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

• What Is a Cavity?

  A cavity is a result of tooth decay, which is a damage that occurs due to poor oral health and dental plaque on the tooth’s surface. Cavities usually start really small and when they are left untreated, they gradually become bigger. Anyone who has teeth, including babies, can develop cavities. For...

• What is a Yeast Infection?

  Candidiasis is a type of fungal infection resulting from overgrowth of the yeast genus, Candida. The most predominant species in this genus is Candida albicans. The yeast survives in different parts of our body, including the skin, genitals, throat, and mouth. Growth of these organisms commonly...

• What Could Halitosis Mean?

  IntroductionHalitosis is also referred to as bad breath in layman’s term. Having bad breath can be embarrassing and may sometimes cause anxiety. Bad breath is commonly experienced by people. In fact, 1 in every 15 people experiences halitosis on a regular basis. Halitosis has a number of...

• Dealing with Lupus Mouth Sores

  What is lupus? Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disorder. If you have an autoimmune disorder, your immune system mistakenly attacks the healthy cells in your body, which causes inflammation. Symptoms include extreme fatigue, hair loss, skin rashes, cognitive dysfunction, severe muscle and joint pain,...

• Gum Contouring

  Gum contouring, also known as gum reshaping or tissue sculpting, is a dental procedure done to correct an uneven gum line in people who have teeth resting either too high or low on the gums.The cause of the gums being too high or too low is mainly genetics. It may also be due to certain medical...

• Does Everyone Have Wisdom Teeth?

  Introduction When a person reaches the ages between 17 to 21, the eruption of wisdom teeth or third molars may take place. However, for some, wisdom teeth do not show up at all. These teeth are called wisdom teeth because they tend to show up at a later and more mature age. When wisdom teeth...