Test Your Cosmetic Dentistry Knowledge

Posted May 2, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

How much do you know about cosmetic dentistry in Livonia?

Our Livonia cosmetic dentist, Dr. Stewart challenges you to see how much you know about cosmetic dentistry. Take this short quiz to find out more about improving your smile. You can check your answers by clicking “Read the rest of this entry.”

Cosmetic Dentistry Quiz

Q1. Which cosmetic dentistry procedure can lighten your smile, correct misshapen teeth, straighten your smile, and cover tooth chips in as little as two office visits?

A. Teeth whitening

B. Root canal treatment

C. Porcelain veneers

D. Gum recontouring

Q2. What can I do for a gummy smile?

A. Malocclusion correction

B. Gum recontouring

C. Facial surgery

D. All of the above

Q3. True or False: Teeth whitening is the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedure in the United States.

Q4. True or False: Dental bonding in Livonia is a less expensive alternative to porcelain veneers.

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Sleep Apnea Treatment from Your Livonia Dentist

Posted April 29, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

Did you know that Dr. James Stewart addresses sleep apnea and chronic snoring with oral appliances and sleep apnea masks? Studies show that up to 18 million people in the United States suffer from sleep apnea disorders. This sleeping disorder disrupts your body’s sleep cycle and may severely affect your wakefulness and memory. Patients with sleep apnea are unable to progress through the natural sleep cycle because they cease breathing hundreds of times throughout the night. As their airways are obstructed by soft oral tissues, the brain responds by waking the sleeper so they can resume breathing. Sleep apnea contributes to irritability, depression, impotence, chronic headaches, high blood pressure, and many other serious ailments.

Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

After a patient has been diagnosed with sleep apnea, Dr. Stewart will recommend treatment options. Dr. Stewart believes in treating sleep apnea with minimally invasive methods. He collaborates with sleep laboratories and sleep doctors to determine the best course of action for a patient’s needs.

CPAP Mask

CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. The CPAP system consists of a mask that emits a stream of airflow which prevents the soft oral tissues from blocking air passageways. CPAP systems are one of the oldest treatments for obstructive sleep apnea. Although CPAP is effective, some patients find the CPAP mask uncomfortable. (more…)

How Does Livonia Sleep Dentist Dr. Stewart Treat Sleep Apnea?

Posted April 26, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

As a sleep dentist in Livonia, MI, Dr. James Stewart has helped countless patients overcome their sleep apnea and reclaim nights of peaceful slumber. Still, many patients are surprised to learn that a dentist can treat sleep apnea. Read on to learn why dentist Dr. Stewart is more than qualified to treat this common sleep disorder.

Treating Sleep Apnea in Livonia, MI

Sleep apnea is directly related to the function of your airways and your ability to breathe. On first glance, this sleep disorder might seem like a respiratory condition. Sleep apnea, however, is actually based on your oral structures, which makes the condition a matter of dental concern.

To treat sleep apnea at our Farmington Hills-area dentist office, Dr. Stewart uses two kinds of treatments.

The first kind of treatment for sleep apnea is an oral appliance, which holds your lower jaw and/or tongue in position as you sleep. With an oral appliance, your soft tissues will not shift as they relax while you sleep, therefore leaving your airways unobstructed and helping you to breathe normally throughout the night. Depending on your specific needs, Dr. Stewart will create a custom oral appliance that is designed specifically for your mouth and condition. (more…)

Immunizations and Dental Health

Posted April 24, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

This week is National Infant Immunization Week, and as a Livonia, MI family dentist, Dr. James Stewart wants to discuss the importance of immunizations and quality dental care when it comes to laying a solid foundation for lifelong health for your child.

Why are Immunizations Important?

Immunizations are designed to protect children from certain diseases and health conditions to help ensure that they grow to live healthy and high-quality lives. There are currently fourteen vaccine-preventable diseases, and it’s the mission of National Infant Immunization Week to urge parents, caregivers, and healthcare provides to ensure that infants are fully immunized against them.

Vaccines exist because scientific and technological advancements allowed researchers to find a cure for serious infectious diseases that once killed or harmed infants, children, and adults. As a parent, don’t you want to do everything in your power to ensure that your child is healthy for many years to come? Of course you do. That’s why it’s important to fully immunize your child and maintain a dedication to quality dental care.

Why is Dental Care so Important?

Just like immunizations, dental care plays a large part in your child’s current and future health. Dental caries—also called cavities and tooth decay—is the most widespread childhood disease, yet it is easily preventable with proper at-home dental hygiene and quality professional dental care. (more…)

Parents, Give Your Child the Gift of a Beautiful Smile

Posted April 19, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

We’re already more than halfway through April, which means that May—and the end of the school year—is right around the corner. The end of the school year brings a lot of big events for senior students, including prom, senior pictures, and graduation. Today, Livonia, MI cosmetic and family dentist Dr. James Stewart wants to urge you to give your child a graduation gift that he or she will love: a bright white smile.

Teeth Whitening in Livonia

As the parent of a graduating senior, you want your child to remember the last few weeks of school and the coming summer fondly. After all, it is the summer before he or she heads off to college and embarks on a brand new life. To help your child smile as big and brightly as possible as he or she walks across the stage and receives his or her hard-earned diploma–and as he or she meets new people at college in the fall—it’s time to consider teeth whitening.

With a few weeks left until prom, senior pictures, and graduation, there’s just enough time to help your child whiten his or her smile. How? With professional-strength teeth whitening from Dr. Stewart. We offer two kinds of teeth whitening treatments to our patients from across the greater Livonia and Farmington Hills areas: in-office and at-home teeth whitening. (more…)

Athletic Mouth Guards for Livonia Athletes

Posted April 17, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

As a parent, would you let your child ride a bike or play football or hockey without a helmet? No, you would probably do everything in your power to keep your child safe from potential injury. The month of April is National Facial Protection Month, and Livonia, MI dentist Dr. James Stewart wants to discuss why an athletic mouth guard should be a part of every athlete’s uniform.

Why do I need an Athletic Mouth guard?

Mouth guards are worn inside of the mouth to protect the teeth, gums, tongue, and other oral structures from injury during physical activity. Most people believe that only athletes of contact sports need to wear a mouth guard, but athletes of all kinds are at risk for damaging their smiles. In fact, up to forty percent of sports injuries directly affect the face.

In an effort to be safe rather than sorry, the American Dental Association, the Academy of Sports Dentistry, and Dr. Stewart recommend mouth guards for athletes who participate in the following sports:

Acrobatics
Bandi
Baseball
Basketball
Bicycling
Boxing
Equestrian Events (more…)

Post-Operative Instructions from Your Livonia Dentist

Posted April 12, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

Over the past few weeks, Livonia dentist Dr. James Stewart has explained what to do following your cosmetic, periodontal, and restorative dental work. Today, Dr. Stewart wants to explain the post-operative instructions for two of the more invasive procedures we offer at our Livonia, MI dentist office: tooth extraction and root canal therapy.

After Tooth Extraction

Following your tooth extraction, it’s important for a blood clot to form so that the extraction site can begin healing. To encourage clotting, we will ask you to bite on a sterilized gauze pad at the end of your procedure. If the bleeding continues, change the gauze pad every thirty minutes and continue biting. A blood clot has formed once the bleeding subsides. To protect the blood clot, refrain from smoking, sucking through a straw, rinsing your mouth vigorously, cleaning the teeth immediately next to the extraction site, and chewing near the extraction site. (more…)

Taking Care of Your Mouth Following Periodontal Surgery

Posted April 10, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

Over the past few weeks, Livonia, MI dentist Dr. James Stewart has discussed what to do to ensure the health and wellbeing of your smile makeover following dental work at our Farmington Hills-area dentist office. Today, Dr. Stewart wants to continue this information by sharing what you should do following periodontal surgery.

After Periodontal Surgery

As is the case with a number of dental procedures, your lips, teeth, and tongue may feel numb for several hours following your periodontal surgery. To protect yourself from biting your mouth or harming your dental work, avoid chewing until the numbness has completely worn off, and don’t eat anything for at least two hours following the procedure.

To reduce some of the initial discomfort, take pain medication as prescribed by Dr. Stewart. Apply an ice pack—twenty minutes on, then twenty minutes off—for approximately six hours following the surgery. To reduce pain and swelling twenty-four hours following your dental work, rinse your mouth with warm salt water approximately every six hours. Continue to take any antibiotics prescribed by Dr. Stewart or another physician for the indicated length of time. (more…)

Celebrate World Health Day with Dental Care in Livonia, MI

Posted April 5, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

This Saturday, April 7, is World Health Day, and, in honor of this observance day, Livonia, MI dentist Dr. James Stewart encourages you to think about all aspects of your health and consider what you can do to make a positive change. Because oral and overall health are so closely connected, taking better care of your teeth and gums is a great place to start.

Good Health Adds Years to Your Life

The theme of World Health Day 2012 is “Good Health Adds Years to Your Life,” and Dr. Stewart and our team couldn’t agree with this statement more. As a family and general dentist serving the Farmington Hills area, Dr. Stewart treats patients of all ages, and it is our goal to help our patients achieve and maintain healthy smiles to ensure healthy, high-quality living. (more…)

Taking Care of Your New Smile After Cosmetic Reconstruction in Livonia

Posted April 3, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

A few weeks ago, Livonia dentist Dr. James Stewart discussed how to keep your mouth and dental work safe following dental filling, dental crown, and dental bridge appointments. Today, Dr. Stewart wants to discuss how to care for your new smile following cosmetic reconstruction.

After Cosmetic Reconstruction

It is important to remember that your mind and body need time to adjust to your new bite following your cosmetic reconstructive procedure. For some patients, it can take up to a week for the brain to recognize the new bite as “normal.” If you continue to have problems adjusting to your bite, call Dr. Stewart’s Farmington Hills dentist office at (734) 425-4400.

You might experience some heat, cold, and pressure sensitivity, as well as some soreness for up to a few days following your dental work. To relieve your discomfort, rinse your mouth three times a day with warm salt water and take mild pain relievers as needed. Continue normal dental hygiene, including brushing, flossing, and attending professional dental checkups and cleanings. (more…)