Get Rid of Tooth Pain for Good with Root Canal Therapy in Virginia Beach, VA

If you suffer from toothaches on a regular basis, you understand how much it can interfere with your daily activities. It can be difficult to concentrate at work, and you may avoid eating certain foods or drinking cold beverages. Tooth pain doesn’t have to rule your life; the doctors at Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, VA can help you find lasting toothache relief with gentle root canal therapy. Dr. Vinita Folck and Dr. Stephanie Santos offer a complete menu of general and restorative dentistry treatments, including endodontic therapy.

How Do I Know if I Need a Root Canal Treatment?

The most common symptom associated with an infected root canal is sensitivity to cold temperatures and pain when pressure is applied to the tooth. Other signs that you may need root canal treatment include a pimple that forms on the gums, darkening of the affected tooth, and tenderness in the jaw. Fortunately, the team at Smile by Design is here to help. We will clear the tooth of all infection, fill the resultant cavity with a biocompatible material, and cap the tooth with a beautiful custom crown. You’ll be free of pain and free to smile with comfort once again.

It is important to remember that some infections deep within teeth do not cause any noticeable symptoms until the decay is quite advanced. This is yet another reason that routine checkups at your local Virginia Beach, VA dentist are so vital to lifelong oral health and beautiful, attractive smiles.

Experience Truly Gentle Root Canal Therapy

Root canal treatment may have developed a bad reputation over the years, but the truth is that this procedure is no more uncomfortable than a simple filling. Our team will make sure that you are completely comfortable before, during, and after your procedure, offering sedation dentistry for patients who need a little help relaxing at the dentist. Contact us today to schedule your visit with Dr. Folck and Dr. Santos at Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, VA. We can help you find lasting relief from toothache pain as we ensure your continued oral health for years to come. Our state-of-the-art dental practice proudly serves families from Sandbridge, Fort Story, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and beyond.

Composite Fillings vs. Amalgams: The Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings

For more than 150 years, tooth decay and other types of dental damage were treated with an amalgam of metals, including silver, mercury, copper, tin, and other trace elements. While these types of fillings, commonly called amalgams, were sufficient for restoring damaged teeth, they came with a number of drawbacks. Today, composite resin fillings (often called white fillings or tooth-colored fillings) are the preferred restorative method for teeth that have succumbed to cavities, minor cracks, and injury. At Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, VA, Dr. Stephanie Santos and Dr. Vinita Folck offer a variety of natural-looking, long-lasting restorative dentistry options, including tooth-colored fillings.

Why Choose Tooth-Colored Fillings?

Tooth-colored fillings have rapidly become the restoration method preferred by both patients and dentists for a variety of reasons. One of the most obvious is their aesthetic appeal and their ability to blend seamlessly with the enamel of a patient’s natural dentition. While amalgam fillings are dark and shiny, composite resin fillings are carefully color-matched to the surrounding tooth structure. The result is a beautifully restored smile that looks completely natural.

The benefits of tooth-colored fillings extend far beyond their cosmetic appeal. While the metals in amalgam fillings cause them to adversely react to extreme temperatures, composite resins maintain their original shape and size for improved stability over time. You don’t have to worry about the strength of the seals between your fillings and your teeth, and there’s no risk of leaking or microfractures as there can be with amalgams. In addition, tooth-colored fillings are more conservative than their metal counterparts. This means that less of your natural tooth must be removed in preparation for a tooth-colored filling as compared to a metal filling. As with all of our cosmetic and restorative services, we will do everything we can to preserve as much of your natural smile as possible while offering the most effective treatments available.

A Healthier, More Natural Smile

If you currently have amalgam fillings and you’re interested in the possibilities afforded by composite resin fillings, we invite you to contact us today to schedule an appointment with Drs. Folck and Santos at Smile by Design. Our advanced technology, comforting amenities, and years of experience have made our practice the premier destination for dental care in Virginia Beach, VA. We look forward to helping you and every member of your family achieve lasting oral health and beautiful smiles for life. Our warm, welcoming dental office proudly serves families from throughout Virginia Beach, Sandbridge, Fort Story, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and beyond. 

What To Do When Canker Sores Won’t Go Away

A canker sore is a small, painful, shallow ulcer that appears inside the mouth; they may form on the tongue, the back portion of the roof of your mouth, or inside your cheeks.  The exact cause of most canker sores is still unknown, although stress or tissue injury is thought to be the cause of most simple canker sores. Highly acidic foods can also trigger a canker sore or make the problem worse. Some cases of complex canker sores are caused by an underlying health condition, such as an impaired immune system or nutritional deficiencies involving vitamin B-12, zinc, folic acid, or iron. Other medical conditions like gastrointestinal tract disease, celiac disease, or Crohn's disease could also be the culprit. If you have a canker sore that has lasted more than a week or two, you should make an appointment with the dentists at Smile By Design today. Dr. Santos and Dr. Folck can help you get immediate treatment and relief. Smile By Design is conveniently located in Virginia Beach, VA and proudly serves patients throughout Norfolk, Sandbridge, Portsmouth, Fort Story and surrounding communities.

Types of Canker Sores

There are two types of canker sores. The first type is the simple canker sore. These may appear sporadically three or four times per year and last for up to a week. They typically afflict young people between the ages of 10 and 20 years old. The second type is the complex canker sore. Complex canker sores are larger than simple canker sores, extremely painful, take more than a month to heal and can possibly leave a scar. They are less common and occur more often in people who have a long history of simple canker sores. People often confuse canker sores with cold sores but they are not the same. Cold sores, also known as fever blisters or herpes simplex type 1, are groups of painful, fluid-filled blisters. Unlike canker sores, cold sores are caused by a virus and are extremely contagious. While canker sores only appear inside the mouth, cold sores typically appear outside the mouth, under the nose, around the lips, or under the chin.

Treatment for Canker Sores in Virginia Beach, VA

Usually, the pain from a canker sore lessens in a few days, and the sores heal themselves without treatment in about a week or two. However, if you experience any of the following symptoms, you should make an appointment with the experienced dentists of Smile By Design immediately as these may be signs of a more serious medical condition:

·         Unusually large sores

·         Sores that are spreading throughout your mouth

·         Sores that last three weeks or longer

·         Intense pain despite avoiding acidic foods and taking pain medication

·         Difficulty drinking enough fluids

·         High fever accompanying the canker sores

Smile By Design is located in Virginia Beach, VA, with service to patients from the nearby communities of Norfolk, Sandbridge, Portsmouth and Fort Story. 

How Do You Know When to Get Dentures?

The number of US adults needing dentures is projected to increase from 33.6 million in 1991 to 37.9 million in 2020. Dentures are not inevitable for most people if they actively practice good oral hygiene habits and keep semi-annual dental checkups. Without these long-term measures in place however, gum disease and tooth decay, the main culprits of tooth loss, may win out. Gum disease causes about 70% of adult tooth loss and affects 3 out of 4 people at some point in their lives. Make an appointment with the experienced and caring dentists of Smile By Design to discuss your tooth replacement options. Dr. Santos and Dr. Folck can help you decide if the time is right to get dentures to replace your missing teeth. Smile by Design proudly serves patients throughout the Virginia Beach area, including Norfolk, Sandbridge, Portsmouth and Fort Story.

Dentures Can’t Fully Replace Missing Teeth

Tooth loss is avoidable today unless you neglect your teeth by not brushing, flossing and regularly visiting the dentist. When this happens, tooth decay and gum disease can progress to bone loss, which in turn can lead to tooth loss and possibly dentures.  Dentures should be a last resort because there is no perfect substitute for your natural teeth.

Losing your natural teeth is more than just an esthetic issue. The average adult bite force with natural teeth is somewhere around 200-250 pounds; with dentures, your bite force is reduced significantly to about 50 pounds. This makes it increasingly difficult to chew and digest certain foods like fruits and meats. Also, if you use upper dentures, the taste buds on the roof of your mouth will be covered, which can significantly reduce your sense of taste. Lastly, getting full dentures may cause your face to age more rapidly than peers that still have their natural teeth. This is because the bone that was used to support your natural teeth reabsorbs into the body. As the top of the mouth reabsorbs upwards, and the bottom of the mouth reabsorbs downwards, the space between your nose and chin shrinks, giving you an overall aged look.

Dentures and Dental Implants in Virginia Beach, VA

If you are facing the need to replace a large number of missing, or soon to be missing teeth, you are not alone. It’s estimated that 29% of Americans ages 45 to 55, 16% of Americans ages 35 to 44, and 3% of Americans ages 18 to 34 wear either full or partial dentures. These dentures don’t last forever and need to be replaced every 5-7 years, and relined every 2 years.  Although dentures aren't always easy to wear, not replacing your missing teeth isn’t a good option because the pressure on the remaining teeth is too great. Fortunately today, dental implants offer an attractive alternative to dentures. Choosing to get dental implants eliminates the side effect of premature aging because the implant replaces the tooth root and bone in your jaw. Also, dental implants have a bigger bite force than regular dentures because they are cemented into the jawbone for added stability. To discuss your tooth replacement options, make an appointment with Smile By Design today. The gentle dentists at Smile By Design proudly serve patients in and around Virginia Beach, VA, Norfolk, Sandbridge, Portsmouth and Fort Story.

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

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. 

Are You Seeing Us for the First Time?

Is your upcoming visit with us also going your first? Then we'd like to tell you how much we're looking forward to seeing you. At Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, our goal is making close, personal relationships with our patients–new and old–because that's how you deliver truly compassionate and patient-centered care.

We also want to let you know about our New Patient page. On this page, you will find a link for downloading our new patient forms. Filling these out before you come see us will make it possible to streamline your visit. When you come in, just hand us your paperwork and take a seat while we start processing your information.

You may also want to take a look at our Services page, if you have not already done so. On this page, you'll find helpful information about the range of services we offer, and what those services entail. Some of our biggest services include:

• Children's Dentistry
• Periodontal Therapy
• Root Canal Therapy
• Teeth Whitening
• Porcelain Veneers
• Dental Implants

If you have any questions about these services, the information on our site will help you gain a basic understanding of them. If you still have questions afterwards, we would be happy answer them during your visit.

Call us today if you're ready to schedule an appointment with Dr. Santos or Dr. Folck. We're happy to serve the needs of patients from Virginia Beach, Fort Story, Sandbridge, and nearby communities.

What is Periodontitis?

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.