencing one or more of these symptoms? Contact Smile by Design in Virginia Beach for an appointment with Dr. Santos or Dr. Folck. During your appointment, we can talk to you about our approach to periodontal therapy, which involves scaling and root planing. Even though gum disease isn’t fully curable, the symptoms can be treated and its progress can be halted. 
Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning method that lets us remove bacteria and plaque from deep below the gumline. Following your advanced care, regular brushing and flossing, plus twice yearly dental appointment, are important for helping your smile stay healthy.

Call us to set up an appointment. We can put together a periodontal therapy plan designed around your specific needs so that you can return to good oral health and find relief from your symptoms. Dr. Santos and Dr. Folck provide effective periodontal therapy to patients from Virginia Beach, Fort Story, and Northeast Virginia Beach.

The Benefit of Family and Children’s Dentistry

July 9, 2013

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 8:19 pm

Even though regular dental care is important for adults and children, you don’t want to have one doctor for yourself and another doctor for your little one. What you want instead is a place that can help your whole family—where you might even be able to schedule back-to-back appointments, for convenience.

That’s what you’ll find at Smile by Design in Virginia Beach. With the family and children’s dentistry we offer, we’re helping patients of all ages have healthy smiles.

Visit Us Twice a Year for Better Oral Health

Every patient should see a dentist at least twice a year. Why? So Dr. Santos and Dr. Folck can look for changes in you or your child’s oral health. Catching things like gum disease and tooth decay early are important for providing care.

During a family or children’s dentistry appointment at our Virginia Beach office, we’ll thoroughly examine your smile for signs of the most common oral health issues. Then, we’ll complete a dental cleaning to get your teeth cleaner than is even possible with the best brushing and flossing routine. For children, we can also add a fluorite treatment to the appointment. Fluoride strengthens teeth against decay, which is something that all smiles—but especially young smiles—need help with. If Dr. Santos or Dr. Folck finds anything during your appointment, we can put together a treatment plan to help you or your little one reclaim optimal oral health.

Has it been more than six months since your last appointment? Call Smile by Design today for an appointment with Dr. Santos or Dr. Folck. We’re proud to serve patients from Virginia Beach, Fort Story, and Northeast Virginia Beach.

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