Common Dental Concerns for Seniors in Livonia

Posted June 20, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

While tooth decay and gum disease are worldwide concerns that affect people of all ages, some dental conditions are more likely to occur as we age. Gum recession, gum disease, and jawbone degeneration are common oral conditions associated with maturity. Let’s look at these senior dental care issues one at a time.

Gum Recession

Periodontal tissue (or gum tissue), combined with bone, provide support for teeth. Years of vigorous teeth brushing, smoking, or gum disease can cause gums to recede from teeth. Gum recession is more common in people over 40 years of age. The crowns of our teeth are covered with enamel, the hardest tissue in the body. The roots of teeth, however, are not coated with enamel. Receding gums can expose teeth roots and cause sensitivity to temperature and pressure. (more…)

Livonia Dentist and Team Attended Advanced Sleep Medicine Training

Posted June 19, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

Dr. Stewart and team in Columbus, Ohio.

Livonia dentist, Dr. James Stewart, recently attended a course in Advanced Sleep Medicine Training with his dental team. This course, held in Columbus, Ohio provides comprehensive training in serving patients with sleep apnea. In addition to providing excellent general and cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Stewart and our team are proud to serve and treat patients with sleep apnea.

Lisa, Claudia, Windy, and Dr. Stewart attended this course in April so that we can better serve our patients with advanced training. After completing the course, Windy, our dental assistant, is now our Sleep Patient Coordinator. Our team is committed to giving our patient’s the treatment they need and deserve for sleep apnea while also improving our patients’ quality of life.

Treating Sleep Apnea in Livonia and Farmington Hills

Working closely with a team of trusted physicians and sleep laboratories, Dr. Stewart offers comfortable and effective solutions for patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and chronic snoring. Depending on your particular needs, Dr. Stewart may prescribe a comfortable oral appliance that will properly position your lower jaw while you sleep. Oral appliances help keep air passageways open while you rest. Some patients may need a CPAP mask that releases a stream of air into the mouth which prevents soft oral tissues from collapsing and blocking airways. In some cases, Dr. Stewart may recommend a combination of both types of sleep apnea treatments. (more…)

Treating Gum Disease in Livonia

Posted June 15, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

Dr. James Stewart is passionate about helping patients keep their natural teeth for life. Preventing or promptly treating tooth decay is one way to ensure good oral health, but did you know that the structures that support your teeth need just as much attention? Gum disease, also called periodontitis or periodontal disease, is the number one cause of adult tooth loss in the US, and your Livonia general dentist can help you avoid becoming part of this grim statistic.

What causes gum disease?

Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth. Regular brushing and flossing can remove this substance before it causes harm to the teeth and gums. However, patients who do not clean their teeth frequently or thoroughly enough leave plaque behind, which eventually hardens into a substance called tartar. Once this hard calculus forms, it cannot be removed with a toothbrush. Tartar along the gum line irritates the gum tissue, causing its connection to the teeth to loosen. When this happens, periodontal pockets form, and these spaces collect oral bacteria that irritate and inflame the gums. If periodontal disease goes untreated, the gums and underlying bone tissue will break down, causing teeth to loosen and fall out. (more…)

Crowns, Inlays, and Onlays Explained by Your Livonia Dentist

Posted June 13, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

Dr. James Stewart holds years of experience with restorative dentistry. He strives to save decayed or damaged teeth with restorations such as crowns, inlays, and onlays. In many cases, our patients that receive restorations enjoy fully functioning teeth without sacrificing the appearance of their smile. Restorative dentistry is perfect for patients who have experienced extensive decay or have suffered from traumatic dental injuries.

Crowns

Crowns are custom-made restorations that cover the entire visible portion of a tooth. Made from porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or zirconia, crowns are caps that are placed over an existing tooth that is damaged or decayed. For patients with worn down teeth, crowns restore the size and appearance of a healthy tooth. Patients with crowns enjoy restored tooth function for many years to come. (more…)

Livonia Dentist Explains Simple, Yet Effective Cosmetic Procedures

Posted June 8, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

Vampires are becoming very popular in today’s culture through books, television shows, and movies. And while some fans are jealous of their immortality and super-human capabilities, no one seems particularly envious of a vampire’s pointy canines. Those fangs can be fixed, however, with tooth recontouring, one of the many cosmetic dental procedures offered by Dr. James Stewart.

Reshape Your Teeth

Besides smoothing sharp, jagged “vampire teeth,” recontouring can also correct dental problems such as small chips and uneven teeth. For this procedure, a very minimal amount of tooth enamel is removed as the teeth are reshaped the ideal shape and size. The results? A softer, more balanced smile, and no more vampire jokes at your expense. (more…)

Livonia Dentist Explains Sleep Cycles and Sleep Apnea

Posted June 6, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

Obstructive sleep apnea is a dangerous condition that affects millions of Americans. Unfortunately, many people do not realize that they suffer from sleep apnea and thus do not seek the treatment they need. Dr. Stewart has studied sleep apnea and dental sleep medicine. He feels that his patients need to first have a basic understanding of the sleep cycle before they can properly grasp the disruptive nature of sleep apnea.

Sleep Cycles

The sleep cycle divides into two distinct categories: REM sleep and non-REM sleep. The abbreviation REM stands for rapid eye movement, and it is the stage in when dreams occur.

Non-REM Sleep

Stage One: During this stage, which lasts between five and ten minutes, people can be awoken easily. The dream-like sensation of falling and the resulting muscle contraction often occur in this initial sleep state.

Stage Two: Light sleep happens in this stage, accompanied by a slowing of heart rate and a decrease in body temperature.

Stages Three and Four: By these phases, people are experiencing deep sleep, also known as slow-wave or delta sleep. When disrupted during these late stages, people feel disoriented.

REM Sleep

REM sleep, or dream sleep, transpires after you have been asleep for approximately 70–90 minutes. As the name suggests, your eyes move rapidly during this phase and dreaming sometimes takes place. Other factors of REM sleep include shallow breathing, an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, and stiffening of the arm and leg muscles. (more…)

Bruxism FAQS with Livonia Family Dentist

Posted May 25, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

Did you ever think that stress could affect your teeth? Stress is one of the many causes of bruxism, the act of teeth grinding. This nighttime habit can actually be quite dangerous, with many damaging effects on your teeth and muscles. Your Livonia Family dentist, Dr. James Stewart answers some frequently asked questions about bruxism.

Why do I Grind my Teeth at Night?

Teeth grinding can occur for a number of reasons, including stress, an aggressive personality type, an abnormal bite, and missing teeth. Bruxism can also be a side effect of certain anti-depressants and a complication of Huntington’s or Parkinson’s disease.

Can Bruxism Damage my Jaw Muscles?

Yes, excessive teeth grinding can lead to a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. This joint is located in front of the ears on both sides of the face and can be felt moving whenever you open and close your mouth. A TMJ disorder has many symptoms that can cause chronic pain and decreased oral functioning, including difficulty chewing, headaches, and ear pain. (more…)

Livonia Family Dentist Offers Compassionate Dental Care for Seniors

Posted May 23, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

Age adds many wonderful joys to life, such as grandchildren and retirement. Unfortunately, seniors don’t always experience joy when it comes to their oral health. Your Livonia family dentist, Dr. James Stewart, understands this issue and offers compassionate care to his senior patients.

Dental Problems and Solutions for Older Adults

Certain complications can arise with age, which makes dental care difficult to maintain. For instance, some older patients experience decreased joint mobility, meaning a simple task such as using a toothbrush can become a laborious chore. An electric toothbrush can provide a partial solution to this problem, and professional teeth cleanings from your Livonia family dentist will also help. Dry mouth is another annoyance that seniors face due to medications or certain diseases. Many people suck on hard candies to help alleviate the symptoms, but that can actually lead to gum disease and tooth decay. A much better solution is drinking water and using a fluoride mouth rinse.

Dentures and Dental Implants

Ill-fitting dentures can cause great discomfort and serious oral health problems. Dr. Stewart works closely with his older patients to ensure that their dentures are properly functioning and correctly aligned. Dental implants are also an option for missing teeth, as well as a way to secure loose dentures. (more…)

The Importance of Prenatal Dental Care

Posted May 18, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

Your Livonia family dentist, Dr. James Stewart, cares deeply about the health of you and your loved ones. In honor of National Women’s Health Week, he would like to take the time to educate you on the importance of prenatal dental care with the following bits of information.

1. True or false. Pregnant women hardly ever develop gingivitis.

Answer: False. Pregnant women actually are more prone to gingivitis due to their heightened hormone levels, which cause their gums to react more severely to plaque. This condition is often called pregnancy gingivitis.

2. True of false. Women with gum disease are more likely to give birth to underdeveloped children than women without gum disease.

Answer: True. Periodontal disease, as it is officially known, puts women at three times the risk of giving birth to a baby that is underdeveloped or underweight. Gum disease during pregnancy also increases a woman’s chance of delivering her baby prematurely. (more…)

Mental Health Month: Dental Health and Mental Health Go Hand in Hand

Posted May 16, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

In honor of May being Mental Health Month, as declared by Mental Health America in 1949, Dr. James Stewart would like to enlighten you on the relationship between dental and mental health. What many people fail to realize is that they actually go hand in hand. Not only does a beautiful smile do wonders for your self-esteem, but good oral care can also help protect you against serious diseases, including those of a mental nature.

Alzheimer’s and Dementia

In the past few years, researchers have found links between gum disease and memory loss, the latter being a major part of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Scientists are researching this further in an attempt to figure out exactly how the condition of one’s gums affects brain function. Hopefully, preventive dentistry treatments will one day be able to protect patients against these chronic diseases. Furthermore, studies have shown that those experiencing permanent tooth loss before the age of 35 may be at risk for developing Alzheimer’s. So be sure to protect those pearly whites, not just for the sake of your smile, but also for your mind. (more…)