No Long Waiting Periods with CEREC One Visit Crowns

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.

Porcelain Veneers from Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, VA

When you see your smile in the mirror or in a photograph, do you see the smile you want or do you see the smile you’ve simply settled for? Perhaps your smile is marred by slightly flawed teeth. Whatever the reason, you don’t have to settle anymore. With porcelain veneers, Dr. Stephanie Santos and Dr. Vinita Folck, the dentists at Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, VA, can give you the smile you’ve always wanted.

The concerns that porcelain veneers can remedy cover a broad range. For example, maybe you are bothered by a tooth that is chipped, cracked or broken. Whether by injury or normal wear and tear, porcelain veneers can repair these cosmetic worries. Likewise, if you have teeth that are discolored or stained, veneers can help restore your smile to its natural whiteness. Gaps and uneven spacing between teeth, slightly crooked or rotated teeth, and even the shape and length of teeth can all be corrected with the aid of porcelain veneers.

What are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are micro-thin shells of dental porcelain that are bonded to the surface of your teeth to repair or enhance your smile. When you come to Smile by Design, we will need to take impressions and photos of your teeth in order for the dental lab to fabricate your custom-made porcelain veneers.

But that’s not all we do to make sure your new smile is just right for you. We also take into consideration your facial features, hair color and eye color. Your veneers need to fit you, not just your smile. When your porcelain veneers arrive from the lab, one of our dentists will make sure they are a perfect fit for you and then use dental cement to bond the veneers to your teeth. With a little gentle loving care, your new veneers will give you years of smiling satisfaction.

Schedule an Appointment Today

If you are ready to discuss what porcelain veneers can do for you and your smile, then call the office of Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, VA, to schedule a consultation. We will be glad to see you. Our office also serves patients in Sandbridge, Norfolk, Fort Story and Portsmouth.

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

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. 

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.

Straighten Your Smile with Ease with Invisalign.

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!

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.