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272 Bendix Road Suite #650,
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
(757) 499-9639
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What is Periodontitis?

April 16, 2014

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 7:50 pm
When most people think of gum disease, the first images that
come to mind typically include swollen gum tissue and bleeding gums when the
teeth are brushed or flossed. While these are certainly common symptoms
associated with periodontal disease, the consequences of leaving this condition
untreated can actually be far worse. At Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, VA, Dr. Vinita John
Folck and Dr. Stephanie L. Santos offer comprehensive periodontal
therapy to treat gum disease before it results in more severe
complications.
Gum Disease and the
Body

Periodontitis is
a severe infection of the gums and the gingival tissues that hold the teeth in
their proper places. When these tissues become inflamed and infected, the
structural integrity of the jaw and teeth is compromised. In addition to
causing gum sensitivity, swelling, and bleeding, periodontitis can eventually lead to loose teeth and even teeth
that fall out.
Other complications that arise from untreated gum disease include an increased risk
for heart disease, stroke, respiratory infections, dementia, and low birth
weight in infants of mothers with the condition. With periodontal therapy from the team at Smile by Design, we’ll develop a treatment plan that suits your
individual situation. Our primary goal is to help you achieve and maintain a
smile that is as healthy as it is beautiful.
Schedule Your
Consultation

If you suspect that you or anyone in your family may be
suffering from any level of gum disease –
even if it consists of occasional bleeding when you brush or floss – contact our office in
Virginia Beach, VA today. Our
doctors and caring staff look forward to helping you stop periodontitis in its tracks, giving you the healthy, gorgeous smile
you want and deserve. Our family-friendly office gladly welcomes patients from throughout
Virginia Beach and the surrounding
communities, including the cities of Norfolk,
Portsmouth, Fort Story, Sandbridge, and beyond.

What to Do In a Dental Emergency

April 7, 2014

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 7:31 pm
You can never see a dental emergency coming—that’s part of
what defines an emergency. So knowing what to do when you’re in the middle of
one is very important. In today’s post, we want to go through some of the most
common dental emergencies and offer tips on what to do in each case. If you don’t
see your emergency on the list, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’re
ready to help you!
Knocked Out Tooth

If you suddenly lose a tooth because of an accident, injury,
or some other cause, call
us immediately. Reattachment is possible if we can see you soon enough.
Until Dr. Santos
or Dr. Folck
can see you, gently rinse the tooth and put it back in its socket. If you’re
unable to do that, store it in a baggie of milk.
Broken Tooth

As with a knocked out tooth, breaking a tooth is also a
jarring experience. If you have a broken or cracked a tooth, call us for an
appointment. And in the meantime, rinse the area with warm water and apply
a cold compress to the area to treat pain and swelling.
Damaged Crown

Crowns can also become damaged, especially temporary crowns.
At Smile by Design, we can replace
your broken crown in a single appointment with our Virginia Beach office’s CEREC machine.
Severe Toothache

Are you struggling with a severe toothache? Before you call
us, try flossing around the affected tooth to see you can dislodge anything
from the area. If flossing does not help and your toothache continues, call us for an
appointment. Avoid putting aspirin on your tooth as this can damage your
sensitive gum tissue.
Something Caught
between Teeth

As with the last emergency, try flossing before you give us a call. Avoid
using sharp instruments to help you.
Cut/Bitten Tongue or
Lip

Bleeding from your tongue or lip is a more serious emergency
that may require a trip to your local emergency room. Clean the area and hold a
cold compress to it for a while to stop the bleeding. If your bleeding does not
stop, visit your area ER.
Possible Broken Jaw

As with a bleeding tongue or lip, you should see your local
emergency room for help with a broken jaw.

Are you experiencing a dental emergency not listed here? Dr. Santos and Dr. Folck would be happy to consult with you. Call us immediately
for help. Our Virginia Beach office serves
patients from Fort Story, Sandbridge, and nearby communities. 

Get To Know Our Dentists

March 4, 2014

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 2:57 pm
If you’re new to Virginia
Beach, or you’ve never visited our site before, you may not know anything
about our
doctors. That’s why we want to use today’s post to tell you a little bit
about them.
The doctors at Smile
by Design in Virginia Beach are Stephanie Santos and Vinita Folck. Both have extensive
experience as dental professionals, and both are committed to providing
patients with excellent care.
“I love helping people overcome their dental fears,” Dr. Santos says in her bio. Dr. Santos earned a Bachelor of Science
in chemistry from Old Dominion University
before completing her DDS at Virginia
Commonwealth University. She was also an army dentist for three years.
Dr. Folck is from
Texas. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Miami and then attended the University of Texas Health Science Center in San
Antonio for her dental degree. “This practice is like family!” she says in her
bio. Dr. Folck’s husband is also an
oral surgeon practicing in Virginia Beach.
Dr. Santos and Dr. Folck are both members of important
dental organizations, like the American Dental
Association.
Are you looking for a dentist in the Virginia Beach area? Call Smile by Design today to schedule an
appointment. We serve patients from Virginia
Beach, Fort Story, Sandbridge, and surrounding areas.

Virginia Beach Root Canal Therapy

February 21, 2014

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 9:19 pm
Our teeth are made up of three layers. On the outside is a
protective layer called enamel. Beneath that is a sensitive layer of dentin. At
the very center of a tooth is the nerve, which is composed of a pulpy material.

A serious toothache can be a sign that there’s something
wrong with this innermost layer. Sometimes a toothache like this is caused by a
deep cavity, and sometimes it’s the result of an injury. If you’re experiencing
a severe toothache, you may have an infection that needs to be treated with a root canal
from our Virginia Beach office.
  • Other signs include:
  • Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
  • Swollen or tender gums
  • Recurring pimple around your gums
  • Pain when you chew
With a root canal,
Dr. Santos
and Dr. Folck
can help by removing the infected pulp from your tooth, filling the center with
an inert substance, and cap the tooth with a crown. Removing the infection will
save your smile and offer relief from your uncomfortable symptoms. It will also
mean saving the root underneath. Why is that important? Because your jaw relies
on your tooth roots to stay healthy and strong throughout your life.

Do you have questions about root canal therapy? Are you struggling with a severe toothache? Let
Dr. Santos and Dr. Folck talk to you about your smile. With an oral health
assessment our Virginia Beach team
can help you understand what kind of care you need. Dr. Folck and Dr. Santos
offer root canal therapy to patients
from Virginia Beach, Fort Story, Sandbridge, and surrounding areas.

Periodontal Therapy for Virginia Beach

February 14, 2014

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , — smilebydesignteam @ 9:15 pm
In our last post, we talked
about the connection between oral health and overall wellbeing. Today we’d like
to talk a little more about gum disease,
its symptoms, and how it can be treated.
The symptoms of gum
disease include:
  • Red or swollen gums
  • Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
  • Loose or shifting teeth
  • Pockets between the teeth and gums
Regular checkups at Smile
by Design are important because they give Dr. Santos and
Dr. Folck a
chance to look for symptoms like these. Regular appointments are also important
because not every patient who struggles with gum disease will exhibit all of them.
If our Virginia Beach
team finds anything, we can put together a treatment plan designed around your
specific needs. One of the most common treatments for gum disease is scaling and
root planing. Using a combination of scaling
and root planing plus extra homecare, Dr.
Folck and Dr. Santos can help
you gain control over your symptoms and enjoy better oral health and overall
wellbeing.

Are you struggling with gum
disease? Data indicates that a majority of American adults will at some
point. Call Smile by Design today to schedule an
appointment. Dr. Folck and Dr. Santos are happy to serve patients
from Virginia Beach, Fort Story, Sandbridge, and surrounding areas.

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.
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