How to Fix Imperfect Teeth and Get a Whiter Smile: Porcelain Veneers

Everyone dreams of having a bright, drop-dead-gorgeous smile. Movies, TV, and advertising always show individuals with straight, white smiles that catch the eye. Sometimes, though, this injuries, trauma, stains, and yellowing can prevent an achievable perfect smile. Aging and certain foods and drinks can stain and yellow teeth, while injuries and facial trauma can crack, fracture, and chip teeth. How can you obtain the smile you want? Smile by Design and its outstanding team of trained practitioners have a solution for you: porcelain veneers.

What are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are the answer to gaining confidence, self-esteem, and correcting any imperfections with your teeth. The veneers are thin pieces of porcelain, a type of ceramic, which are used to recreate the natural look of teeth, while restoring strength. Veneers can correct shape, size, cracks, and other issues with teeth. They are highly stain-resistant and are translucent, resembling healthy, white tooth enamel. The enhancements will immediately change any smile from dull to magnificent.

How Does the Dentist Attach Veneers?

Initially, you will have to meet with our dentist and discuss the option. We will examine and map out your mouth, forming a plan for the procedure (X-rays or impressions may be used to help with this). We will then schedule a date for the procedure. During your next visit, we will get to work.

Anesthetic will be applied if necessary, and the dentist will remove about ½ millimeter of enamel from the tooth’s surface, which is roughly the thickness of the veneer. The porcelain veneer will then be placed on the tooth, inspected to ensure the size and color match. If the size is a little off, we will trim the veneer to make sure it will be the perfect fit. After a quick clean and polish, the veneer will be bonded to the tooth. A special light beam is used to cement the veneer and hold it in place.

I Really Want Veneers.

Consultation with our professionals is necessary before we can green light a procedure. If you have an imperfect tooth – regardless of how it became damaged or warped – and would like to receive porcelain veneers, call or email our friendly staff immediately. We open our doors to all people in Virginia Beach, VA, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and the surrounding region. 

Crafting Beautiful Smiles with Extraordinary Cosmetic Dentistry

Nothing turns heads faster and causing stares longer than flashing a perfectly white smile. A bright, shiny smile builds confidence, shows off your outgoing, joyful mood, and brings attention your way. Unfortunately, certain foods and drinks will stain your teeth over time, and growing older will naturally give them a yellow color. Do you want to avoid others seeing stains or a yellowish color forming on your incisors? Smile by Design, a collective of dental masters, can help restore your beautiful smile with simple cosmetic dentistry services.

Cosmetic Dentistry? What’s That?

Cosmetic dentistry involves adjusting the aesthetics of your teeth. While a regular checkup with our dentist involves cleaning and providing a healthier mouth (general dentistry), cosmetic involves only creating a more appealing look for your teeth. These services are all about enhancing your smile, giving patients the teeth they have been dreaming about without the hassle of trying to deal with store bought whitening kits.

What Treatments are Offered with Cosmetic Dentistry?

This practice offers several different options, all of which are recommended by our expert doctor after a full mouth examination. Treatments and procedures include:

Porcelain Veneers: These are thin pieces of porcelain, which are used to create a natural look for teeth, fixing imperfections and giving a white glow. These porcelain pieces provide strength to teeth – comparable to natural tooth enamel – while giving the patient the shining smile they deserve.

·         In-Office Whitening: Our doctor will apply a layer of high-concentration peroxide gel to your teeth in 15-20 minute intervals over the course of an hour. In one visit, your teeth can become 10 shades whiter.

·         Take-Home Whitening Kits: If you don’t have the time to spend an hour in our office, we can provide a take-home kit. The dentist will instruct you on how much gel to apply and for how long, but the process is very easy. You will simply place the gel on a custom dental tray, then insert the tray into your mouth.

Are You Ready to get Whiter Teeth?

If you are tired of hiding stains or yellow teeth, or if you just want brighter pearly-whites, contact our office and schedule a consultation with our professional staff. Our friendly team has its doors wide open to Virginia Beach, VA, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and all of the surrounding areas. 

Restorative Dentistry in Virginia Beach, VA

We know that you take good care of your teeth at home with daily brushing and flossing. And at Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, VA, Dr. Stephanie Santos and Dr. Vanita Folck and their staff of dental hygienists and assistant take really, really good care of your teeth in the office. But despite all of these good efforts, there usually comes a time when some type of restorative dentistry is necessary. For those times, you can count on Smiles by Design to have the restorative treatment you need.

Tooth Colored Fillings

Dental cavities are probably the most common oral condition requiring a restorative treatment. At Smile by Design, we repair cavities with tooth-colored fillings. Made of dental porcelain and composite materials, these fillings are not only natural-looking, they are strong and durable, too. Moreover, they require less tooth prep, so you retain more of your natural tooth structure with a tooth-colored filling.

Dental Implants

Whether you are missing teeth because of serious decay or traumatic injury, it’s important to replace those teeth. Dental implants are a lifelike tooth replacement, because they not only replace the crown of a missing tooth, but the root as well. As such, dental implants help you avoid the bone deterioration that can happen when a tooth root is missing. Dental implants can also be strategically placed along the arch to securely hold a partial or full denture in place.

Other Kinds of Tooth Restoration

A crown is a tooth restoration that fully encapsulates a tooth to protect it from further damage. At Smile by Design, we offer CEREC one-visit crowns, so you only need to make one appointment. For teeth that are chipped or cracked, there is cosmetic bonding, which uses composite materials to restore a tooth’s appearance and function. Likewise, inlays and onlays use these materials to repair the chewing surface of your molars.

Call Our Office Today

If you need restorative dentistry services, then schedule an appointment at Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, VA. We also serve patients from the surrounding areas, including Fort Story, Sandbridge, Portsmouth, Norfolk, and more.

With Children’s Dentistry, Smile by Design Cares for Kids’ Teeth

In February, there is a special day for romantics and a day for presidents. But did you know that the entire month is devoted to children’s dental health? The American Dental Association® has designated February as National Children’s Dental Health Month. At Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, VA, our dentists and their staff take your children’s dental health seriously every day of the year. If you’re looking for a children’s dentist who cares about your kids and their teeth, make an appointment with Dr. Stephanie Santos or Dr. Vanita Folck.

Both of our dentists are moms, too, so they know exactly how kids can be when it comes to taking care of their teeth and going to the dentist; they may miss a brushing now and then and appointments at the dentist are not their favorite activities. Nevertheless, they are important, so we try to make their first encounters with us as pleasurable as possible.

We’d like to start seeing your children around the time that they turn two years old. That’s when a fair number of their teeth have erupted and they can usually sit in the exam chair comfortably. At this first visit, we’ll show them around the office before we begin the exam. Then, we’ll gently examine their teeth and gums, check for early signs of tooth decay and count their teeth. If they seem ready, we’ll quickly clean their teeth, too.

The Children’s Dentist Virginia Beach Trusts

As your children grow and their smiles develop, we’ll likely need to apply a topical fluoride treatment. Fluoride is a mineral that has been proven to strengthen teeth’s enamel, the first line of defense against decay-causing bacteria. Another defense is dental sealants, which are applied to your children’s molars to shield them against decay, as well.

Call Our Office Today

If it’s time for your children to see a children’s dentist, then schedule an appointment with Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, VA. We also serve patients from the surrounding areas, including Fort Story, Sandbridge, Portsmouth, Norfolk, and more.

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.

Explore Your Tooth Replacement Options with Dental Implants in Virginia Beach, VA

There are a variety of reasons that adults lose their permanent teeth, including injury, periodontal disease, decay, and more. If you have lost even one tooth, you understand the negative impact that it can have on your life on a daily basis. You don’t feel like smiling much around others, and eating your favorite foods may become exceedingly difficult. Fortunately, dental implants can help you achieve a whole smile once again. At Smile by Design, Dr. Vinita Folck and Dr. Stephanie Santos offer a comprehensive range of restorative dentistry solutions to patients in Virginia Beach, VA, including tooth replacement with dental implants.

Are Dental Implants Right for Me?

A dental implant is a tiny titanium post that is used to secure a custom restoration like a crown, a bridge, or a denture. Because an implant stimulates and supports the jaw bone, it actually aids in preserving the structure of your face as well as your remaining teeth. Patients who wore dentures for years before opting for dental implants can’t believe the difference that they make in their daily lives. Finally, you are free to eat, laugh, speak, and smile with total confidence.  

The majority of patients who are missing teeth are good candidates for dental implants. An assessment of your periodontal health and the bone density in your jaw will help to determine your candidacy, but even patients with insufficient jaw bone density may qualify for implants with the help of a bone graft. A consultation with our Virginia Beach, VA dental implants experts is your first step toward restoring your smile’s function and beauty in a way that looks and feels completely natural.

Schedule Your Consultation Today

If you are missing one or more teeth and you’d like to find out if dental implants are the right choice for you, we invite you to contact our office today to schedule your consultation with our experienced and caring team. We’ll take the time to sit down with you to discuss your unique needs and answer your questions in a way that’s easy to understand. Conveniently located in Virginia Beach, VA, our family-friendly dental practice warmly welcomes patients from throughout communities in the surrounding areas, including Fort Story, Sandbridge, Portsmouth, Norfolk, and more.

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.