Dr. Stephanie L. Santos, DDS

Media Releases

Get to know General & Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Stephanie L. Santos, who serves patients in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Dr. Santos is a general & cosmetic dentist who works alongside Dr. Vinita J. Folck, DDS at Smile by Design in Virginia Beach, Virginia. 

“At Smile by Design, you’ll discover right away that Dr. Santos and Dr. Folck truly embody the phrase “two heads are better than one!” Both dentists bring unique skills, advanced education, and particular talents to the table while sharing the same genuine passion for comfortable, friendly patient care that gives families new reasons to smile brightly” as stated on the dental practice’s website. 

An expert in her field, Dr. Santos understands better than most that going to the dentist isn’t exactly everyone’s favorite activity. That’s why she feels that the best part about practicing dentistry in Virginia Beach is helping people overcome their dental fears through gentle and compassionate care. For her, nothing is more fulfilling than helping a person achieve a beautiful smile while also gaining peace of mind at the dentist. 

Her hometown is Norfolk, Virginia, and she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Old Dominion University. After working as a chemist for a few years, she attended Virginia Commonwealth University where she earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. She then went on to complete an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency and was an army dentist for 3 years. 

A member of the American Dental Association and the Spear Education Center Study Club, Dr. Santos’ dental career actually began while she was in college working as a part-time dental assistant. She became really fascinated watching the dentist work and decided she wanted to become one herself. So, right after she graduated, she immediately went to dental school and has been practicing ever since. She still has the same passion for helping people just like when she was an assistant, but she’s happy to have so much more knowledge and skill to offer her patients now. She consistently goes above and beyond for her patients, even calling them at home to make sure they are feeling alright after a treatment.

Dentistry, also known as Dental and Oral Medicine, is a branch of medicine that consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions of the oral cavity. A general & cosmetic dentist has the skills needed to complete an array of procedures that are both simple or complex in nature. 

On a more personal note, Dr. Santos is married to her practice’s business manager, David Santos. They have two children, Madison and Matthew. Outside of being a mother, she likes to spend most of her free time cooking. She also enjoys gardening, reading, going to the gym, walking the dog, and spending time with her numerous pets.

Recommended Articles

• Most Common Causes of Bad Breath

  Bad breath, medically known as halitosis, is an indicator of poor dental hygiene, but may also result from other health issues. The types of food you eat and your lifestyle habits strongly affect your breath. If you eat foods with strong odors, it is only normal that it changes the smell of your...

• Sleep Apnea: What Are the Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment?

  Sleep apnea is a very common but serious sleeping disorder, wherein your breathing gets briefly interrupted while you sleep. Breathing might stop or become very shallow with pauses while you are sleeping. It can last from a few seconds to several minutes and usually recurs through the night. Since...

• What Are Dental Veneers?

  Dental veneers give patients a beautiful smile. They are very thin, porcelain layers attached to the front of the teeth. Dental veneers are a good solution for the correction of any defects in the position, color, or shape of the teeth.Dental veneers can be made with direct or indirect composites....

• What Are the Best Home Remedies for Dry Mouth?

  Ever felt your mouth suddenly going dry and the need to reach for some water to get rid of the dryness? This is a condition that may occur to you frequently. It is called, fittingly enough, dry mouth. Dry mouth is a condition that can occur due to reduced amounts of saliva in the mouth. Dry mouth is...

• When Should I Replace My Toothbrush?

  A toothbrush is not as clean as we think, and harbors more than 100 million bacteria, according to researchers at the University of Manchester in England. This includes E. coli bacteria, which cause diarrhea, and staphylococci bacteria, which cause skin infections. “This condition is the same as...

• Professional Teeth Cleanings Can Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease

  Getting the teeth cleaned by a professional may not only give you a healthy and sparkling smile but also a healthier heart, according to a new study. In this study, people who regularly got their teeth cleaned and scaled by a dentist had a 24% less chance of getting heart disease, when compared to...