Author: PM Blogger

Apr3

Chew On This: Dental Implants

Categories: Dental health, Dental Implants, Missing Teeth, Oral Health

Losing one or more of your natural teeth can be a devastating loss. But with dental implants from Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park, you can regain your normal ability to bite and chew virtually anything you find on your dinner plate.

Dental implants are titanium posts that are anchored into your jaw. They are solid foundations for artificial teeth. Because they are physically attached to your jaw, they also prevent the loss of bone that usually accompanies tooth loss.

If you’ve lost one or more teeth, a conventional dental bridge or dentures are certainly better than nothing. But because they are not solidly anchored to your jaw, they don’t provide full biting and chewing function. This is, of course, a big drawback.

This is what makes dental implants so brilliant. They don’t look any different than natural teeth, and better still, they feel and function them. Once the implants are in place and the jaw has fully healed, most patients report full chewing power. That means they can enjoy just about any food they choose.

At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park, we provide single-tooth dental implants and implant-supported dentures. Call to schedule an appointment with us today!

Contact Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

Mar20

Like A Third Set of Teeth

Categories: Dental health, Dental Implants

We only get two sets of teeth in life: our baby teeth, which are gone by adolescence, and our permanent teeth. Permanent teeth can last a lifetime, but it doesn’t always work that way. For people who have lost some or all of their teeth, implant-supported crowns and dentures from Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park are a state-of-the-art solution.

Implant-supported dentures are, in fact, almost like getting a third set of teeth. If you are not familiar with dental implants, here are the essentials:

Dental implants are titanium posts that are placed in your jaw, where they fuse with the bone. Titanium is ideally suited to this, which is why it is commonly used in joint replacements, like the hip and the knee.

Once the titanium has fused with the bone, you are left with a rock-solid support for an artificial tooth or denture that looks and functions like the real thing.

IMPLANT-SUPPORTED DENTURES

While one implant can support one artificial tooth, several – typically four or more – can support a full dental arch.

One caveat: you must have enough healthy bone to support the implant. Even if you don’t, bone grafting can promote new growth, enough so that there is enough mass to support an implant.

Implant-supported crowns and dentures are a permanent solution for missing teeth. They look completely natural, and can replace both the upper and lower sets.

To find out more about custom and implant dentures, please call us at Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park. They are among our restorative dentistry procedures. Call our office for an appointment today!

Contact Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

Mar13

Our Top Priority

Categories: Dental health, General Dentistry, Oral Health

At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park, our top priority has always been our patients. Not only do we want each one of you to enjoy excellent dental health, we want you to have a positive experience in our office.

What do we mean by a positive experience? No one really enjoys going to the dentist, and we understand that. One of the things we always aim for is efficiency. Rest assured, we’ll be thorough. But we won’t have you in the chair any longer than is necessary.

Above all, we will answer your questions in detail and we will keep you fully informed about what we’re doing. Dentistry is a science with a lot of big words, but we’ll always make sure you know what’s involved with your unique situation.

At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park, each patient is our top priority. We want you to be happy with your experience here. Our services include general and cosmetic dentistry. Call us to schedule your next checkup today!

Contact Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

Jan24

The Gift Of Oral Health

Categories: Dental health, Family Dentistry, General Dentistry

Sometimes our patients wonder why, with all the developments in dentistry, we still send you home with a complimentary toothbrush and roll of floss after a checkup at Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park.

It’s true, they do seem a little old-fashioned in our high-tech world. But don’t let their simplicity fool you! These tools are your best friends in preventing cavities, plaque build-up, and gum disease!

When done properly and consistently, brushing and flossing are an important part of everyday oral hygiene.

HOW TO BRUSH

We recommend brushing your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Brush for at least two minutes. Make sure to get the front and sides of all your teeth, the inside and outside and the top biting edge. When you do the sides, be sure you brush along the gumline. Use a gentle touch, and hold the brush at a 45-degree angle. Replace your toothbrush every three months.

Use whatever toothpaste flavor you like best, but make sure it has fluoride in it. Use a pea-sized blob – or more than pea-sized, if you’re so inclined. Too much toothpaste is no big deal, but be sure to use enough!

We strongly recommend flossing, too. Should you floss your teeth before or after you brush? There is no hard-and-fast rule on that, and it may come down to personal preference. We think before is better, but the most important thing is that you do it.

At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park, we think that good oral health is a gift that keeps on giving. Our services include family and cosmetic dentistry.

Schedule your next cleaning and checkup with us today!

Contact Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

Jan17

If My Gums Bleed, Should I Stop Flossing?

Categories: Dental health, Dental hygiene, General Dentistry

If your gums bleed when you floss your teeth, should you drop flossing from your dental health routine? We’re asked about this from time to time at Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park.

Our answer is short and sweet: “No!”

Bleeding is probably a sign that you need to clean your teeth and gums more thoroughly—not leave them alone. It is all but impossible to clean effectively between teeth without using floss or an interdental brush.

If you have never made flossing a habit before, your gums might bleed the first few times you use do it. The bleeding may be due to gum inflammation, the beginnings of gum disease. Keep flossing gently and the bleeding usually stops within a week or two.

Gum disease is extremely common, and is a leading cause of tooth loss among adults. Healthy teeth and gums are essential for good dental health.

At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park we want all our patients to brush and floss twice a day, and see us for regular checkups. We treat gum disease, and offer a wide range of family and cosmetic dentistry services. Call to schedule an appointment with us today

Contact Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

Sep6

Our Standard of Excellence

Categories: Dental health, Family Dentistry, Oral Health

At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park, we are dedicated to the dental health of each one of our patients. We want everyone who settles into one of our chairs to have a good experience. But more important, we want our work to result in healthy teeth and gums. That is our standard of excellence.

We offer comprehensive services to treat your dental issues, whatever they may be. We promote preventative dental care and education, and view them as the keys to good dental health. That is why we encourage all our patients to see us for a cleaning and checkup every six months.

REGULAR CHECKUPS

Twice-yearly dental appointments allow us to keep track of the overall health of your teeth and gums. Just as important, we can do regular screenings for oral cancer, and in our younger patients, make sure their teeth are coming in as they should.

If the eyes are the window to the soul, your dental health is a window to your overall health. Knowing your overall medical history helps us to be informed of your general health.

At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park, our entire staff wants each one of our patients to have a positive experience in our office. We are all committed to the highest standard of excellence in dentistry. Our services include family, cosmetic, Invisalign and implant dentistry. Schedule your next cleaning and checkup with us today!

Contact Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

Aug23

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

Categories: Dental health, Dental Implants, General Dentistry

When they are properly cared for, dental implants from Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry in Comstock Park can last a lifetime. That’s just one of the reasons why they have become the tooth replacement option of choice.

A dental implant, in case you haven’t heard, is a titanium post that is secured to your jaw bone. One dental implant can support a single artificial tooth. Several implants can support a dental bridge, or even a set of dentures.

FUSING TO BONE

Dental implants become replacement tooth roots. What makes them so secure is a process called osseointegration. That means the titanium fuses with the jaw.

Once an artificial tooth, called a crown, is attached to the implant, it looks and functions like a natural tooth. Most patients say their biting and chewing ability is normal. Just as important, of course, is getting your smile back.

LONG LASTING

As for their longevity, there are several factors involved. Cleaning a dental implant and crown is just as important as cleaning your natural teeth, and the process is about the same. You’ll need to brush away the filmy plaque that can build up on it, and floss between the implant and the neighboring teeth.

We also recommend that you avoid things like using your implant like a tool. In other words, don’t use it to open things. You should also avoid biting down on hard things like shelled nuts, and pen or pencil tips. Of course, you should never do any of those things with your natural teeth, either.

If you are missing one or more of your teeth, dental implants may be just what you’ve been hoping for. We also offer a full complement of general, family and cosmetic dentistry. Call our office to schedule an appointment today.

Contact Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

Aug16

What Is Restorative Dentistry?

Categories: Dental health, Dentistry, General Dentistry

Restorative Dentistry - cracked teeth repair in Comstock Park, MI

“Restorative dentistry” is a term dentists use to describe the way damaged or missing teeth can be fixed or replaced. At Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry in Comstock Park MI, our goal is always to improve your smile – in short, to maintain or restore your dental health.

Restorative dentistry covers everything from filling cavities to dental implants. Filling a cavity can stop tooth decay in its tracks. And replacing a lost tooth with an implant prevents bone loss and facial sag, keeps remaining teeth from moving around, and restores chewing power and smiles.

Other restorative dentistry procedures include:

  • Dental crowns – Cover a tooth to strengthen and improve the structure of a tooth.
  • Bridges – A dental bridge is a tooth replacement procedure in which an artificial tooth is anchored on either side of the space where a tooth is missing to “bridge” the area and fill in the space.

Before we wrap up this short article, we’d like to offer a word on categories. Some practices will call dental implants restorative dentistry. Some will call them cosmetic dentistry. Others still will put them in a category all their own. As Shakespeare said, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

At Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry in Comstock Park MI, our services include restorative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry and Invisalign orthodontics. Call our office today to schedule an appointment!

Contact Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

 

Aug9

Do You Have A Sweet Tooth?

Categories: Dental health, Family Dentistry

Family Dentistry in Grand Rapids, MI

Do you crave sweets? Do you find it impossible to skip dessert, or resist a sweet pick-me-up snack in the middle of the day? You probably have a sweet tooth, and you probably know that already. At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry in Comstock Park, we want to remind you of the effects of sugar on teeth.

Simply put, sugar causes cavities. But it doesn’t cause them all by itself. Eating sugar sets off a chain of events that can lead to tooth decay.

Your mouth is full of bacteria. Many of them are good for you. Some of them, though, feed on sugar, which in turn create acids that destroy tooth enamel – that hard substance that is the protective outer layer of a tooth. The result is a hole in the enamel – what we call a cavity.

AN ONGOING BATTLE

This process of bacteria converting sugar into cavity-causing acids is constantly going on. Some things you can do to protect your teeth:

  • Limit your consumption of sugar
  • Brush and floss twice a day
  • Use a toothpaste with fluoride

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

There is even more you can do to protect your dental health. Researchers say that one of the best things you can do is stimulate the flow of saliva in your mouth.

How so? Well, saliva bathes your teeth in minerals, like calcium and phosphates. Along with the fluoride in your toothpaste, they help to repair teeth. This process is called remineralization. You can help this by chewing sugarless gum, and eating more fruits and vegetables, which stimulate saliva.

It’s also a good idea to choose your snacks carefully. Things like cheese and yogurt have calcium and phosphates that strengthen the teeth. Green and black tea, unsweetened, can also help.

At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry in Comstock Park we want all our patients to do everything they can to prevent cavities, and promote good dental health. In addition to cutting down on sugar, you should see us for a checkup and cleaning twice a year. Our services include family and cosmetic dentistry. Call to schedule your next appointment today!

Contact Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

Jul26

Dental Health And You

Categories: Dental health, Family Dentistry, Oral Health

At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry in Comstock Park, we emphasize the importance of good dental health to each one of our patients, every time one of them sits down for a checkup. We stick to the basics: brush and floss twice a day, and see us for a checkup twice a year. But there’s more to it than that.

At every checkup, we examine you for any signs of gum disease. In its mildest form, gum disease is known as gingivitis and is easily treated. Stepping up your dental care routine at home is often enough to do the trick.

In its more severe form, gum disease is called periodontal disease, and it’s one of the leading causes of tooth loss. According to the Centers for Disease Control, half of all Americans over the age of thirty have periodontal disease. That’s nearly sixty-five million people! It can be still be brought under control, but it takes more aggressive treatment.

What Else?

Good dental health means you probably don’t have much of a problem with bad breath. Of course, most of us have yukky breath when we first wake up in the morning. But brush your teeth after breakfast and you should be good to go. In most cases of chronic bad breath – about eighty-five percent of them – poor dental health is to blame.

Every dental checkup includes a screening for oral cancer. The American Cancer Society projects that about 53,000 people will get a form of oral cancer this year. Of those, nearly eleven thousand cases will be terminal.

As with any cancer, the earlier the detection and diagnosis, the better the chances of beating it. That fact alone should be enough to get most people in to see us every six months.

Finally, when it comes to dental health, your toothbrush and dental floss are your best friends. Brush and floss at least twice a day. When you brush, you remove the plaque that builds up on your teeth and causes cavities. Flossing gets out the gunk that builds up between the teeth.

And there you have it: a more detailed discussion on the importance of dental health, and seeing us twice a year at Stewart & Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry in Comstock Park. Our services include family and restorative dentistry. Schedule an appointment with us today.

Contact Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321