Do You Need a Second Opinion?

Posted February 21, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

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…)

What To Do When You Have a Toothache

Posted February 16, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

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…)

Happy Valentine’s Day from Your Livonia Dental Team!

Posted February 14, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

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…)

Tips for Choosing Your Michigan Dentist, Part 2

Posted February 9, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

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

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.
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…)

Tips for Choosing Your Michigan Dentist

Posted February 7, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

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

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.
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…)

Sleep Better During the Winter Months

Posted February 2, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

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…)

Total Dental Reconstruction from Your Livonia Dentist

Posted January 31, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

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…)

How Much Sleep Do You Need?

Posted January 26, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

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…)

Comprehensive Dental Care From Your Livonia Dentist

Posted January 24, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

Can you believe that, thanks to teeth whitening and porcelain dental crowns, these teeth…

…were transformed into these teeth?

And that, thanks to porcelain crowns and a partial denture, these teeth…

…became these teeth?

The above photos are just two examples of the smile makeovers completed by Livonia comprehensive care dentist Dr. James Stewart. Offering general, preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dental care to his patients of all ages, Dr. Stewart and our dental care team have seen patients overcome severe oral health problems, achieve healthy teeth and gums, maintain healthy smiles, and eat, speak, and smile with renewed confidence, comfort, and ease. As a comprehensive care dentist, Dr. Stewart has the expertise and experience needed to treat patients of all ages with a variety of dental needs, but how exactly does he do this? (more…)

Which Medical Problem is Causing Your Oral Problem?

Posted January 18, 2012 by Dr. Stewart

At your appointment with Dr. Stewart, we will take a full medical health assessment to determine if any of your health conditions could be affecting your mouth. How much do you know about your oral systemic health? See if you can match up which health problems and oral problems are related.

Health Problem:                    Dental Symptom:
1. Headaches                             a. Advanced periodontal disease
2. Pregnancy                           b. Mouth sores
3. Cancer                                      c. Dry mouth
4. Loose teeth                               d. Enamel erosion
5. Heart attack                              e. TMJ
6. Medications                              f. Inflammation
7. Acid Reflux                         g. Swollen gums