Dr. James Stewart, Livonia Dentist and Dental Sleep Medicine Expert

Posted October 6, 2010 by Dr. Stewart

For a few months now, this blog has been dedicated to dental sleep medicine. We’re shifting gears a bit because I’m more than a sleep apnea doctor. I’m an established general dentist who provides state-of-the-art dental care for families from Livonia, Farmington, Farmington Hills, and surrounding communities.

My team and I offer checkups and cleanings, as well as fillings, crowns, dentures, and dental implants. We are always happy to offer children’s dentistry, as well as cosmetic dentistry for image-conscious adults. As a general and cosmetic dentist, I approach all restorative dental care with attention to esthetics. For instance, I offer white fillings, white crowns, and natural-looking replacement teeth. In addition to esthetic restorations, my team and I have transformed smiles with porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, and other popular cosmetic dentistry procedures.

To learn more about dental sleep medicine in my Livonia dental office, visit www.DentalSleepMedicineofMichigan.com.

To learn more about general and family dental care in my Livonia dental office, visit www.JamesStewartDDS.com.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a visit, please call 734-425-4400 and chat with one of my friendly front desk associates. We’re here to help you enjoy optimal oral health, a beautiful smile, restful sleep, and a high quality of life.

Teeth Whitening from Your Livonia Cosmetic Dentist: Invest a Little, Get a Lot!

Posted October 5, 2010 by Dr. Stewart

What’s one of the easiest, fastest, and most economical ways to improve your smile? Professional teeth whitening! It’s no secret that a brighter smile can make you look better, even younger. And when you look good, you feel better about yourself. Dr. James Stewart has done all the research on teeth whitening products. Now you get to reap the rewards!

The doctor often receives questions about the best way to whiten teeth stained by red wine, coffee, tea, dark sodas, tobacco, and more. Dr. Stewart cares about our patients, and he provides dental services that deliver outstanding results. He feels that tray teeth whitening gives patients the most bang for their hard-earned buck. (more…)

Visit the Detroit Zoo this October!

Posted October 2, 2010 by Dr. Stewart

The Detroit Zoo has two great events this month giving you a great reason to take a trip to the zoo this fall!

The Fall Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday, October 9 and 10. The event will feature live entertainment, delicious fall inspired food and a children’s activity area. Other attractions include hayrides and pumpkin painting.

Zoo Boo, Detroit Zoo’s annual family-friendly Halloween event, will be held the remaining three weekends of October. Zoo Boo is a merry-not-scary Halloween celebration with a cleverly decorated half-mile trick-or-treat trail through the Zoo. There will also be live entertainment and games for kids of all ages.

Also new for Zoo Boo 2010 – See the limited-release movie “The Curse of Skull Rock” at the Wild Adventure 3-D/4-D Theater.

Can Sleep Apnea be Fatal? Yes!

Posted September 28, 2010 by Dr. Stewart

Sleep apnea is behind about 1400 automobile accident fatalities each year. Because sleep apnea patients do not get enough deep, refreshing REM sleep, they are tired during the day. Their responses are delayed, and some tend to fall asleep at inappropriate times, like while driving.

Sleep apnea increases risk of heart attack or death by 30%. It also makes people more prone to stroke. During sleep apnea episodes, the brain and body do not receive sufficient oxygen. This causes significant stress and, studies show, has a direct influence on risk of heart attack, stroke, and death.

Some experts say that the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Challenger space shuttle crash, and Chernobyl Nuclear disaster can be traced back to sleep apnea.

So, untreated sleep apnea not only increases YOUR risk of fatality, it increases your risk for CAUSING deaths.

Don’t let your sleep disorder go undiagnosed and untreated. Sleep apnea was listed by Reader’s Digest as one of the top 10 diseases doctors miss. If you snore, if you awake in the night choking and gasping, if you feel chronically fatigued, irritable, and non-productive, come in and talk with me about a sleep study. I’m Dr. James Stewart, a Livonia dentist, and I’ve also studied dental sleep medicine. A sleep apnea oral appliance could eliminate your symptoms and give you renewed quality of life. It’s helped many of my patients overcome sleep apnea and enjoy refreshing rest. Sleep dentistry also works well for people who’ve tried CPAP and had poor results.

Give me a call to schedule your sleep apnea consultation today. Let’s put this problem to rest, once and for all!

Enjoy the Final Weeks of Livonia’s Farmers Market

Posted September 26, 2010 by Dr. Stewart

Livonia’s Farmers Market offers a wide variety of local fruit, vegetables, plants and flowers. By buying local products you can improve your health, your community and the environment, all at the same time. Local food doesn’t lose nutrition from long cross country trips. It also puts more money back into Livonia’s economy and saves a whole lot of gas. All three are great reasons to make a trip to the Farmers Market this week!

Be sure to take advantage of the last month of our local Farmers Market. Located at Middlebelt & West Chicago in Livonia, the market is opened every Wednesday and Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. during October.

Reports Say, Sleep Apnea Can Cause Pilots to Fall Asleep at the Controls

Posted September 22, 2010 by Dr. Stewart

Sleep apnea affects approximately 70 million Americans, and the medical expenses, lost productivity, sick leave, and damage cost about $100 billion annually. In addition, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can increase a person’s risk for auto accident by six times. It also increases a person’s risk of heart attack. People with OSA often experience daytime drowsiness, fall asleep at inappropriate times, and suffer from forgetfulness, irritability, depression, and fatigue.

Falling asleep on the job is bad if you work in an office. It’s worse if you drive a truck for work. But if your job is flying a commercial aircraft, even almost falling asleep is potentially catastrophic — but not unheard of. According to anonymously authored responses compiled in the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System reports, there are several dozen instances in which pilots fell asleep at the controls of an aircraft. (Source: USA Today)

In studying pilots and sleep apnea, I came across a Federal Aviation Administration’s brochure on Sleep Apnea that begins with a story about two pilots who fell asleep at the controls and overshot their destination. The 40 passengers and 3 crew members aboard safely deplaned, thank goodness. However, the National Transportation and Safety Administration (NTSA) determined that obstructive sleep apnea and draining work schedules were to blame.

Now, the FAA requires sleep apnea testing for pilots.

I’m Dr. James Stewart, and I treat obstructive sleep apnea in my Livonia dental office. With conservative oral appliance therapy, my OSA patients have overcome symptoms commonly associated with sleep disorders. (more…)

Visit the Northville Victorian Festival this weekend!

Posted September 17, 2010 by Dr. Stewart

Journey back through time to a simpler era with a visit to downtown Northville’s 22nd annual Victorian Festival on September 17-19. Experience the art, history, and romance of the 1800s amid Northville’s historic downtown district and tree-lined streets.

The festival begins with the traditional parade on Friday at 6:30pm and continues throughout the weekend. The streets will be closed to automobile traffic as townspeople, artists, and business owners turn back the clock and transform themselves into a Victorian Village complete with period costumes, storytellers, magicians, musical entertainment and demonstrations. Ryde Park features rides for kids and the Victorian Saloon (sponsored by Edward Jones) offers entertainment for adults.

Visitors can also enjoy a unique shopping experience in the many establishments in Northville, old-fashioned games, and food booths. Victorian Teas and Fashion Shows take place on Saturday at Northville’s own historical village. Mill Race Village will host activities on Sunday. The festival is hosted by the Northville Chamber of Commerce and celebrates the town’s special heritage.

For more information download the Victorian Festival Brochure.

One Quarter of Truck Drivers Suffer from Sleep Apnea

Posted September 14, 2010 by Dr. Stewart

In 2002, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sponsored a study that showed, of the nearly three-and-a-half million truck drivers with a commercial license, 26% suffer with sleep apnea. This finding is a serious concern because sleep apnea significantly impairs driving ability and can lead to highway accidents. Many truck drivers avoid diagnosis because the FMCSA’s policy states that once diagnosed, a driver must be successfully treated before he or she can resume driving a commercial truck.

Because people with a body mass index over 30 are in a high risk category, the FMCSA board recommended in 2008 that drivers with a BMI over 30 must be screened for sleep apnea. The recommendation has not led to a change in policy as of yet.

As a sleep apnea doctor and general dentist, I treat sleep apnea with conservative oral appliance therapy. While the CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) machine is the gold standard for sleep apnea treatment, oral appliance therapy can be easier to comply with, particularly for people who travel.

Whether you’re a truck driver, medical doctor, teacher, or policeman, sleep apnea can inhibit your performance on the job. Most sleep apnea patients feel unrested, lethargic, and irritable. Oftentimes, these patients are forgetful and suffer with depression, as well. (more…)

Livonia Civic Park Senior Center brings Detroit’s Statler Hotel back to life, Friday, September 17th12:30pm.

Posted September 13, 2010 by Dr. Stewart

The guest speaker, Lucas McGrail will, once again, be at the Center to share the rich history of this landmark hotel. Mr. McGrail will have many artifacts and photographs for this outstanding lecture.

The Statler, once located across from Grand Circus Park, was designed in the Georgian architectural style, with English Renaissance Revival roots evident. It consisted of 18 floors: sixteen above grade and two basement floors. Construction began on the original 800-room portion in 1914 and was completed in 1915. The hotel remained open for over six decades, until it finally had to close its doors in 1975.

Amount the hotels famous guests was Harry Houdini. He stayed at the hotel in October1926 during his last performance at the nearby Garrick Theater (Majestic Theatre). The hotel also saw such luminaries as President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Zsa Zsa Gabor.

You can register for this program at the Civic Park Senior Center volunteer desk or call (734) 466-2555 for more information. Cost is $6.00 per person and includes lunch based on menus from the “Café Rouge” at the Statler Hotel.

Click here for more information about all the senior events offered at the Livonia Civic Park Senior Center.

Sleep Apnea Affects One-Fifth of US Military Veterans

Posted September 7, 2010 by Dr. Stewart

I thought I’d tell you about some recent data regarding our veterans and sleep apnea.

Experts aren’t exactly sure why, but about 20% of American war veterans suffer with sleep apnea. Some believe that the smoke and dust the vets inhaled in Afghanistan may be to blame. Problem is, sleep apnea causes daytime drowsiness, forgetfulness, irritability, and an inability to focus. It can also contribute to stroke and heart disease. The Veteran’s Administration invests $500 million each year to provide treatment to these individuals.

While CPAP is the gold standard for sleep apnea treatment, it’s not the only option. In many cases, people who use CPAP find the device uncomfortable, ill fitting, or confining during sleep. This leads to noncompliance, meaning patients who don’t like it don’t use it.

As a sleep apnea dentist, I offer an alternative. My name is Dr. James Stewart, and my Livonia, Michigan dental office provides oral appliances to combat sleep apnea. Whether you’re a veteran or not, if you suffer from sleep apnea, and you can’t tolerate CPAP, call me to schedule a visit. We’ll discuss your situation and talk about practical treatment options, so you can get back to living life to the fullest! (more…)