A lot of patients are genuinely surprised when told that their dental health is in serious trouble. You might suspect something’s wrong if your tooth hurts, but perhaps didn’t expect to learn that the tooth is so infected, it may be lost if not treated promptly. Such surprises are unfortunate for a number of reasons, the first being that most dental issues are preventable with a good hygiene routine. Another reason is because dental troubles typically offer a variety of warnings as they develop and progress, only becoming dire when neglected long enough to mature. Instead of waiting to visit your Livonia dentist until your mouth is in obvious trouble, you can look for the less-conspicuous warnings that might tell you something is wrong. (more…)
Got a Dental Emergency? Don’t Panic
Though ignorance may be bliss in some instances, that certainly isn’t the occasion when it comes to your dental health. Knowing how to care for your teeth is important to…well, caring for your teeth, and knowing what to do in the face of a dental emergency can mean the difference between saving a tooth and having to replace it. Merging modern technology and dentistry with an impressive array of experience, Livonia dentist , Dr. Stewart, can help you get through most dental emergencies calmly, and with an improved chance of preserving your healthy smile. To further improve your odds, he also offers a few tips for effectively handling common emergency situations. (more…)
Reintroducing the Dental Crown
With the number of issues that can affect the health and appearance of your teeth, dental crowns are an invaluable restoration for many patients with afflicted smiles. As one of the oldest forms of restorative dentistry, a dental crown is a lifelike replica of a tooth’s top portion, or crown, and can be placed over the tooth to conceal its blemishes and improve its function. Livonia dentist , Dr. James Stewart, often utilizes dental crowns for a wide variety of purposes, from cosmetic improvements to saving damaged teeth from destruction or the need for extraction. (more…)
Don’t Gamble with Gum Disease (Hint: You’ll Lose)
Life is full of chances, and unfortunately, your oral and overall health is included. For instance, gum disease is largely controllable with good hygiene, but even if you carefully brush and floss your teeth every day, you face the chance of missing a spot or two of dental plaque. Given time, plaque may have the chance to harden into tartar, which is too strong for your toothbrush and can protect the germs in your mouth while they go about their destructive work. As your Livonia dentist explains, you can avoid gambling with gum disease and other destructive dental diseases by not giving them a fair chance to develop. (more…)
The Gift of a Good Night’s Sleep
Many people don’t realize how precious sleep is until they’re deprived of it. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a sleep disorder that affects approximately 18 million Americans, can deprive you of quality sleep even while you remain unconscious and unaware of your condition. As a Livonia dentist with years of experience in obstructive sleep apnea medicine, Dr. James Stewart has helped many patients of all ages find the rest that their minds and bodies need through effective OSA treatment. (more…)
How Important Are Children’s First Teeth?
Your child’s primary teeth, or baby teeth, are destined to fall out and make room for their permanent replacements. Nevertheless, Livonia children’s dentist, Dr. James Stewart, warns that maintaining the health and integrity of your children’s baby teeth is extremely important to the health of their adult smiles. Teaching your children to care for their baby teeth will help prepare them for a lifetime of excellent hygiene. As the precursors to your child’s permanent smile, primary teeth also help guide adult teeth into healthy growth and development.
Children-Specific Dental Treatments
Dr. Stewart advises bringing your child in for an initial visit (the “happy visit”) by the age of one, and for regularly scheduled dental checkups every six months after the age of three. If a baby tooth is prematurely lost, the remaining teeth can crowd the space where the permanent tooth is destined to erupt. If one or more primary teeth develop cavities, the infection can reach the permanent teeth below, compromising their health before they’ve even fully developed. When a child’s first set of teeth are crooked, or the jawbone is asymmetrical (uneven), then the problem can grow worse if not addressed with early orthodontic treatment. Dr. Stewart employs a number of children’s dentistry techniques designed to address the many concerns that can afflict your child’s dental health and affect their permanent teeth, including;
Dental sealants
Dental sealants are a thin plastic coating that is painted onto the chewing surfaces of your child’s teeth, where bacteria and food debris are fond of hanging out. Once Dr. Stewart ensures that your child’s teeth are free of bacterial plaque and tooth decay, he will apply the sealant, which will provide a protective barrier against the germs that lead to tooth decay and cavities.
Fluoride treatments
Tooth enamel, the super-resilient outer layer of your teeth, is made mostly of minerals, and can retain its strength when your teeth have an ample supply of calcium (as well as other minerals). If your child’s enamel is weak, then he/she is at an increased risk of developing cavities. Fluoride is a mineral that bonds to tooth enamel and helps fortify it against infectious oral bacteria. While fluoride is found in most major toothpaste brands, Dr. Stewart can also directly apply fluoride treatments to your child’s teeth to help strengthen weakened enamel.
About Your Children’s Dentist:
Our philosophy is that excellent dental begins with developing a relationship with the patient. James Steward, DDS, and our compassionate staff proudly serve patients of all ages from Livonia, Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Northville, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, and all surrounding communities. To schedule an appointment, call our office today at (734) 425-4400.
Conquer Bad Breath at its Source
Bad breath isn’t always easy to ignore. Trying to hide it from others can affect the quality of your social interactions, and even if you manage to suppress it, you’ll still likely be able taste the odor. Occasional bad breath is common, such as when you wake up in the morning or eat an especially pungent food, like garlic. When it refuses to go away, chronic bad breath can prove a significant influence on your quality of life, and might indicate an issue that requires attention. When you visit your Livonia dentist for help with chronic bad breath (halitosis), you may be surprised to learn that it stems from poor hygiene and the excessive buildup of bacteria. Luckily, halitosis isn’t insurmountable, and in many cases, it can be conquered with better hygiene and the help of our innovative BreathRx system. (more…)
Special Concerns for Senior Dental Care
Dental care often means different things to different people, and age can influence your specific dental needs. For instance, as you grow older, the dynamic of your dental health can change along with the rest of your body. Teeth may become more susceptible to disease, your gums may loosen and separate from your teeth, and a host of other factors can impact your ability to properly care for your smile. Livonia family dentist, Dr. James Stewart, is skilled at caring for patients of all ages, and provides expert senior dental care to help patients protect their healthy smiles as they grow older.
As Teeth and Gums Age
Over time, eating, drinking, brushing your teeth too roughly once in a while, and wear and tear from a lifetime of use can weaken the enamel surrounding your teeth. This highly mineralized substance is your teeth’s main defense against cavity-causing germ, which can infect your tooth’s dentin underneath the enamel once the outer layer is compromised. While everyone should practice good hygiene and healthy eating habits at all times to help keep enamel strong, older patients may experience an increased risk of weak or damaged enamel.
After years of absorbing the repeated pressures of biting and chewing, the connective tissue between your gums and teeth can grow weak, causing your gums to become loose and separate from your teeth (gum recession). The pockets formed by gum recession can house unhealthy amounts of bacteria and significantly increase your risk of aggressive gum disease and possible tooth loss.
General Health and Dental Care for Seniors
If you have arthritis, or another medical condition that can impede your movement, then you may have trouble effectively brushing and flossing your teeth every day—a necessity in keeping your mouth healthy. Certain medical disorders and some medications can lead to dry mouth (reduced or halted saliva production), which can increase your risks of tooth decay and gum disease. Maintaining your healthy smile relies more and more on professional care as you grow older, and Dr. Stewart is specially equipped and experienced to address the specific concerns of our older patients.
About James Stewart, DDS:
Our philosophy is that excellent dental begins with developing a relationship with the patient. James Steward, DDS, and our compassionate staff proudly serve patients from Livonia, Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Northville, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, and all surrounding communities. To schedule an appointment, call our office today at (734) 425-4400.
Livonia Dentist Explains How Dental Software Improves Your Treatment
Thanks to advanced dental technology, your treatment has become more personalized and accurate than ever before. Digital imaging systems and computer software allow your dentist to make more accurate diagnoses and thoroughly explain recommended procedures while you are still in the exam room. In this post, your Livonia dentist explains how using Orasphere® dental software can benefit you and your dental treatment. (more…)
Livonia General Dentist: The Stages of Tooth Decay
Not all patients who exhibit tooth decay require a dental filling or root canal therapy. When caught and treated in its early stages, tooth decay can often be reversed before a cavity has the chance to develop. Tooth decay begins when oral bacteria produce acid to destroy your teeth’s protective layer of enamel. Once compromised, enamel becomes ineffective, and bacteria can slip past it to infect the tooth’s main structure. Left untreated, tooth decay and cavities can consume your tooth, rendering it useless. With years of experience as a dedicated Livonia general dentist, Dr. Stewart can expertly restore your afflicted tooth, whether it’s just beginning to show signs of decay, or the infection is severe enough to require a tooth extraction. (more…)