Say No to Soda

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There’s nothing like popping open a refreshing can of soda to quench your thirst! These sweet, tasty beverages come in hundreds of different flavors and colors, and can be a real treat for your taste buds. Unfortunately, researches have discovered why your teeth may not be as thrilled.

  • Soda is worthless to your body. Although it tastes great, soda is filled with sugar, calories, and nothing else, which causes it to have no nutritional value. Despite popular belief, diet sodas are just as bad.
  • Soda damages your teeth, plain and simple. As a dentist, I want to help you maintain a healthy and beautiful smile. Sodas, as well as other sugary treats, contribute nothing to your oral health. Plus, the sugar in soda coats your teeth and combines with bacteria in your mouth to form acid. This acid wears away at your tooth enamel and can eventually lead to cavities and tooth decay.
  • Soda can harm your major organs. Consumption of soda has been linked to chronic kidney disease, development of metabolic syndrome, increased risk of heart health, and liver disease. Soda is also bad for your bones. The phosphorous and caffeine contained in soda might contribute to osteoporosis, and chances are, if you’re a soda drinker, your bones may be calcium-deprived since you aren’t drinking enough milk.

Your diet has a huge impact on your oral health. Making healthy food and drink choices is a small thing you can do that makes a huge impact.

For more information about how to eat and drink your way to a healthy mouth, please contact my office in Livonia, Michigan. I’m Dr. James Stewart, and my team and I look forward to hearing from you!

filed under: Healthy Living

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Proper Denture Care

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Correctly caring for your dentures will increase their longevity and protect the health of your mouth.  I’m Dr. James Stewart, and I want to give you some practical tips for good denture care.

Handle them with care: When removing your dentures, stand over a folded towel or a full sink of water to avoid damage, in case you accidentally drop them. (more…)

filed under: Dental Reconstruction

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AARP Volunteer Income Tax Assistance at the Livonia Civic Park Senior Center…

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Trained volunteer tax preparers will be available to complete simple returns for low income residents, with an emphasis on those 60 years of age or older. Service is provided on a first come, first served basis. No appointment necessary.

Assistance will be provided Monday, January 31st through Monday, April 18th. Center opens at 8:30am, preparers begin at 9:00am and will not see anyone after 2:00pm.

Having your taxes done by AARP Tax Aide? Take a few minutes for an AARP Foundation Benefits QuickLINK screening and find out if you can save money on food prescription drugs, health care, utilities and more.

You Must Bring The Following Information
1. 2009 State & Federal Income Tax Returns
2. Statements of All 2010 Earned Income (W-2), Pension (1099-R),
Investment Income (1099) and Social Security received
3. Amount of 2010 Property Tax (Paid or Unpaid)
4. Amount of Rent Paid
5. Total 2010 Heating Cost
6. Amount Paid Toward 2010 Health Insurance Premiums

Call (734) 466-2555 for additional information.

filed under: General

TMJ Troubles and Treatment

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Have you heard of temporomandibular joint disorder? I know, it sounds intense. This disorder, also known as TMJ, is usually accompanied by headaches, migraines, earaches, and irritating conditions like a popping jaw. If you have any of these symptoms, it’s possible that you are one of the millions of Americans suffering from TMJ.

I’m Dr. James Stewart, and I’m optimistic that I can treat this problem. First, however, it is important for you to know what causes TMJ disorder.

The temporomandibular joints are the two joints that hold your jaw to your skull. A variety of factors, including injury, stress, heredity, and tooth wear, can lead to misalignment of these joints, which places additional stress on the muscles and nerves surrounding them. This can cause pain in the head, mouth, and jaw. Sometimes, neck and lower back pain can also occur.

I have been treating TMJ patients for a long time, so I know how difficult it can be to live and function when you’re in constant pain and discomfort. Luckily, I’m equipped to treat your TMJ disorder right here in my office in Livonia, Michigan.

To begin your treatment, I ask that you come in for an evaluation appointment. At this evaluation, I can determine if your jaw isn’t properly aligned. I will try to physically manipulate your jaw to see how your joints work together. I will ask you about your symptoms and check for tooth wear, as well. If you do have the condition, I will recommend an oral appliance to reposition your jaw to the proper alignment. This appliance will help to alleviate the stress on your jaw joints. With prescribed wear, this appliance will help you reclaim your life from your TMJ condition.

If you are ready to find relief from the pain you are experiencing, I encourage you to call my office at (734) 425-4400. My team and I are here to help you.

filed under: TMJ

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The Hidden Consequences of Sleep Apnea

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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.

filed under: Uncategorized

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You Only Get Better with Age

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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.

filed under: Family Dentistry, Healthy Living

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Go behind the scenes with the Detroit Historical Society!

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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!

filed under: Community Events

Smile Quiz

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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.

filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry

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Plan a Night out at the Theater

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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

filed under: Community Events

A New Year’s Resolution to Sleep Better

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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.

filed under: About Sleep

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