Adult Dental Health for Comstock Park Smiles

Preventative Maintenance For Your Irreplaceable Smile In Comstock ParkAt Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park MI, our goal is preventing dental problems and keeping our patient’s smiles healthy and beautiful. We provide general and family dentistry at our Comstock Park dental practice.

Adult Dental Health

As a general and family dentistry practice, we have been treating patients of all ages since 1974.

We have noticed throughout the years is that many parents dismiss their own oral health. Though they vigilantly keep up with their children’s dental visits and cleanings, for some reason, they fail to pay the same attention to their own dental care needs.

How Do You Keep Your Smile Healthy Throughout Your Life?

Let’s talk about adult dental needs. Once you are past the cavity-prone childhood and adolescent years, gum health becomes critical.

Gum Disease is the #1 Cause of Tooth Loss in Adults

Did you know that 47% of U.S. adults have gum disease? In adults, periodontitis (advanced gum disease) is the most common cause of tooth loss. Fortunately, gum disease can be reversed if you catch it in its early stages.

Gingivitis

The first stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. The primary symptoms of gingivitis include red or swollen gums. If your gums hurt when brush or floss, it could be a sign. You may also notice unpleasant breath at times. (Others may notice it as well!) Gingivitis is oftentimes caused bacteria on the teeth and along the gum line. The most common treatment is increased brushing and flossing in addition to more frequent dentist appointments. It’s a good idea to visit your dentist every 3 months for deep cleanings and professional treatment. Your dentist may also prescribe a fluoride rinse.

Early Stage Periodontal Disease

When the infection spreads beneath your gums it allows the harmful bacteria to start attacking the bone holding your teeth in place. This may bring about redness and swelling of the gums, worsening breath and periodic bleeding. Early stage periodontal disease can’t be fully reversed, but your dentist can develop a treatment plan to prevent it from getting worse.

Moderate Periodontal Disease

At this stage, you are at risk of losing teeth. To treat it at this stage, your dentist will need to remove plaque from below the gum line (this same treatment may also be used with early stage periodontal disease) in order to help halt the infection. Since your gums are slowly detaching from your teeth at this stage, surgery can reshape your gums and close the pockets between your gums and teeth. With superb self-care and one of our savvy oral hygienists at your side, you can still save your teeth.

Advanced Periodontal Disease

The last stage of periodontitis requires extensive treatment. Your dentist may recommend surgery to prevent tooth loss. Flap surgery is common for this stage and involves cleaning the actual roots of your teeth by scrubbing behind your gums. Your dentist may also smooth or reshape your damaged bone to restrict bacteria from accumulating.

Why Do You Need Regular Dental Cleanings?

With twice-yearly dental exams and professional cleanings, you can prevent early stage gum disease from advancing to the dangerous stages. During professional dental deep cleanings, our hygienists thoroughly remove the plaque and tartar above and below the gumline. By scaling and planing, they smooth areas to make it more difficult for bacteria to accumulate.

Why Oral Cancer Screenings are Essential

During dental examinations at Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park MI, we look for signs of oral cancer. Oral cancers are cancers in the tongue, mouth, lips, jaw, and throat. Many men and women don’t realize the seriousness of oral cancer.

Consider this unfortunate news from the Oral Cancer Foundation:

When found at early stages of development, oral cancers can have an 80 to 90% survival rate. Unfortunately at this time, the majority are found as late stage cancers, and this accounts for the very high death rate of about 43% at five years from diagnosis

When your dentist performs an oral cancer screening during your dental examination, he/she will look for red or white spots, bleeding, lumps, difficulty swallowing, loose teeth, any color changes, and mouth sores. Is is critical to tell your dentist if your bite has changed, if you have sores that won’t heal, and prolonged hoarseness. An earache in only one ear can also be an indicator.

Having any of these symptoms does not mean you have oral cancer, as they can be caused by other elements. However, if your dentist does something unusual, he/she may order additional tests or refer you to a medical doctor for further diagnosis and treatment if necessary.

We at Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park MI value all aspects of your adult oral health. We serve patients from Ada, Belmont, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI and also perform cosmetic dentistry, Invisilign, and restoration work. Contact us for an appointment today.

Contact Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

 

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Oral Cancer: Early Diagnosis Makes A Big Difference

oral cancer screening Comstock Park

Oral cancer claims some fifty thousand lives in the United States every year. That’s a scary number and one of the reasons why we perform oral cancer screenings at every checkup at Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park.

Oral cancer refers to cancer in not just the mouth, but also the face, neck and lips. Each of those areas is part of a screening.

During an oral cancer screening we look for anything out of the ordinary: swellings, bumps, patches of color, lesions, or any other irregularities. This is one of those times we’ll ask you to say “Ahh,” because making that sound exposes parts of the throat that are hard to see.

Oral cancer screening also includes a physical exam. We’ll feel your head and cheeks, around your jaw, under your chin, and in your mouth to see if there are any masses or unusual nodules.

Also available is a device called the VELscope. This non-invasive device stimulates cells with a blue light, with which we can better see changes in tissue. It won’t diagnose cancer, but helps us identify abnormalities we might not see with a simple visual exam.

Early diagnosis of oral cancer increases the odds of successful treatment. Patients come to Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park from Ada, Belmont, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI for general and cosmetic dentistry. Please call to schedule your next 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

 

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5 Critical Oral Cancer Facts

At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park, we want to see our patients at least twice a year for a checkup and cleaning. A checkup can give you real peace of mind, especially since every one we do includes an oral cancer screening.

Lung and breast cancer get a lot of public attention, and rightfully so. But there is less awareness of oral cancer, even though it claims almost 10,000 lives in the United States every year.

We want to broaden awareness of oral cancer and the significance of early diagnosis.Here are five important things to know about oral (mouth) and oropharyngeal (back of mouth and throat) cancers.

  1. About 80% of men and women with oral cancer use some type of tobacco (cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipes).
  2. 40% of men and women who receive late-stage diagnosis of oral cancer pass away within five years. The survival rate for early stage diagnosis is 90%.
  3. In many cases, it is extremely challenging for the individual to detect oral and oropharyngeal cancers because they can produce indistinct symptoms or no symptoms at all. Any abnormality in the mouth or throat, even if small and painless, should be evaluated by a dentist or doctor.
  4. HPV (the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease in the US) is the most common cause of oropharyngeal cancer. Of the many strains of HPV, HPV16 is the one most often linked to oropharyngeal cancer.
  5. African American men have a higher risk of dying from oral cancer than do whites.

At Stewart and Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park we use the VELscope Oral Cancer Screening system for highly accurate oral cancer screenings and diagnoses, as part of our general and family dentistry. 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

 

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Oral Cancer Screening: Essential Exams in Comstock Park

Oral cancer screenings consist of a physical and visual exam of a patient’s mouth and surrounding tissues. When it comes to oral cancer survival rates, two numbers are key: 40% and 90%. 40% of those who receive a late-stage diagnosis die within five years. However, the survival rate for early stage diagnosis is 90%.

Oral Cavity and Oropharynx—Mouth and Throat
Cancers that originate in the mouth (oral cavity) are labeled oral cancers. The oral cavity is comprised of the inside tissue of the mouth and cheeks, the lips, the tissue below the tongue, the roof of the mouth, and the front two-thirds of the tongue.

“Why only two-thirds of the tongue?” you might ask. Fair question. The answer is that the back third of the tongue is considered part of the throat.

Throat cancers, or oropharyngeal cancers, start in the oropharynx, the part of the mouth behind the parts considered part of the oral cavity. The oropharynx consists of the soft palate, the tonsils, and the throat.

How Are Oral Cancers Diagnosed?
Some oral cancers produce symptoms that prompt the patient to see a doctor. Others are found by dentists and doctors during exams. Thousands of lives could be saved every year if more people received regular screenings.

A visual oral cancer exam is relatively quick and convenient compared to other cancer screening tests. If an abnormality is discovered, the patient is referred to an appropriate specialist for further testing and diagnosis.

Be proactive. Ask Stewart & Hull Aesthetic Dentistry in Comstock Park about an oral cancer screening. We use the non-invasive VELscope as an aid in finding oral abnormalities. We also provide general and family dentistry, and cosmetic 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

 

Clean and Beautiful: Dental Hygiene in Comstock Park

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Unfortunately, not everyone smiles all the time. But even frowns need to be clean if you want to maintain a high level of oral health. At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park, we always stress good dental hygiene.

What do we mean by good dental hygiene? We mean teeth that look healthy and are free of decay. We also mean gums that are pink, and don’t hurt or bleed after brushing and flossing.

No one, of course, is immune to dental problems. It’s essential to establish a good brushing and flossing routine at home, and that you stick to it. We recommend brushing and flossing twice a day.

In addition to that, you should see us twice a year for a professional cleaning and thorough examination. The most vigilant brushing and flossing at home cannot totally prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar.

If your teeth bother you, or if your gums do bleed when you brush and floss, it’s a signal that you need to see us – the sooner, the better. Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park provides teeth whitening, Invisalign, porcelain crowns/veneers, and oral cancer screenings. 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