The Hidden Consequences of Sleep Apnea

Posted January 20, 2011 by Dr. Stewart

Do you wake up several times during the night and have a hard time falling back into a deep sleep? Does this leave you feeling groggy and out of it during the day? Maybe you snore when you finally do fall asleep. If you have any of these symptoms, it’s possible you have sleep apnea.

I’m Dr. James Stewart, and I treat sleep apnea patients right here at my office in Livonia, Michigan. Sleep apnea is a medical sleep disorder that occurs when soft tissue in the throat or mouth block free airflow while you sleep. This causes you to take in too little oxygen to support normal breathing. If breathing stops for more than 10 seconds, your body will wake you to reinitiate normal breathing. This interrupts your sleep cycle and deprives you of the sleep needed to fully refuel and rejuvenate your body.

Believe it or not, your sleep apnea can affect more than just your nightly sleep. Sleep researchers at the University of Copenhagen and the Danish Institute for Health Services Research have examined the socio-economic consequences of sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. Patients with these disorders often visit the doctor more frequently than those who don’t have them. They also tend to have medical costs two to three times higher than healthier individuals. These visits to the doctor, as well as being groggy and unproductive at work, often cause sleep apnea patients to have to take time off of work, which can inevitably lead to the loss of a job, which in turn can lead to the patient being on welfare. As do other individuals who have health problems, sleep apnea patients can sometimes get extra welfare benefits to help cover the expense of medical care, which becomes a burden on the rest of taxpayers.

It is very possible for your sleep apnea condition to take over your life, but I am here to help you. I have years of experience treating patients with all variations of sleep apnea, and I want you to be next on my list. Take back your life and your health and schedule an appointment at my Livonia, Michigan office today.

You Only Get Better with Age

Posted January 20, 2011 by Dr. Stewart

I’m Dr. James Stewart, and as a family dentist, I have the pleasure of treating patients of all ages. While caring for kids can be difficult sometimes, caring for elderly patients can present a whole other list of challenges.

My team and I understand these challenges that may arise as a person ages, and we strive to provide compassionate and proactive dental care that caters to the specific needs of our elderly patients.

I have had the pleasure of caring for more mature patients for quite some time, so I have come to learn what dental issues often accompany aging.

Inability to brush and floss properly: Arthritis and other medical conditions can make daily brushing and flossing a challenge. Brushing and flossing is the only way to keep your teeth and gums healthy between dentist visits, so when a patient cannot brush or floss their teeth, coming to the dentist is even more crucial. I recommend using a power toothbrush and other oral hygiene aids to make at-home dental hygiene practices more comfortable.
Dry mouth: Medications and various health problems can contribute to dry mouth. Sucking on hard candies is not the answer to this problem, for this can cause tooth decay and gum disease. Instead, I suggest frequent and thorough dental exams to help detect problems early. I can prescribe treatments and products that will help to restore moisture in the mouth. Also, drinking lots of water is a great place to start.
Dentures: The decision to get dentures can often be a difficult one. Luckily, dentures are an area of special interest for me. I will pay close attention to dentures at appointments to make sure they fit properly and are not causing any irritation. I will also check to make sure that the dentures are still in good shape, as most dentures need to be replaced every 7 to 10 years.

Growing older is nothing to be ashamed of. My team and I are proud to offer our patients top-notch care to make the transition as easy and healthy as possible. Please contact my office in Livonia, Michigan for more information.

Go behind the scenes with the Detroit Historical Society!

Posted January 16, 2011 by Dr. Stewart

Every season, the Detroit Historical Society hosts special Behind the Scenes tours of historic locations and other venues throughout metro Detroit. They invite you to join them as they go Behind the Scenes of some of metro Detroit’s most unique locations. Listen to their expert guides show you these places in ways you’ve never experienced before!

Here is what they have in store for you in January:

January 22 – Grosse Pointe War MemorialHoused on the shores of Lake St. Clair in Grosse Pointe Farms, the Grosse Pointe War Memorial serves as a center for enrichment in honor of veterans. The building itself, a mansion built in 1910 and donated to the community in honor of World War II veterans.

January 27 – Fox TheatreDesigned by C. Howard Crane and built in 1928, the Fox Theatre is the culmination of flamboyant movie palace architectural design! Its size, ornate decoration and mechanical systems made it the premier example of what a movie palace could be. Today, the Fox holds the distinction of being the largest continually operating theater in the country. For more information visit the Detroit Historical Society website today!

Smile Quiz

Posted January 11, 2011 by Dr. Stewart

Cosmetic dentistry is a trend that has recently exploded. Nowadays, there are countless procedures to get the beautiful smile you have always wanted. I’m Dr. James Stewart of James Stewart, D.D.S. in Livonia, Michigan, and I want to give you a smile you will love. My team and I are proud to offer an extensive list of cosmetic procedures to our patients, but first it is necessary for you to identify what you want to change about your smile.

This quiz will help you decide which smile makeover option best fits your needs and will give you the results you are looking for.

1. What color best describes your teeth?

a. Bright white

b. Yellowish

c. Gray-blue

d. Brownish

2. Which term best describes the position of your front teeth?

a. Perfectly straight

b. Gapped

c. Crowded

d. Uneven

3. Which adjective describes the shape of your front teeth?

a. Nice and attractive

b. Pointy

c. Uneven

d. Rough-edged

4. Which words describe the size of your teeth?

a. Proportionate to my mouth/face

b. Too big

c. Too small

d. Too long

e. Too short

5. How do you feel about your smile?

a. I love it

b. It’s embarrassing

c. It’s okay

d. I don’t smile

Scoring

This quiz is all based on what you see when you look in the mirror, so there are no right or wrong answers. However, there are cosmetic procedures that I offer right here at my office that can correct the things you want to change about your smile.

1. Color: A bright, white smile can instantly make your mouth and face look better and healthier. Teeth whitening is the most common and popular kind of cosmetic dental procedure. While over the counter whitening systems can be effective, dentist-prescribed systems are stronger and tend to give you faster results. I offer both in-office and take-home teeth whitening options so that you can brighten your smile in a way that is convenient for you. Teeth whitening is a great way to rid your teeth of stains and discolorations from food, beverages, tobacco, and the natural aging process.

2. Position: Gapped, crowded, and unbecoming teeth can often be corrected by porcelain veneers, which are custom-made porcelain caps that adhere directly to existing teeth. I recommend porcelain veneers to patients that have chipped, stained, unevenly spaced, or crooked front teeth.

3. Cosmetic bonding and contouring can be effective solutions for sharp or jagged teeth. These cosmetic procedures can reshape tooth enamel to create a more attractive smile.

4. If your teeth look too big, cosmetic recontouring may be the procedure to redefine the overall appearance of your smile. If your teeth look too small, they may be covered with overgrown gum tissue. Recontouring helps to reshape the gum line, giving you a more even and attractive smile.

5. It has been proven that your smile is the first thing people notice about you. Often, people with bright, healthy-looking smiles achieve more both personally and professionally. By correcting flaws in your smile, you will instantly give off a new, positive first impression, as well as feel more confident about yourself.

If any of these procedures sound like the answer to your smile prayers, I encourage you to call my office at (734) 425-4400 to schedule a consultation.

Plan a Night out at the Theater

Posted January 10, 2011 by Dr. Stewart

Did you know that one of Michigan’s oldest live theaters is located just a few miles away in Dearborn? The Players Guild of Dearborn is just a short drive from Livonia and offers a variety of shows from comedies, musicals farces, as well as traditional dramatic tales.

The Players Guild of Dearborn was organized in 1927 after two community groups had cooperated in the production of a play to raise funds for the construction of the Women’s League building on the Ann Arbor campus. Members of both organizations formed the nucleus of the Guild. Now, after more than 70 years in Dearborn, the Guild has become a fixture in the community. Many of the patrons have been coming to productions for decades. A few members have been active in the Guild for more than forty years. Longevity of its members is what gives the Guild its rich history and their collective experience makes it possible to create quality performances year after year.

Check out their website to see what they are offering this season and plan a night out at the Theater

A New Year’s Resolution to Sleep Better

Posted January 4, 2011 by Dr. Stewart

Happy New Year! I hope your 2011 is already shaping up to be a year filled with health, happiness, and good fortune.

The beginning of a new year signifies a new beginning and a chance to be better than the year before. This is why people set new year’s resolutions. But most people don’t stick to them for more than a few weeks after January. Whatever your hierarchy of goals includes, your health and comfort should always be a #1 concern, especially if you snore.

I am Dr. James Stewart, and I am here to tell you that you can start off the new year getting the good night’s sleep that you (and your spouse) have been missing because of your snoring. The truth is, your snoring habit may be much more serious than you thought.

You may have sleep apnea, a medical sleep disorder often accompanied by snoring. I treat obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when soft tissues in the throat or mouth block free airflow while a person sleeps. The body cannot take in sufficient oxygen when this happens, and breathing stops for 10 seconds or longer until the brain wakes the body to re-initiate normal breathing. The cycle can happen multiple times during a sleep session and interrupts the deep REM sleep required to refuel the body.

If you suffer from sleepless nights and foggy days, it’s time to do yourself a favor and make a change. I help patients overcome sleep apnea and snoring for improved quality of life and overall health. I will work closely with you to determine the best treatment method for your needs.

Start off the new year by giving yourself the best night of sleep you have had in a long time. For more information about sleep apnea, or to schedule a consultation, please email or call my office at (734) 425-4400.

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!

Posted December 24, 2010 by Dr. Stewart

Eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York’s Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history’s most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

“DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
“Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
“Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’
“Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

“VIRGINIA O’HANLON.
“115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET.”

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Beat Bad Breath and Breathe Easy

Posted December 22, 2010 by Dr. Stewart

According to studies, most people don’t know if they have bad breath. Others can smell the odor, but the person whom the odor belongs to is clueless. That makes bad breath even more embarrassing!

Bad breath is clinically known as halitosis. While it can come from the stomach, most often halitosis is the result of bacterial waste products in the mouth. Bacteria are alive, and you have over 600 types of the little critters in your mouth at any given time. Certain types of bacteria emit a smelly sulfur compound in plaque. The best way to beat this type of halitosis is to keep your mouth clean.

To make sure that your breath is not offensive, follow these tips:

See the dentist twice a year for cleanings and checkups
Get tooth decay and gum disease treated immediately
Brush twice a day with a medium toothbrush
When brushing, clean your tongue with a tongue scraper
Floss once a day
Avoid mints and mouthrinses that contain alcohol
Keep your mouth moist by drinking plenty of water
Away from home, don’t eat smelly foods, like garlic, onion, and curry
Keep a mini toothbrush and handheld flosser in your car or purse, and use it after meals or odiferous drinks, like coffee and alcohol
Keep your dentures and partials very clean
Ask someone on my team about BreathRx products to use at home and on the go

I’m Dr. James Stewart, and in my Livonia dental office, we help patients overcome bad breath and other dental problems every day. If you need a general or restorative dentist, call 734-425-4400 to schedule a consultation with me. You might also visit my website, www.JamesStewartDDS.com, to learn more about my practice, services, and dental health in general. I want to personally invite you to come in for a consultation. Whether you need checkups and cleanings or you’ve lost teeth and need a more comprehensive dental treatment plan, I’d like to help you enjoy better health and higher quality of life.

We are happy to welcome new patients in the new year!

Thumbprint Holiday Cookies

Posted December 20, 2010 by Dr. Stewart

Whether you are baking cookies for Santa or bringing treats to a holiday party you can not go wrong with this traditional favorite!

2/3 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 large egg whites
3/4 cup finely chopped nuts of choice
1/3 cup jam (any flavor)

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a non-stick baking mat. In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks, vanilla extract and salt. Gradually stir in flour. Form dough into 1-inch diameter balls. Dip in lightly beaten egg whites, then roll in nuts. Place 1 inch apart on prepared cookie sheets. Press down center of each with thumb. Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Just before serving, fill centers of cookies with jam. Or, fill centers with 1/2 teaspoon of jam before baking.

Staying in Check as a Health-Conscious Senior

Posted December 15, 2010 by Dr. Stewart

People over 50 are advised to monitor their blood pressure and get their cholesterol checked. They’re told that screenings for cancer, diabetes, bone density, skin health, and, of course, sight and hearing are important. As a dentist to many Baby Boomers, I want to tell you, oral health screenings are just as important as we age. Here’s why…

What’s the main reason that adults lose teeth in our nation? Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. An estimated 80% of Americans have gum disease, and the condition is associated with risk of stroke, heart attack, respiratory disease, diabetes complications, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, osteoporosis, and more. Experts believe that the infection and inflammation caused by gum disease can enter the blood stream, thus the whole-health connection. (more…)