2011 - Page 3 of 4 - Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry

Grand Rapids Dentist » Archives for 2011 » Page 3

Aug12

When It Is Important to Reschedule Your Dental Appointment

Many people are hesitant to call and reschedule dental appointments if they are not feeling well. We appreciate the value these patients place on our time and that they don’t want to leave us with unfilled appointments. However, there are some situations where it is important that patients call to reschedule their appointments with Dr. Stewart.

1. If you have active cold sores–Any time we are working in and around the mouth saliva can be transferred to your eyes or open wounds, or to the eyes and wounds on a member of the dental team. The herpes virus can then damage these areas.

2. If you have an active cold or flu–If you are in the early stages of a cold or any stage of the flu, please reschedule. It is better for your health and the health of the dental team.

3. If you have a heavy cough or congestion. You will not be comfortable with keeping your mouth open for a prolonged period and the bacteria or virus will be airborne, thus possibly infecting the dental team.

We thank you for your thoughtfulness and wish you good health.

Aug4

Westwinde Wiffle Ball Tournament

Dr. Stewart usually likes to use our blog to keep you updated about what is happening in our office, especially when we get new equipment, use new materials, or take continuing education classes. Today, however, he wanted to share with you something special one of our patients is doing. It made him smile and he hopes it will bring a smile to your face too.

John and Kara started the Westwinde Wiffle Ball Tournament three years ago, and it has grown and added features each year. This is a free event for 18 teams, five people per team (boys, girls, or co-ed), for ages 9—12 years, and will be held August 3 this year. The tournament is held in their back yard, but this is not a typical back yard. To quote John, the field “looks like a ball field, sounds like a ball field, plays like a ball field” and even has a large wall, the “Hollow Monster”, patterned (on a smaller scale) after the Green Monster in Fenway Park. There is an official ball park organist & stadium announcer, large manual scoreboard and clock, official lined waffle ball field, official bases from Tiger Stadium, foul poles, home run fence and strike zone target backstop, umpires and other SURPRISES. Parents are welcome to bring lawn chairs and watch the tournament. All players will receive a free tournament t-shirt, as well as hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, and Gatorade. This is a great event which generates a lot of enthusiasm amongst the participants and promotes good sportsmanship, healthy outdoor activity and FUN.

Hats off to John and Kara for creating this event!

Jul28

Dr. Stewart’s Office Garden Party

What can be better than summer in Grand Rapids, Michigan? And what better way to enjoy the weather and beauty of the season than a Garden Party? That’s exactly what Dr. Stewart and out team did on Friday, July 22. We had a luncheon at our home and followed that with a tour of our gardens.

Dr. Stewart is an avid gardener and we’ve lived in the same home over 32 years, so we’ve had time to develop the gardens next to our house and surrounding the yard. Our family loves the daylilies and hostas, and we have over 75 different daylilies. Though the weather did not cooperate at first, it cleared in time for everyone to walk around the yard and determine their favorite plant. When it is time to split the daylilies and hostas, we’re planning to take some to the office for fellow gardeners amongst the staff to enjoy in their yards. We all had a great time Friday and enjoyed the shared interests and friendships away from the office.

Jul21

Five reasons to keep track of your dental appointments

All of us here at the office of Dr. Bruce Stewart know that summer is a time of relaxation and less scheduling. Still, it is important to keep one schedule in mind throughout the summer, and that is the schedule you should maintain for good oral health. Here are some facts to keep in mind when considering when to schedule your family’s next dental appointments, and what services to request.

1. In today’s challenging economic times, it makes good sense to keep on top of your dental visits. Problems can be prevented or minimized if they are caught early. For example, we can catch decay when it is small and requires only one surface filling, rather than a large filling or root canal.

2. Fluoride and sealants can help prevent tooth decay. We can apply fluoride and sealants when you come in for an appointment. It will save time and money, since applying fluoride and sealants does not require the amount of time a filling requires, and they are much less expensive than even a small filling.

3. If a hygienist notices the beginning of demineralization in a tooth or teeth, we can use MI Paste and reverse the demineralization process, and possibly prevent decay from forming.

4. Our hygiene schedule is very full, but we know that we traditionally get calls near the end of summer asking for appointments to get children in before school starts or before they leave for college. Our hygienists have agreed to work some extra days so that we can accommodate our patients’ needs. We will do our best to get your school-aged children and college students in the schedule before school begins.

5. If you schedule your appointment at the end of July, that makes the six month recall around the time of semester break. If you schedule at the end of August, that makes the six month recall appointment around winter break. This allows parents to avoid pulling children out of school and prevents the hassle of trying to schedule around after school sports and extra curricular activities.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Jul14

Digital Impressions are Coming to Dr. Stewart’s Office!

Dr. Stewart and our team are excited to announce that we have purchased an iTero, a piece of equipment that will allow us to take digital impressions. While we still need to install this equipment and train for it’s most effective uses, we will soon be able to say “goodbye” to all of those messy, and often uncomfortable, impression trays. With the iTero, we will use a wand to scan the area being treated and then send that digital “impression” electronically through our Wi-Fi access to the iTero company. They will prepare a model and send it to our laboratory technician who will then fabricate a crown. This amazing, cutting-edge technology will replace the traditional impressions needed for crowns, bridges, dentures and Invisalign.

It is our office’s goal to always provide patients with the best and most current dental care at every level. We are always looking for ways to make your visits to our office more enjoyable and comfortable. After all, we consider our patients family!

Jul7

More Patient Testimonials!

The office of Dr. Bruce A. Stewart has received so many great testimonials lately, that we wanted to share a couple more with you. We loving hearing what you have to say and your opinions are extremely important to us. If you ever have any questions or concerns feel free to contact our office! Take a look at what some of our patients have to say about Dr. Stewart and our staff:

“Carol, my hygienist, is always outstanding. I would recommend her to everyone. Monica and Debbie are always very friendly, welcoming and professional.” — Dennis

“Everyone from Monica to Barb, my hygienist, to Dr. Stewart is always very friendly, professional and treat you like “family,” for over 30 years of service!” — Jane

“Dr. Stewart and his staff truly know how to treat his patients. Being afraid to have treatment no longer enters my mind. My first visit to Dr. Stewart’s office never made me afraid to go to the dentist again. They do everything right to make the trip worth the smile on my face continue for a long time. As long as they are there, I will be also. Thank you Dr. Stewart and staff!” — Linda

“I would highly recommend Dr. Stewart and his awesome staff to anyone. I was not a patient of Dr. Stewart’s and broke a tooth on 4th of July week. Dr. Stewart and his staff took me in because I couldn’t get in to my own dentist. They were highly recommended to me from a friend. They were very kind and understanding and helped me through the whole process of getting my tooth fixed. Thank You for your service that was above and beyond what I could hope for.”

Thank you for all of the kind words! We look forward to seeing you at your next appointment!

Jun30

Patient Testimonials

Here at the office of Dr. Bruce Stewart, we love to hear what our patients have to say. The comfort of our patients is important to us and we strive to provide you with the best in dental care. Lately we have received some wonderful patient testimonials that we wanted to share with you all:

— “I NEVER liked going to the dentist prior to being a patient with Dr. Stewart. Now the only thing I fear is finding a new dentist when he retires…in the very distant future!!” -Nicholus K.

— “My experience was fantastic. Very knowledgeable staff. Pleasant, professional atmosphere. Great service. I thought the initial personal, interview and talk with the dentist and hygienist was unexpectedly nice. (Unexpected because I never imagined being given that kind of personal time.) I could tell the staff worked well with each other and had a lot of experience. They were all very professional as well as friendly.” -Matthew H.

— “Cathy did an amazing job with Baylor. She was patient, calm, and really got him interested in the whole dental visit. I have never seen him so calm at a first visit in a clinical setting. She was beyond amazing!” -Nicole J.

— “Debbie, Dr. Stewart, Monica—okay, really, everyone in your office is exceptionally professional and friendly, kudos!” -Kelli O.

— “You couldn’t ask for a more friendly staff. They ALL take a personal interest in you and your family.” -Brenda H.

— “Cathy, my hygienist, is one of the main reasons I keep coming back. She is always friendly and professional. You have a great employee there!!” -Jason C.

Thank you for all of the kind words. We look forward to seeing you at your next appointment!

Jun22

Our hygiene team attends a seminar on teen health issues

Dr. Stewart’s hygiene team recently attended a on-day seminar, “Teenagers–What Their Mouths Are Telling You But They’re Not: Practical Information on Teen Health Issues,” presented by Janette Delinger, RDH, BSDH.

This seminar contained up-to-date information on what is going on in the daily lives of our teens; from what they are saying to dietary concerns and dangerous social activities they are engaging in. Topics that were discussed included eating disorders, inhalants (“huff”), tobacco use, binge drinking, methamphetamine, HPV, oral piercings, abusive behavior, recommended immunizations and overall health and oral hygiene challenges. We will be highlighting some of these topics in upcoming newsletters, but we feel parents may want to get their hands on some of this information now.

Here are some excellent websites for parents to check out:

Jun17

Understanding cavities

One word nobody wants to hear when they visit the dentist is Cavity! That’s right, the dreaded cavity; but what exactly is a cavity and how do you get one? A cavity is a hole that develops in a tooth when the tooth begins to decay. It’s important to get a cavity filled as soon as it’s detected so that it does not grow bigger.

So, what causes a cavity? A cavity is caused by plaque, a sticky substance that forms on the tooth as a result of germ and bacteria build-up. Plaque is acidic and as it clings to your teeth the acids eat away the outside of the tooth (also called the enamel) and a hole is formed.

Yes, cavities can be repaired by your dentist, but here are a few simple steps you can take to prevent cavities:

• Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily
• Gently brush your gums to keep them healthy (when choosing a toothbrush it is recommended to use soft bristles)
• Floss your teeth at least once a day to remove plaque and food that may be caught between the teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach
• Limit the amount of soda and sugary treats you eat/drink
• Be sure to visit your dentist every six months for a teeth cleaning and check-up

Jun10

Ask Dr. Stewart: What can Invisalign® do for my oral health?

When considering treatment options, patients often ask us how Invisalign treatment is so different than traditional braces. Well, there are more reasons to smile about Invisalign with Dr. Stewart than you may know. Invisalign is a series of removable aligners that are nearly invisible, and besides straightening your teeth, can improve your oral health. Here’s how:

Healthy Gums: Straight teeth allow a close fit for gums. This lessens the gum stress that is caused by crowded or widely spaced teeth, thus also reducing red and swollen gums.

Easy cleaning: Invisalign is removable, therefore brushing and flossing is easier and you are able to maintain a healthy mouth. These habits are vital to avoiding tooth decay, plaque and even gum disease.

Improved speech and chewing: Properly-aligned teeth don’t have the discomfort or compound speech impediments that can be caused by crowded teeth or a deteriorating jawbone.

If you have any questions about Invisalign, just ask Dr. Stewart the next time you’re in for an appointment. Or, you may post your question on our Facebook page! You can also read this article for more information on Invisalign and your oral health.

Year: 2011