Root Canal Therapy for Virginia Beach and Beyond

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

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.