Dentist Blog - Grand Rapids Dentist | Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic and General Dentistry

Mar25

How Periodontal Disease Affects Your Health

Swollen and painful gums are symptoms of periodontal disease, an inflammatory gum disease. Swelling occurs from an auto-immune response of the body reacting to an infection. Infections are noticeable through pain, redness, and warmth. If the infection is left untreated, it can affect the bone near the teeth. The body’s immune system wants to rid the bone of the harmful material the bacteria is creating. Over time, bone loss will develop. It is important to seek gum disease treatment. The earlier gum disease is treated, the better.

Inflammation in the gums also is associated with atherosclerosis, the occurrence of fatty deposits inside of the body’s arteries. Inflammation coincides with an increase of the blood protein CRP (C-reactive protein), produced by the liver. The more inflammation there is, the more the liver produces CRP. The more CRP present, the more likely cardiovascular disease is present, along with related troubles. CRP production is also related to arthritis, auto-immune disorders, and intestinal issues.

Scientists are currently looking into the relationship between periodontal inflammation and CRP level and the effects outside of the oral cavity. Links have already been discovered between periodontal disease and pancreatic cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

If inflammation is left untreated, gums can develop pockets that provide the perfect breeding ground for infection. The longer the infection persists, the more likely bone loss will occur, eventually causing tooth loss.

It is indispensable to practice preventive dental care daily at home and have regular visits to the dentist. Dental appointments should include an exam, cleaning, and full mouth x-rays, along with the essential knowledge and instruction on how to properly care for teeth and gums at home. It is also very important to see your dentist straightaway if a tooth suddenly becomes sensitive or you observe any other changes.

Thanks for visiting our blog. For more details about inflammation or periodontal disease, please call our office at 616-784-2377.

Mar18

Find Out How Your Smile Can Benefit From Tooth-Colored Fillings

tooth colored fillings

Most adults will have at least one cavity in their lives, so it’s no surprise that dealing with tooth decay is one of the most common problems addressed by dentists. When teeth have been damaged by decay, dental fillings are generally used to fill in the spot of the decay to prevent it from getting worse. In the past, a mixture—also called “amalgam”—of metals was used, but today we have other options, including composite, tooth-colored fillings.

About Dental Fillings

Dental fillings have been used for about the past 150 years. They are small dental restorations that are used for treating cavities, which are also called dental “caries.” Metal amalgam used to be the filling of choice until the 1990s and 2000s when composite materials began to be vastly improved. Now the benefits of tooth-colored fillings in Comstock Park have become quite well known and popular for dental restorations.

Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings

There are a number of advantages that only tooth-colored fillings provide, including:

They are more attractive than metal fillings. Because they are color-matched to the rest of your teeth, tooth-colored fillings blend in seamlessly with the rest of your teeth. They will not discolor with time either. You can smile with confidence at your cavity-free appearance. No one will even know the restoration is there!
They are less destructive. With tooth-colored fillings, more of the natural tooth can be kept intact than with metal fillings. This helps to maintain the tooth’s natural strength.
They are durable. Tooth-colored fillings last a long time; with the proper care, they can last for as long as a decade or beyond.

Learn More About the Advantages of Tooth-Colored Fillings

For more information about tooth-colored fillings and your many other options for effective dental restoration, be sure to contact us at Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry at 616-552-8307.

Mar11

Dental Implants

Hello Comstock Park visitors; welcome to Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry. Let’s talk about a tooth replacement option common in Belmont, Comstock Park, Grand Rapids, Sparte, Walker and Rockford, MI: dental implants. Most Rockford, MI people with missing teeth are great candidates for dental implants.

A dental implant looks just like the beautiful tooth restoration on a high-quality dental bridge, but the important part is what you don’t see.

A dental implant stands alone and is not attached to the adjacent teeth like traditional dental bridges. In a way, a dental implant is a more conservative tooth replacement because it leaves the adjacent teeth intact. The bone and gum tissue mesh permanently with the titanium post that serves as the replacement tooth root.

Dental implants do not have the same decay risk as the teeth that anchor dental bridges. Of course patients with dental implants need to brush and floss, but cleaning a dental implant is usually no more difficult than cleaning a normal tooth.

With proper care, a dental implant can last a lifetime for smile-smart Rockford, MI dental patients.

At Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry, dental implants can replace one or more teeth providing stability, beauty, and natural function. In addition, they can also serve as anchors for full or partial dentures. No more embarrassing slipping!

If you want more specifics about dental implants, I invite you to call Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry at 616-784-2377. We are Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull. Call today to schedule a dental implant consultation. A dazzling smile can be yours with dental implants.

Ask us about dental financing options.

Mar4

Your Unique Smile – Only Better!

family dentist Comstock Park Hello Comstock Park! If you are unhappy with your smile, it’s time to change that.

Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull have been practicing general and cosmetic dentistry in Comstock Park, Michigan, since 1974. During our careers, we have both established reputations for excellence while providing care for many fantastic Belmont, Comstock Park, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI residents. Performing smile makeovers makes our profession extremely fulfilling.

When we design a smile, we carefully analyze the macroesthetics (larger facial characteristics and relationships between bone structure, tooth size, and shape), and microesthetics (more delicate features such as tooth shade and degree of translucency). There is no one-size-fits-all treatment; each Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry smile design is as unique as you are.

Whether you have chipped teeth, yellow enamel, a broken dental bridge, or even missing teeth, there are procedures to fix your dental problems and give you a natural looking smile that you will be proud to show off.

A smile makeover in Comstock Park at Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry typically involves two or more procedures, which may include: porcelain veneers, tooth implants, crown lengthening, dental bonding, and/or teeth whitening. Of course, just one procedure, such as tooth-colored fillings, can make a world of difference.

Call Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry at 616-784-2377 today to schedule a smile design consultation.

Feb26

Tooth Restoration: Dental Implants And Dental Bridges

smiling woman

When my Comstock Park patients ask me about Comstock Park tooth restoration, I usually tell them about fixed (or ‘traditional’) dental bridges or tooth implants. A dental bridge is an artificial tooth which replaces a missing tooth. The false tooth (called a ‘pontic’) is fused to porcelain crowns on either side of the missing tooth.

Tooth replacement has been a highly requested procedure at my Comstock Park dental practice. Patients from the Belmont, Comstock Park, Grand Rapids, Walker, Sparta and Rockford, MI areas have expressed concern about tooth replacement for many years. Most of my questions have to do with the strength of the tooth replacement and durability.

Most popular are dental implants. A dental implant consists of a titanium post surgically inserted into the jaw bone to replace the root of the missing tooth. The post integrates with the bone to provide a stable foundation for the replacement tooth.

After it has bonded with the bone (it usually takes three to six months), a smaller post is attached. This post extends above the gum line. The artificial tooth (crown) is then attached. The entire process takes several months, but consistently yields terrific results for our patients.

Both Michigan smile restoration options preserve or restore facial contour and allow you to talk and eat normally. Tooth replacements prevent adjoining teeth from gradually shifting and can help correct bite problems, also.

Tooth implants and dental bridges can replace one or more missing teeth. Many Rockford, MI area dental patients have been treated successfully with these tooth restoration alternatives.

Call Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry and ask for Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull to schedule an evaluation for Michigan tooth restoration. You can schedule your tooth restoration by calling us at 616-784-2377.

Feb19

Get Your Whitest, Brightest Smile, Comstock Park!

As we age, our teeth tend to lose their natural whiteness. If we eat dark-colored foods and drink beverages such as coffee, wine and tea, this can speak up the process. But even if you avoid anything that might stain your teeth, you are not immune to teeth that start to look yellow or gray.

If you want to brighten your smile, it’s easier than ever. Consider tooth whitening! We offer teeth whitening at Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry, and it is one of the quickest and most affordable ways around to give you whiter teeth—and make you look younger and feel more attractive.

We offer several different methods for whitening teeth to suit anyone’s needs–including KöR deep tooth bleaching and Zoom! in-office quick bleaching. If you prefer to do your whitening in the privacy of your own home, our at-home tooth whitening is available. Like the in-office options, it uses a solution that contains peroxide. This removes the stains present in the microscopic cracks in your tooth enamel that cause your teeth to look darker than they should.

We get a lot of questions about the strips, mouthwashes, and brush-on whiteners you can buy at the local drugstore. Because these use a lower concentration of whitening agent than professional methods, they are not very effective in removing stains on your tooth enamel.

If you have gum disease, cavities, crowns, dental bonding, or porcelain veneers, Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull recommend first visiting your dentist for a teeth whitening consultation. For best possible results, having your teeth whitening performed by a professional is always the best way to go.

The friendly team of skilled dental professionals at Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry would love to serve you with implant dentistry, restorative dentistry, porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, and smile makeovers. Call us today!

Feb5

Hey, Comstock Park, Smile Like You Mean It!

Hello Comstock Park friends! Have you ever noticed someone who refuses to flash a genuine smile? Even in a family picture, they stay tight-lipped. Even if they’re laughing at the funniest joke ever, they cover their mouths. Maybe this person is you and maybe you desire a smile makeover.

Don’t be embarrassed! Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry provides the most advanced cosmetic dentistry care for our Belmont, Cedar Springs, Comstock Park, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI area patients. There are many reasons a dental patient could be shy about their smile, such as injury, tooth discoloration, poor spacing, or missing teeth. But chances are there is a cosmetic dentistry procedure that can help.

Wouldn’t it be outstanding to have the confident smile you’ve always wanted?

Many patients start with teeth whitening. Other procedures include dental implants, veneers, crowns, Invisalign, enamel shaping, bonding, and more!

Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull are passionate about helping patients have healthy teeth and sensational smiles. If you would like to know more about cosmetic dental smile makeovers, give us a call at 616-784-2377 and our very friendly and thorough staff can schedule a complimentary consultation.

Jan29

Dental Veneers: 7 Fast Fixes For Comstock Park Smiles

Today we are focusing on porcelain veneers, which are used extensively in cosmetic dentistry.

Dental veneers (also called laminates) are custom made to permanently cover the front part of one or more teeth. Veneers can correct a variety of problems including:

Chips
2. Cracks
3. Stains
4. Teeth that are misshapen
5. Teeth that are too short
6. Teeth that are misaligned
7. Gaps between teeth

If you are in the Belmont, Comstock Park, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker or Rockford, MI area and are looking for a family, general or cosmetic dentist, give Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry a call. We have been practicing advanced dentistry in Comstock Park, Michigan, since 1974. The art and science of cosmetic dentistry is our passion.

Please call 616-784-2377 and a member of our very friendly and thorough staff can answer any questions you have about veneers, teeth whitening, invisible braces, pediatric dentistry, general dental care, or smile makeovers.

Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull
Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry
769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
616-784-2377
https://www.greatmismiles.com/meet-dr-bruce-stewart

The following website was used as source material for this blog:
https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/v/veneers.aspx, accessed on Feb. 12, 2013

Jan22

Treatment For Stress-Induced Jaw Pain In Comstock Park

Everyday problems cause some Comstock Park people to respond by clenching their jaw or grinding their teeth. For example, daily commuting in Belmont, Cedar Springs, Comstock Park, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI can take a physical toll. All the traffic, noise, and perpetual road construction causes some people to grind their teeth as they navigate the sea of cars on packed highways.

Teeth grinding and jaw clenching can cause a painful condition called TMD or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. TMD is often mistakenly called ‘TMJ’: the acronym for Temporomandibular Joint.

Your jaw is able to open and close thanks to many jaw muscles and the intricate temporomandibular joints. These joints allow for fluid mobility as you chew, speak, and yawn.

Damage to these essential joints can lead to extreme pain in the jaw, head, face and neck. Pain may be experienced on one or both sides of the jaw.

TMD is an often misdiagnosed condition because facial pain can result from a variety of issues, not just damage to the temporomandibular joints. Sinus infections, tooth decay, and facial injuries can cause jaw pain. A correct diagnosis is the first step in treating TMD.

At Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry we have been diagnosing and treating TMD since 1974, working with other specialists when needed. If you are experiencing clicking, popping, or discomfort in your jaw, call Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry today for a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull are dedicated to providing high-quality dentistry to the residents of Belmont, Cedar Springs, Comstock Park, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI.

Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry not only treat TMD, but we redesign smiles with unprecedented cosmetic dental smile makeovers. Furthermore, we offer general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and porcelain veneers.

Your smile is contagious! Make sure it is healthy and beautiful. Call Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry today at 616-784-2377 to schedule a consultation or examination.

Jan15

Smile Transformations At Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry

Hello, friends of Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry! Today’s post is for Comstock Park men and women who aren’t happy with their smile. Common issues for patients include yellow teeth, misaligned teeth, too much or too little gum tissue, missing teeth, or damaged teeth.

Few people have naturally perfect smiles, and those who practice proper oral care can avoid many problems that can have a negative influence on their oral health and the attractiveness of their smile. But some Comstock Park folks are unsatisfied with their smiles even though they practice vigilant oral hygiene.

The very friendly and thorough team at Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry wants you to know that cosmetic dentistry can transform your smile, regardless of the imperfections. Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull have the experience and proficiency to transform ordinary smiles into extraordinary smiles.

We offer dental bonding, porcelain veneers, tooth implants, crowns, tooth whitening, crown lengthening (gum shaping), inlays/onlays, and Invisalign.

Call 616-784-2377 today to communicate with us about an outstanding cosmetic dental smile makeover at Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry in Comstock Park.

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