Showing Appreciation for Our Farmington Hills Dental Patients

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As a Livonia, Michigan, cosmetic, general, family, and sleep dentist, Dr. James Stewart believes that quality dental care is a right that everyone is entitled to. As a long-time member of the greater Farmington Hills community, Dr. Stewart also understands the power of word of mouth.

Referral Rewards Program for Novi Dental Patients

Because our best patients come from our best patients, Dr. Stewart and our Livonia dental team are proud to offer the Referral Rewards Program to our valued patients.

We always want to hear your feedback—good or bad—because it helps us know what we’re doing well, what could use some work, and your feedback allows us to serve you better. Referring your friends, family members, and neighbors to Dr. Stewart and our team is one of the greatest compliments we can receive, and we know that if you trust us with the smiles of your loved ones, we must be doing something right! (more…)

filed under: Just for Fun

Children’s Dental Care in Livonia

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Dr. James Stewart is a comprehensive care dentist in Livonia, Michigan. This means that he provides a variety of dental treatments, procedures, and care to patients of all ages with a variety of dental needs. Today, with the end of February and National Children’s Dental Health Month drawing closer, Dr. Stewart wants to discuss the dental care for children he offers at our Farmington Hills-area dentist office.

The Happy Visit

With a friendly, personal touch and the desire to show children that the dentist office is a fun, positive place, Dr. Stewart supports the American Dental Association’s recommendation that children attend their first dental visit by the age of one year. To make this appointment easier for you, you can simply bring your baby to your next dental appointment.

Even if your child has no or few teeth, this checkup will allow Dr. Stewart to quickly examine your child’s mouth, checking his or her growth and development and making note of any potential problems, and address any questions you have about caring for your child’s smile. This appointment is referred to as a “Happy Appointment” simply because it gives your child a chance to become comfortable in the dental chair and, hopefully, sets the stage for a lifelong dedication to quality oral health. (more…)

filed under: Family Dentistry

Do You Need a Second Opinion?

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The decision to receive dental care is a big one. For most people, professional dental care is a normal, routine part of health care, but what about smile makeover dentistry? Cosmetic and/or restorative dentistry requires an investment of your time, money, trust, and one of your most-noticeable assets: your smile. Because of this, Livonia comprehensive care dentist Dr. James Stewart understands when you need a second opinion and he is happy to provide one for you.

When to Seek a Second Opinion

More than anything, it’s important to follow your instincts when it comes to deciding who will complete your smile makeover and routine dental care. Even if you’ve gone to your dentist for years, if something he or she is telling you about your potential cosmetic, restorative, or general dental work sounds odd or doesn’t sit well with you, it’s time to find another dentist to care for your smile.

A second opinion should also be sought out in the following situations:

  • Your dentist has diagnosed a major health problem, such as oral cancer.
  • You have had dental work that is not correcting the problem that originally brought you in to the dental office.
  • You are unsure if the recommended treatment is necessary and/or you’re concerned about costs.
  • You feel that your dentist is not qualified to treat your dental health problem or smile makeover case. (more…)

filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry

What To Do When You Have a Toothache

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Thanks to the wonders of modern-day dentistry, toothaches aren’t a very common problem for patients who attend regular professional dental cleanings and exams and keep up with proper dental hygiene. When a toothache does strike, however, it can be very difficult to endure, and it’s hard to know when your pain requires a trip to the dentist. Today, Livonia comprehensive care dentist Dr. James Stewart wants to give you a few tips for treating a toothache at home and when to schedule an emergency dental appointment for a toothache that just won’t go away.

Identifying Tooth Pain

Before you can try to treat your pain at home or reserve an appointment with Dr. Stewart, it’s necessary to identify what’s causing your toothache.

Generally, the most common—and minor—dental pain is caused by tooth sensitivity, which occurs when you eat or drink something hot, cold, or sweet and experience a quick “twinge.” Sinus problems can also cause several of your upper teeth to be achy at the same time. If you’re a bruxer, meaning that you grind your teeth and/or clench your jaw, you’re probably used to waking up with a sore jaw. Although bruxism does require attention from Dr. Stewart, this kind of pain does not indicate an inner-tooth problem that needs emergency attention. (more…)

filed under: Healthy Living

Happy Valentine’s Day from Your Livonia Dental Team!

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Happy Valentine’s Day! On this romantic holiday, Livonia comprehensive care dentist Dr. James Stewart wants you to think about your smile and dental health. After all, think about how many smiles you’ll flash, how many kisses you’ll give, and how many times you’ll say “I love you” today. It’s all about your mouth, so Dr. Stewart has a few Valentine’s Day smile tips for you.

Chocolate and Your Smile

In addition to love, Valentine’s Day is all about sweet treats, but that doesn’t mean that you have to neglect your dental health to celebrate. Instead of indulging in sugary conversation hearts and other senseless sweets, stick to chocolate. Although you shouldn’t eat it in excess, recent research shows that chocolate may help prevent tooth decay. In addition to positively impacting brain function, cardiovascular health, diabetes control, the immune system, and other areas of bodily health, chocolate causes less tooth decay than other sweets. (more…)

filed under: Healthy Living, Just for Fun

Tips for Choosing Your Michigan Dentist, Part 2

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On Tuesday, we introduced a few tips for choosing the perfect dentist for you and your family. Today, Michigan cosmetic, restorative, general, and sleep dentist Dr. James Stewart wants to give you a few more tips for finding your new dental home.

More Tips for Choosing the Perfect Dentist for You

  1. Once you’re in the dental chair, keep track of how long it takes for the dentist to come into the room. Hygienists and other members of the dental team are highly important to maintaining your oral health, as well as maintaining a pleasant atmosphere, but you chose the practice based on the dentist’s credentials. You should receive the best care and the most expertise for your money.
  2. This is one of the rare times when it’s okay to judge someone before really getting to know him or her. Ask your potential dentist questions about his or her training, experience, continued education, and more. If his or her answers aren’t to your liking, find another dentist. (more…)

filed under: Uncategorized

Tips for Choosing Your Michigan Dentist

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When it comes to comprehensive dental care, Michigan dentist Dr. James Stewart provides dental services for a variety of patients with a variety of dental needs. He understands that everyone’s dental needs are different, and he also understands that choosing a dentist for you and your family is a big decision that requires a lot of research and a big leap of faith. Read on to find out Dr. Stewart’s top 10 tips for choosing a dentist.

Choosing the Perfect Dentist for You

  1. When you’re looking for a new dentist, you want to find someone that you can trust with your most valuable physical asset—your smile. Who better to ask than your most trusted friends, family members, and coworkers? To find a quality dentist in your area, first ask the people you see on a daily basis for recommendations.
  2. Use your resources, specifically the Internet, to find dentists in your area. Simply type your location into Google or another search engine, add the word “dentist,” and watch the results roll in. The thing to remember about using the Internet to find a dentist is that the dentist that comes up first may have spent the most money on building a web presence, but may not be the right dentist for you. To find out if a dentist is truly reputable, take a look at the patient reviews or testimonials on his or her website as well as on review sites like Yelp.com and the doctor’s Google Places page. (more…)

filed under: Uncategorized

Sleep Better During the Winter Months

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Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning, which means it’s time for you to gear up for another six weeks of winter here in blustery Livonia, Michigan. For people with healthy sleeping habits, cozying up during the winter months may seem like second nature. In fact, many people report getting their best sleep during the cold months of the year. If you suffer from a sleeping disorder, however, it’s likely you’re not getting the sleep you need, and sleep dentist Dr. James Stewart wants to help.

Tips for Better Cold-Weather Sleep

Falling asleep under a pile of warm blankets and flannel pajamas while snow quietly falls outside the window may sound like a winter dream for heavy sleepers, but, for people who don’t have healthy sleep habits, being cozy won’t necessarily help them get the sleep they need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Instead of lying awake all night and watching the snow fall, follow a few of these tips for better sleeping:

  • Go to bed if you’re tired, but don’t stay in bed if you can’t fall asleep. Few things are more frustrating than feeling sleepy, going through your bedtime routine, climbing into bed, and then being unable to fall asleep. When you lay in bed for hours waiting for sleep to come to you, you give your mind a chance to wander, which often brings up feelings of stress and worry about a growing to-do list, what the next day will bring, and more—none of which will help you relax enough to fall asleep. If you can’t fall asleep after 20 or 30 minutes of laying in bed, get up and do something that usually makes you tired, but does not stimulate your mind too much, such as reading a simple book or listening to soft music. It’s best to keep the lights low and avoid the television, computer, or cell phone. (more…)

filed under: About Sleep

Total Dental Reconstruction from Your Livonia Dentist

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Michigan general, restorative, cosmetic, and sleep dentist Dr. James Stewart recently received the following letter from a former patient.

“Dr. Dr Stewart,

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to speak with me, helping me with my dental concerns. Although I’ve been away from the Detroit Metro area for 5 years, it’s comforting to know that I can always depend on my wonderful Dr. Stewart for guidance in my dental needs…

All dentists agree that YOUR work on me (total restoration) is, by far, the best they have ever seen! My teeth are absolutely beautiful and I’m so proud of my lovely smile—thanks to MY Dr. Stewart.

With gratitude and appreciation,

Patricia Wilson” (more…)

filed under: General

How Much Sleep Do You Need?

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Everyone needs sleep to rejuvenate their brain and body and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Depending on several factors, however, how much sleep you need to be fully rested can greatly differ from how much sleep somebody else needs. Livonia sleep dentist Dr. James Stewart wants you to know how your age and gender effect how much sleep you need so that you can be bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and wide awake during the day and the get the good night’s sleep you need at night.

Age and Developmental Stage

It’s obvious that our sleep needs and patterns change throughout our lives. Additionally, sleep needs vary from person to person within the same age group, often of a result of stress, sickness, weight, lifestyle, and other factors.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, these are the general sleep needs for people of all ages during a 24-hour time period:

  • Infants (younger than 11 months) need 14-15 hours
  • Toddlers need 12-14 hours
  • Preschool-age children need 11-13 hours
  • Children (ages 5 to 11) need 10-11 hours (more…)

filed under: About Sleep