Livonia Dentist Discusses Sleep Apnea in Pregnant Women

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Q)        What is sleep apnea?

A)        Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes sufferers to experience snoring, along with pauses in their breathing during sleep, sometimes up to 100 such pauses during the night. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) – a form of the condition in which excess fat issue narrows the inside of the airway – is prevalent in the obese. Although OSA can occur in non-obese individuals, this discussion focuses on obese patients. Not all women gain significant weight during pregnancy, but many do. For these women, OSA may be an issue.

Q)        Isn’t sleep apnea more prevalent in men than in women?

A)        In previous studies of sleep apnea, eight or nine men were diagnosed with OSA for each woman with the condition. Recent studies indicate a substantial shift in that thinking, however. The actual ratio is closer to two to three men with OSA for each woman with the condition.

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filed under: Sleep Apnea

When a New Filling Causes Discomfort

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Let’s say you visited your Livonia Dentist to have a cavity filled. Your mouth felt fine (although numb from the Novocain) when you left the office. Later that day, or maybe the next day, however, you begin to feel discomfort at the filling site. If this happens, you may have what is known as a high filling.

Q)        What is a high filing?

A)        A high filling occurs when too much composite resin projects from the tooth cavity.

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filed under: Dr. Stewart, Restorative Dentistry

How Dental Implants Can Save Your Oral Health

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Losing one or more teeth can be a tragic experience for some people. For others, it may seem inconsequential, perhaps even slightly humorous. Pride and confidence in one’s smile plays a role in both reactions; while one person may be so proud of their smile that the loss of a tooth can generate feelings of insecurity, another may be so self-confident that losing a mere tooth does not affect their self-esteem. Your body, however, has a few reactions of its own to tooth loss, and no amount of pride or confidence can directly affect them. Livonia dentist Dr. James Stewart explains the devastation that tooth loss can wreak on your oral health, and how dental implants can help halt the destruction.

The Visible Effects of Tooth Loss

The most obvious result of tooth loss is the noticeable gap left between the remaining adjacent teeth. As testament to the complexities of the human body, your normally-stationary teeth will begin to shift to try and take up the slack left by their fallen brethren. This shifting can throw off the natural balance of your bite (occlusion) and lead to many other oral health issues, including bruxism and TMJ disorder. Traditional tooth replacements, including bridges, partials, and full dentures, are designed to fill the empty space to prevent your remaining teeth from shifting to take up the slack. These solutions, however, do not address the second, and perhaps more damaging, result of tooth loss. (more…)

filed under: Dental Implants, Oral Health

Livonia Dentist Can Help Ease Your Headache Pain

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Finding the Source of Headache Pain

Are you suffering from regular, relentless headaches? You may want to visit your Livonia dentist, Dr. James Stewart, as well as your doctor to determine the source of your pain, particularly if jaw pain accompanies your headaches.

Due to the close anatomical link between the head, jaw, and neck, the root cause of your pain can be difficult to discern. The pain and tension you’re experiencing may cause you to clench your teeth and tighten your jaw muscles, thereby exacerbating your headaches and setting up a cycle of pain. (more…)

filed under: Healthy Living, TMJ

How Fish Oil Can Alleviate Gum Disease Symptoms

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Fish OilWhile fish products might not be the best path to good breath, recent work by Dr. Alison Coates from the University of South Australia suggests that it might be a beneficial therapy for gum disease. Over half of all American adults suffer from some degree of periodontal disease, and the disease itself has been linked to a number of other health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and oral and pancreatic cancers.  (more…)

filed under: Gum Health, Preventive Dentistry

Affordable Sleep Apnea Treatment From Dr. Stewart

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Sleep apnea is a serious condition that can result in anything from snoring and mild morning headaches to poor mental health and memory impairment. For the loved ones of patients who suffer from sleep apnea, the snoring associated with the condition can deprive them of their sleep, as well. Your Livonia dentist is committed to finding the sleep apnea solution that fits best fits your needs, without causing you to lose sleep over the expense.

Sleep Apnea Treatments

The most common treatment for sleep apnea is a continuous positive airway pressure machine, or “CPAP.” The breathing machine is effective at alleviating the breathing issues associated with sleep apnea, but only about half of the patients that try it stick with it. The noise emitted by the machine keeps some from being able to sleep, and others complain of a claustrophobic feeling due to the mask. For mild to moderate cases of obstructive sleep apnea, Dr. Stewart offers an alternative to the CPAP machine. (more…)

filed under: Sleep Apnea

Dental Insurance and End-of-Year Considerations

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For most patients with dental insurance, dental plans will expire at the end of the year. With the holiday season fast approaching, it’s more important than ever to schedule your appointments. Livonia dentist Dr. Stewart explains why you should take advantage of your dental benefits before the end of the year.

Delaying Dental Care

If visiting Dr. Stewart is something you’ve been meaning to do, but just haven’t quite got around to it, now is the time to schedule your appointment. Your wallet and your teeth will thank you. We recommend that you come in for professional dental checkups and cleanings at least twice a year, to supplement your daily brushing and flossing routine. If you haven’t managed to make it to your first visit, better late than never. If you’re due for your second visit, then now is the time, before your insurance benefits expire. (more…)

filed under: General

Praise for Dr. Stewart from a Happy Patient

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As Dr. James Stewart and his team well know, choosing a dentist can be a difficult task. Not all dentists are equally equipped to handle patients’ needs, and reasons for a dental visit are many and varied. Having a positive relationship with your dentist is mutually beneficial, which is why today we are happy to present you with a testimonial from one of our many happy patients. (more…)

filed under: Dr. Stewart, Family Dentistry

Livonia Dentist Discusses How to Protect Against Tooth Decay

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Brushing your teeth at least twice a day is the most basic fundamental of good oral hygiene. When coupled with flossing, you have laid the groundwork to fight cavities and stave off tooth decay, the number one cause of tooth loss. Recent research has provided us with an additional weapon against tooth decay, and its use produces profound results. How would you like to boost your cavity-fighting ability by up to 400% by adding just one simple step to your daily dental routine?

The Product: High-Fluoride Toothpaste

The research on the efficacy of high-fluoride toothpaste is now complete. Not only is high-fluoride toothpaste extremely beneficial, but when combined with a new method of application, the level of protection derived from the fluoride can be quadrupled.

The “Massage” Method

A new method, developed by professor Dowen Birkhed, of the University of Gothenburg’s Sahlgrenska Academy, involves rubbing the toothpaste onto your teeth with a finger. This “massage” method has proven to be at least as effective as a third brushing, in that it increases the amount of fluoride in the mouth. By massaging the fluoride onto each tooth, you maximize the contact with your teeth, which boosts the cavity-fighting effects. However, this is not a replacement to regular brushing, but an additional treatment. (more…)

filed under: Uncategorized

How Coconut Oil Can Combat Tooth Decay

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Scientists have discovered that digested coconut oil is a natural antibiotic that could be incorporated into dental care products.

The team of Irish scientists, from the Athlone Institute of Technology, tested enzyme-treated coconut oils against strains of Streptococcus bacteria. One form of Streptococcus, Streptococcus mutans, is the acid-producing bacterium that causes tooth decay.

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filed under: Dental Advancements, Preventive Dentistry