“If Your Gums Are Swollen And Sore, Call Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry”

Comstock Park Gum Disease Treatment

If you are a worried Comstock Park, Grand Rapids, Walker, Sparta, Belmont or Rockford, MI  resident experiencing inflamed gums or an aching tooth, you’re not alone. About one third of U.S. adults are affected by tooth decay, according to the CDC, and gum disease plagues one in seven people age 35 to 40. Don’t ignore these symptoms, call Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry. Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull take gingivitis seriously because left untreated it can lead to loss of bone and tissue that support the teeth.

Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease. You will know you have it if your gums bleed easily and look red and swollen. If this condition is not reversed it can lead to periodontitis. With this condition your gums become loose and separate from the teeth forming cavities that can become infected. This can spread to the bone supporting the tooth. If this is damaged, the tooth can be lost. (If you have already lost a tooth to gum disease, ask us about dental implants.)

At Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry we recommend a minimum of twice daily brushing and flossing and regular dental cleanings to help help fight gingivitis. Our team has been treating gum disease and other dental problems for Michigan residents since 1974./p>
If you want your teeth to feel fresh and bright, come in for a cleaning and through examination. Don’t become a statistic, prevent gingivitis with a professional dental cleaning while we educate you how to best care for your teeth and gums year round.

Dr. Stewart, Dr. Hull and our staff offer quality general and cosmetic dental services including restorative dentistry, implant dentistry, Invisalign and Six Month Smiles.

Take care of your beautiful smile by calling Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry today. “Lighting Up Rooms One Smile At A Time.”

Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull
769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321
616-827-7019
https://www.greatmismiles.com/meet-dr-bruce-stewart

1“Adult Oral Health,” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/topics/adult.htm, accessed on January 7, 2012

Visit Your Dentist At Least Twice A Year And Save Money

Visit Your Grand Rapids Dentist At Least Twice A Year And Save MoneyVisiting your family dentist regularly is a great way to save money. You may initially think that avoiding your local dentist will save money in the fees that are charged for x-rays and cleanings, but in reality, these simple procedures will help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. This will save you money in the long run. Just think how much more expensive a root canal and crown can be.

Find A Dental Home: Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull have a convenient location and hours to fit your schedule. Call for an appointment and to establish yourself and your family as one of our valued patients.

Get A Professional Cleaning At Least Twice A Year: This is a time for you to get a 360-degree examination of your teeth and gums.  In some cases the doctor may diagnose the need for a filling, but left untreated, a root canal and crown may be necessary.  A cleaning will help prevent gum disease, and it is a great time for you to review your oral hygiene habits.

Follow The Dental Professional’s Advice: When your dentist and hygienist examine and clean your mouth, they are able to see what you cannot, and offer insightful tips to help prevent cavities and gum disease.

Rockford MI Dental Patients Want A Choice In Dental Fillings

Rockford MI Dental Patients Want A Choice In Dental Fillings

With all the talk in Rockford MI of multi-procedure smile makeovers involving veneers, porcelain crowns, bridges, teeth whitening, dental implants, and invisible braces, sometimes the traditional dental filling is overlooked. If a cavity progresses no further than a filling, Michigan cosmetic dental patients can avoid more extensive and invasive treatments. Today, let’s talk about dental fillings.

Most dental patients in the Rockford MI and Comstock Park area have a few fillings in their mouth. When a tooth has been damaged through decay, a dental filling is the most common way Michigan family dentists restore the tooth to its previous, intact condition.

Dental fillings have been used for over a hundred years, and they’ve come a long way from the silvery amalgam fillings many of us in the Grand Rapids, Comstock Park, and Rockford MI areas remember.

Rockford MI cosmetic dentists and dental labs have been working to formulate filling materials that are more cosmetically pleasing to their Michigan patients.

Today, the filling material of choice in Comstock Park and around the country is a composite of plastic resin with glass or quartz filler. Referred to as composite fillings, Comstock Park dental patients love the fact that they can be matched to their natural tooth color, making them practically invisible. This is particularly important when the filling needs to be in a conspicuous part of the mouth, such as the front teeth.

Despite the popularity of tooth-colored fillings, many Rockford MI dentists still find amalgam fillings appropriate in some cases. Dental amalgam is made from a metal alloy, which gives it the ability to hold strong even when the chewing load is great.

We’re Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull, Comstock Park cosmetic dentists and we work hard to make sure our clients enjoy their dental visits and love their smile. We’ve practiced dentistry since 1974, and we find it especially rewarding when Grand Rapids, Comstock Park, and Rockford MI residents find renewed confidence after a smile makeover. So whether you are interested in replacing metal fillings with composites, or if you want to discuss tooth whitening and veneers, our staff would be happy to answer any questions you have.

Call 616-827-7019 today to schedule an appointment with Stewart & Hull!

Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull
Stewart & Hull
769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
616-827-7019
https://www.greatmismiles.com/meet-dr-bruce-stewart

Traveling Advice from Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull

Traveling Advice From Your Grand Rapids Dentist

If you live in the Comstock Park, Grand Rapids, Walker, Belmont and Rockford MI area and are planning to take a vacation or business trip soon, we recommend you coordinate your dental care with your travel schedule.  It is always a good idea to have a professional dental cleaning and examination with our office prior to leaving on long vacations, especially if your trip is taking you to developing areas with limited dental care options. This preventative checkup will help to ensure your mouth is ready to travel.

More importantly, if you have any dental procedures scheduled before you leave, discuss it with Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull to ensure comfortable travels.  Some dental procedures may require more time for your body to heal than you may realize.

Also, if you’re leaving the Comstock Park, Grand Rapids, Walker, Belmont and Rockford MI area by plane, you should be aware that changes in the cabin pressure of the airplane may cause tooth pain or discomfort for patients who have just had extensive dental treatment.  In addition, make sure you are aware of any necessary follow-up appointments with Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull.

Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull provide:

cosmetic dentistry
restorative dentistry
Invisalign
general dentistry
implant dentistry

If you are looking for general dental care or quality cosmetic dentistry in the Grand Rapids, Comstock Park, Walker or Rockford MI areas, please call us today and let our very friendly and thorough staff take care of you.

Dr.  Bruce Stewart and Dr. Eric Hull
Stewart & Hull
769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park Michigan
616-827-7019
https://www.greatmismiles.com/

The following online article was used as source material for this blog: “Tourism (Dental Care Away from Home)”, ADA.org, https://www.ada.org/3029.aspx?currentTab=1, accessed on Nov. 28, 2011

Cosmetic Dentistry vs. General Dentistry In Comstock Park

 

Cosmetic Dentistry vs. General Dentistry In Comstock ParkWelcome to our Comstock Park cosmetic dentistry blog. Today’s article focuses on the difference between general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry.

General dentistry in the Comstock Park and Rockford, MI area focuses on preventing and treating oral disease such as cavities and gum disease.  Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull can assess the best course of treatment for your dental needs.

Cosmetic dentistry procedures available at Stewart & Hull in Comstock Park include teeth whitening, tooth-colored fillings, composite bonding, veneers, inlays, onlays, and porcelain crowns.

Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull offer both general and cosmetic dentistry procedures. In some cases, there is a cosmetic component to restorative procedures. For example, if a Comstock Park dental patient comes in with an injury that chipped a front tooth, the tooth needs to be restored to prevent decay. The tooth may be less structurally sound leaving it vulnerable to further damage. In addition, the tooth affects the overall appearance of the smile. Depending on the extent of the damage, a root canal, porcelain veneers, porcelain crowns or composite bonding may be necessary to repair the damaged tooth.

As you can see, there is not always a definitive line between general and cosmetic dentistry. At Stewart & Hull, our very friendly and thorough team provides the full spectrum of preventative, restorative, and cosmetic dental procedures. We treat Rockford and Grand Rapids area  patients of all ages: from children who still have their baby teeth, to more mature patients.  Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull perform cosmetic, general, orthodontic, and pediatric dental procedures to meet all of your family’s dental needs.

If you are looking for a full-service dental practice in the Rockford MI area, we invite you to come into Stewart & Hull in Comstock Park, We are located at 769 York Creek Dr NW. To schedule an oral examination or smile makeover consultation, call 616-827-7019.

Stewart & Hull
769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan 49321
https://www.greatmismiles.com/
cosmetic dentistry
general dentistry
family dentistry

Cavity Fighting Chewing Gum For Our Comstock Park Patients?

Categories: General Dentistry

Rockford MI Dental Health And Xylitol

Our Comstock Park and Rockford area patients often ask us if chewing xylitol gum is an effective substitute for tooth brushing and regular dental exams.

Before we answer that question, let us tell you about xylitol:

Xylitol is a natural sweetener that was first discovered in birch tree bark but is also found in many fruits and vegetables. Unlike most other sweeteners (natural or synthetic), xylitol is actually good for your teeth. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated that xylitol prevents the growth of the bacteria that initiates decay. It also reduces plaque and strengthens tooth enamel.

Xylitol has other benefits, as well. Because it is low on the glycemic index, many of our Grand Rapids diabetic patients enjoy it as a healthy alternative to sugar. If our Rockford MI cosmetic dentistry patients complain about frequent dry mouth, we recommend Xylitol gum or mints to stimulate saliva production without promoting tooth decay.

Now, is xylitol gum just as effective as brushing your teeth and seeing your Rockford MI family dentist regularly? Absolutely not! If you cannot brush your teeth after a meal, chewing xylitol gum for five or ten minutes is probably a good idea. However, you should still brush your teeth thoroughly (with a soft brush) after meals and get regular oral exams and deep cleanings at your Comstock Park dentistry office to take care of your dental health.

At Stewart & Hull, our goal is to keep your smile healthy and beautiful for life by preventing dental problems before they start. If you postpone Comstock Park dental visits until you feel pain, you risk losing teeth and most certainly will require more extensive treatment than if the problem was caught earlier. Is it time for a dental exam? Call us at 616-827-7019 to book an appointment. Our very friendly and thorough staff is waiting to take care of all your general and cosmetic dental needs.

Beware Of Hidden Sugar

Categories: General Dentistry

Beware Of Hidden Sugar To Avoid General Dentistry

We advise our Comstock Park dental clients at Stewart & Hull to watch their sugar intake to prevent cavities and other health problems.

If you are trying to unsweeten your diet, you are probably skipping the usual suspects: candy, soda, and baked treats. But not all sugar is as obvious as the frosting on a piece of chocolate cake or the powdery stuff in pixie stix.

Here are some foods found in Comstock Park grocery stores and Grand Rapids school cafeterias with a surprisingly high sugar content:

  • Ketchup
  • Low Fat versions of snack foods (Manufacturers often replace fat with sugar.)
  • Salad Dressing
  • Breads, buns, rolls
  • Spaghetti Sauce
  • Protein Bars
  • Granola
  • Canned soup
  • Peanut Butter
  • Yogurt
  • Fast food meals (Hamburgers, fries, sandwiches, and salads are often loaded with sugar, not to mention the dessert items.)
  • Antacids
  • Cough drops
  • Fruit smoothies (Even a small serving has a whopping amount of sugar.)

Reading the fine print on labels is a must. The following terms are all types of sugar:

raw sugar, cane sugar, glucose, lactose, galactose, fructose, dextrose, honey, sorghum, molasses, cane sugar, confectioner’s sugar, crystallized cane juice, invert sugar, maltodextrin (or dextrin), maple syrup, concentrated fruit juices, evaporated cane juice (what kind of cane do you think we are talking about?)

Do the math: when shopping at Comstock Park grocery or health food stores, carefully decipher food labels before you buy. Four grams of sugar equals one teaspoon. Add up all the grams of every type of sugar listed and divide by four to truly understand how much sugar an item contains.

At Stewart & Hull, we advocate and practice preventative care for lifelong dental health. For more information on how your diet affects your dental health, please contact Dr. Bruce Stewart and Dr. Eric Hull at 616-827-7019. If you have a toddler or child who has not yet visited a family dentist, call us today for a pediatric oral examination and information on fluoride and sealants.

We are located at 769 York Creek Dr NW in Comstock Park.

Comstock Park Family Dentistry

Categories: General Dentistry

Family Dentistry For Comstock Park Your child’s dental health is essential to overall health and vitality. At Stewart & Hull, Dr. Bruce Stewart and Dr. Eric Hull love working with you and your child to ensure a healthy smile for life. Why? The health of your child’s teeth and gums can affect their speech development, eating habits and self-esteem.

General and family dentistry care is critical, and that is why we recommend bringing your Comstock Park area child in for a first exam before age one, or when their first tooth erupts. During the initial visit, we can discuss general dentistry treatments such as sealants, fluoride treatments, brushing and flossing techniques and clear braces.

Family dentists also counsel parents about thumb-sucking, pacifier use and other habits that affect your child’s dental health. Our caring staff will make you and your child feel comfortable during their dental visit.

In additional to offering experienced family dentistry, we are also a full-service cosmetic dentistry practice. We offer advice and care on porcelain veneers, dental implants, teeth whitening, and laser dentistry.

We hope to be your Comstock Park area family dentist.

Dr. Bruce A. Stewart
Dr. Eric D. Hull, DDS
616-827-7019

Raise Your Dental IQ In Grand Rapids

Categories: General Dentistry

Raise Your Dental Health IQ In Grand Rapids

There are many simple things that the average Grand Rapids area resident can do to raise their Dental IQ and improve their dental health. One simple lesson involves bacteria, and everyone’s mouth has a lot of it.

But, don’t worry, bacteria per se isn’t the problem. Dental problems occur when the balance of bacteria becomes unhealthy. This is where brushing and flossing might come into play. Another precaution you can take to guard against the wrong kind of bacteria is to keep your toothbrush as far away from the toilet as possible and close the lid of the toilet before you flush.

Make sure to wash your hands before you brush and floss. No exceptions!

When it comes to a good toothbrush, don’t get sentimental. The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush every three to four months. If you can avoid the unhealthy balance of bacteria in your mouth, you can avoid gum disease, tooth decay, as well as bad breath.

If you can avoid decay, it’s less likely that you will need more extensive dental work such as dental implants and crowns.

Dr. Bruce Stewart and Dr. Eric Hull are passionate about helping cosmetic dentistry patients have healthy mouths and beautiful smiles. If you would like to know more about a custom smile makeover in Rockford MI, Comstock Park, Grand Rapids or the surrounding areas, give us a call at 616-827-7019 and a member of our very friendly and educated staff will answer any questions you have and schedule a consultation at your convenience.

Call today!

Dr. Bruce A. Stewart
Dr. Eric D. Hull
Stewart & Hull
769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
616-827-7019
https://www.greatmismiles.com/what-sets-us-apart

Are you on following us on Facebook? View our post from March 22nd or click this link to win 2 tickets to hear University of Michigan Football Coach Brady Hoke speak in Grand Rapids on May 13th!

https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandRapidsCosmeticDentists/app_141149985924076

You can be one of four lucky patients to be our guest to have lunch, listen to Coach Hoke and get fired up for the coming football season! This contest ends April 30th, 2013.

Pregnancy And Oral Health In Comstock Park

Categories: General Dentistry

Pregnancy And Dental Health In Rockford MI

In today’s Stewart & Hull blog we will discuss how pregnancy impacts your dental health. Dr. Eric Hull and I want all expectant mothers to realize the importance of good oral hygiene during pregnancy. Because of the changes going on in a pregnant woman’s body there are potential dental health issues that may arise.

Many Comstock Park and Rockford MI area women experience morning sickness accompanied with vomiting. The gastric acid increases the acidity in the mouth which can easily lead to enamel loss and tooth decay. Heightened levels of progesterone and estrogen may relax the ligaments that support the teeth causing them to loosen. During pregnancy the hormonal changes increase your risk for gingivitis. Without proper dental care gingivitis can lead to gum disease.

We at Stewart & Hull recommend pregnant women use a soft bristled toothbrush for daily brushing, floss carefully and rinse their mouths with a fluoride wash. If you experience morning sickness, clean your mouth with a baking soda and water mixture.

If you are planning to become pregnant, it is a good idea to have a professional cleaning and exam prior to your pregnancy. If you need any general dentistry procedures, it is a good idea to get them done as soon as possible. If you experience any dental problems during your pregnancy please call and schedule an appointment at 616-827-7019. Untreated dental disease can affect your overall health.

At Stewart & Hull we not only offer excellent dental care to our pregnant clients, we provide quality preventative care and cosmetic dentistry for the entire family. Our Grand Rapids and surrounding area patients can expect professional general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and laser dentistry.

Dr. Bruce A. Stewart
Dr. Eric D. Hull
Stewart & Hull
769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
616-827-7019
https://www.greatmismiles.com/dental-services

Are you on following us on Facebook? View our post from March 22nd or click this link to win 2 tickets to hear University of Michigan Football Coach Brady Hoke speak in Grand Rapids on May 13th!

https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandRapidsCosmeticDentists/app_141149985924076

You can be one of four lucky patients to be our guest to have lunch, listen to Coach Hoke and get fired up for the coming football season! This contest ends April 30th, 2013.