Have you ever come across your child grinding his or her teeth during sleep? If so, you may be worried that your little one is damaging the smile you have come to adore. You may be interested to learn, then, that a shocking 38% of children grind their teeth, yet very few of them receive treatment for their bruxism (teeth grinding). The reason for this disconnect is not neglect, either. According to your Livonia family dentist, Dr. James Stewart, bruxism is a habit that children may outgrow around age six, and because there is little threat of teeth sustaining significant damage from the force inflicted upon them at this age, treatment is generally unnecessary. (more…)
When Do Teeth Need a Root Canal?
Have you ever wondered what happens if a cavity does not receive a dental filling? The short answer is that the bacteria responsible for the decay are left to cause further damage. The longer answer is that these bacteria may gain access to the tooth’s pulp, where they can cause a dangerous infection. If the infection is not removed, the tooth can become very painful and may even be lost or require an extraction. However, before resorting to extraction, your Livonia dentist, Dr. James Stewart, will seek to preserve the tooth by performing root canal therapy. This procedure, while well-known, is often misrepresented as excruciatingly painful or even dangerous. The truth of the matter, however, is that root canal therapy is performed to eliminate pain rather than cause it and that it can remove a dangerous infection that, if left unchecked, may spread throughout the mouth and into the body, potentially causing an illness. (more…)
Livonia Dentist Examines the Effect of Diet on Oral Health
We are all very familiar with the fact that our diets can impact the health of our bodies. But have you ever stopped to consider how certain foods can influence your oral health? According to your Livonia dentist, Dr. James Stewart, the foods and drinks you consume can have a dramatic effect on your teeth. Perhaps the best-known foods that should be avoided for the health of your teeth are sugar-filled snacks. Harmful oral bacteria feed on sugar, causing them to produce an acid byproduct that can rob teeth of their enamel, and if sugary snacks are consumed with regularity, these bacteria may have a chance to do real damage to your teeth, creating cavities. (more…)
Livonia Dentist Improves Hygiene with Dental Checkups & Cleanings
When Was Your Last Dental Checkup?
Maintaining a clean and healthy smile is a continuous process. When done correctly, brushing and flossing your teeth can keep teeth safe for a short while; however, if you wait long enough until your next session, or if you’re careless with how well you clean your teeth, then brushing and flossing may not be adequate to protect your smile from danger. Even if you’re diligent with your toothbrush and floss, excessive plaque and tartar (calcified plaque) can still slip past your defenses in certain spots. Aside from daily home care, routine professional dental checkups and cleanings with your Livonia dentist are also a vital part of good oral health, and are necessary to ensure consistently healthy teeth and gums. (more…)
Dr. Stewart Attends Advanced Dental Sleep Medicine Seminar
Dental technology, treatment options, and materials never stop advancing. It makes sense then that a dentist who wants to stay at the top of his game should never stop learning. Dr. Stewart actively pursues continuing education courses every year and he’s especially excited about his most recent training in Advanced Dental Sleep Medicine topics with Dr. Barry Glassman. Held in September, this three-day intensive seminar provided Dr. Stewart with the opportunity to work closely with other dentists and industry experts in an accelerated academic environment. Thanks to this training, Dr. Stewart can provide more accurate treatment options for sleep apnea sufferers in Livonia.
Brief Overview of Dental Sleep Medicine
Dental sleep medicine refers to a field of general dentistry concerned with using oral appliances to reduce the severity of symptoms in people with obstructive sleep apnea. This serious sleep disorder can lead to chronic daytime fatigue, emotional instability, decreased cognitive function, and an increased risk for problems such as high blood pressure, strokes, and heart attack. CPAP machines provide relief for those with moderate to severe sleep apnea, but many patients find wearing the CPAP mask uncomfortable and disruptive. People with mild to moderate sleep apnea might benefit more from a customized oral appliance that resembles a mouth guard. Only a dentist trained in dental sleep medicine can prescribe this type of oral appliance.
Advanced Topics in Dental Sleep Medicine
Dr. Stewart has been helping his patients enjoy better, more restful sleep using oral appliance therapy for years. However, the Glassman advanced training seminar allows Dr. Stewart to provide a higher level of care, even for patients with complex cases. Every dentist in attendance brought along case studies (firsthand experiences with patients) to inspire discussion in a real world context. Highlights of the seminar included:
- Emphasizing the use of current research to guide treatment planning.
- Developing more accurate treatment plans that address the patient’s current health as well as trying to predict any potential side effects of wearing an oral appliance for sleep apnea.
- Learning about challenging cases involving patients who have both sleep apnea and TMJ disorder or sleep apnea and degenerative joint disease.
Dr. Stewart feels that one of the best benefits of receiving this advanced training is that it allows him to help patients who qualify for oral appliance therapy but who may have not considered it due to other preexisting conditions.
If you think you may be living with sleep apnea or if your sleep partner has reported that you snore loudly throughout the night,contact our Livonia dental office today at (734) 425-4400 to schedule a consultation. We proudly serve patients from Livonia, Novi, Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Dearborn, and the surrounding areas.
Livonia Dentist Answers FAQs About Dental Implants
Currently, millions of people across the country suffer from tooth loss. According to the American Association or Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 69% of adults over the age of 35 are missing at least one permanent tooth. By age 74, over 26% of adults have lost all of their teeth. Thankfully, your Livonia dentist, Dr. James Stewart, offers a natural looking solution to tooth loss with dental implants. In today’s blog, Dr. Stewart answers questions about the benefits of dental implants.
Livonia Dentist Discusses the Importance of Fluoride Treatments
Have you had a fluoride treatment lately? If you’ve answered no, then you may want to consider having one soon. Fluoride is an element added to water supplies, toothpastes, and mouthwashes to help fortify teeth.
Dr. James Stewart, your Livonia dentist talks about the benefits of receiving a fluoride treatment.
Who Benefits from a Fluoride Treatment?
According to your Livonia dentist, anyone can benefit from a fluoride treatment, however, this applies particularly to children between the ages of six months to 16 years. In this time frame, kid’s primary and permanent teeth erupt and the added fluoride strengthens their teeth. Do note, though, that parents should ward off fluoride exposure from their little ones, until instructed by a dentist or physician. Introducing fluoride before it’s time could cause fluorosis, which is a condition, that causes kids to have white or brown spots on their teeth.
Aside from kids, adults can reap the benefits of fluoride treatments, too. Studies have shown that fluoridated toothpastes and mouthwashes lead to fewer cases of tooth decay amongst adults. If you’re curious about top-rated fluoridated products, ask Dr. Stewart for some suggestions.
Conditions that Improve in the Presence of Fluoride
For patients who suffer from any of the conditions listed below, it may behoove you to use a fluoride treatment more often to keep your smile in top-notch oral health.
- Dry mouth. While a fluoride treatment won’t improve your dry mouth directly, it can help stave off tooth decay. Patients with frequent dry mouths tend to have more oral bacteria, since the drier environment allows cavity-causing bacterial to thrive. With increased tooth protection, your chances of developing a cavity due to dry mouth is significantly reduced.
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Gum disease. Gingivitis and other forms of gum disease raises the possibility of developing cavities. Yet, once your gum disease is eliminated, your Livonia dentist may suggest a fluoridetreatment, just for good measure.
Learn More about Fluoride from Your Livonia Dentist
Fluoride is an element necessary and conducive for oral health. If you wish to learn more about the benefits of fluoride, talk to Dr. Stewart. He can explain why fluoride treatments prove important and how you can receive one. To schedule an appointment with our Livonia dental practice at (734) 425-4400. Also, visit our website to view services, testimonials, and print patient forms. We look forward to treating patients from Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Northville, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, and surrounding areas.
Livonia Dentist: Take Our Teeth Whitening Quiz!
Would you like to learn more about one visit teeth whitening? Then challenge yourself by taking today’s whitening quiz!
Here, Dr. James Stewart, your Livonia dentist provides patients with this fun one visit teeth whitening quiz.
Questions: How’s Your Teeth Whitening Knowledge ?
- True or False: One visit teeth whitening takes multiple appointments.
- True or False: Whitening only works on natural teeth.
- True or False: Whitening causes some sensitivities.
Answers
- Answer—FALSE. What’s great about one visit teeth whitening is that it’s easy to complete and only takes one appointment. To begin the treatment, your Livonia dentist first protects your gums with a gel formula that reduces sensitivities. Then, he places the whitening gel upon your teeth and activates the solution with a curing light. This step takes 20 minutes and is completed in three separate treatments. Once the whitening portion is complete, Dr. Stewart uses a quick fluoride treatment to restrengthen the enamel.
- Answer—TRUE. Unfortunately, this is true. Dental restorations like crowns and veneers don’t have the same porous qualities that natural teeth do. Therefore, the bleaching solution can’t penetrate the restorative piece and brighten its appearance. If your restorations have too many set-in stains, ask Dr. Stewart about replacing those dental pieces for a whiter pair.
On the other hand, teeth whitening is very effective for natural teeth, for most patients. In fact, the majority of people can notice up-to 10 shades of difference after a one hour, in-office whitening treatment. - Answer—TRUE. This is highly dependent upon the patient. Some people have reported some minor sensitivities after the treatment. However, the sensitivity subsides after two or three days, at most. The remainder of patients won’t experience sensitive teeth—just a glowing, beautiful smile.
Brighten Your Smile with the Help of your Livonia Dentist
If you would like to have a more vibrant, noticeable smile, ask Dr. Stewart about one visit teeth whitening services. With his help, your teeth can the brilliance you’ve been seeking. To schedule an appointment with our Livonia dental practice, call us at (734) 425-4400. Also, visit our website to view services, testimonials, and print patient forms. We look forward to treating patients from Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Northville, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, and surrounding areas.
Livonia Dentist Teaches Patients about Teeth Whitening Ingredients
As most people already know, the over-the-counter teeth whitening kits fail at producing satisfactory results. This is due to one main issue: insufficient bleaching power. Oftentimes, a drugstore bleaching solution is made from a weaken hydrogen peroxide formula, which leads to barely-there results.
To teach his patients what makes professional-grade teeth whitening successful, Dr. James Stewart, your Livonia dentist, reveals which ingredients make a whitening gel potent.
What Goes into a Teeth Whitening Solution?
- Carbamide peroxide. Found in almost every professional teeth whitening solution, carbamide peroxide is derived from hydrogen peroxide and urea—a water-based solution. When used to whiten teeth, carbamide peroxide breaks down into hydrogen peroxide to brighten your smile. Oftentimes, professional-grade whiteners contain a carbamide peroxide concentrations of roughly 35%.
- Hydrated silica. This whitening ingredient derives from silicon dioxide and serves as an abrasive, of sorts, to remove stains from your teeth. Additionally, when mixed with calcium carbonate, hydrated silica can effectively remove plaque, too.
- Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). According to your Livonia dentist, to prevent more dental stains from setting in, polyvinylpyrrolidone is added to bleaching solutions. However, PVP is found more often in whitening toothpastes that in whitening formulas.
- Potassium nitrate. Since teeth can become rather sensitive post-teeth whitening, bleaching formulas add potassium nitrate to decrease the possibility for sensitivities. Potassium nitrate is able to penetrate the tooth and protect the nerves from experiencing uncomfortable sensitivity. This is also the key ingredient used for desensitizing toothpastes like Sensodyne.
- Sodium monofluorophosphate. Also known as fluoride, this ingredient isn’t directly involved with a bleaching solution. Yet, that the end of a whitening procedure, Dr. Stewart provides his patients with a fluoride treatment to help restrengthen the enamel and cut-down on dental sensitivity.
For Teeth Bleaching Services, Visit Your Livonia Dentist
If your teeth could use more vibrancy, ask Dr. Stewart about completing a teeth whitening treatment. A simple one-hour procedure can brighten your teeth up-to 10 shades and significantly improve the appearance of your smile. To schedule an appointment with our Livonia dental practice at (734) 425-4400. Also, visit our website to view services, testimonials, and print patient forms. We look forward to treating patients from Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Northville, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, and surrounding areas.
Dental Bridge Alternatives, from Your Livonia Dentist
Having you considered using a dental bridge as your tooth replacement method? Before you commit to a bridge, consider some alternative options. Since replacing missing teeth has become quite common, patients can choose from a number of restorative treatments.
To teach his patients about alternatives to dental bridges, Dr. James Stewart, your Livonia dentist provides this information.
Tooth Replacement Options Other than Bridges
- Dentures. The removable version of a dental bridge is a called, a partial denture. Just like a bridge, a partial denture contains three main components: two anchoring clasps and false teeth. More often than not, the clasps have been made of metal and sit atop of metal framework, which holds the entire piece together. Covering the metal framework is a gum-colored base that houses the false teeth. As aforementioned, this tooth replacement is removable and quite common amongst patients who have endured partial tooth loss.
- Implants. One of the most secure tooth replacement methods is the dental implant. The dental implant offers great versatility since patients can choose implants to support one missing tooth or many.
With an implant-supported dental bridge, your Livonia dentist places two implant posts into the jaw bone. Once the patient has successfully recovered from the initial implantation procedure, the dentist can place the abutment. Together, these two steps could take up to a year to complete. This is because the patient is allowed a healing period after the placement of each component; depending on the patient, proper healing for each step may take up-to six months.
When the patient is ready for crown placement, the dentist uses a specialized bridge made for dental implant use. The result is a permanent bridge that has been made to last for years on end.
Visit Your Livonia Dentist for Restorative Dental Services
If you have missing teeth and would like more information on dental bridges or tooth replacement methods, talk to Dr. Stewart. He can recommend a variety of tooth replacements and help you choose the most effective one. To schedule an appointment with our Livonia dental practice at (734) 425-4400. Also, visit our website to view services, testimonials, and print patient forms. We look forward to treating patients from Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Northville, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, and surrounding areas.