Grand Rapids dentist

Jan10

The Benefits of Preventative Care at Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry

Categories: Dental health, Dental hygiene, Preventative Dentistry

Overview of dental caries prevention.Woman at the dentist's chair during a dental procedure. Beautiful Woman smile close upWhen it comes to oral health, prevention truly is better than cure. Preventative dentistry focuses on maintaining strong, healthy teeth and gums while addressing issues before they escalate into significant problems. At Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park, MI, Dr. Eric Hull and his expert team are dedicated to helping you preserve your smile and overall health through preventative care.

What is Preventative Dentistry?

Preventative dentistry includes proactive measures to stop dental problems before they begin. This involves routine checkups, cleanings, x-rays, fluoride treatments, and education on proper at-home dental care. It’s not just about maintaining your teeth—it’s about protecting your overall health.

How Can Preventative Dentistry Benefit You?

  1. Avoid Costly Treatments

Detecting and treating a small cavity is far less expensive than root canals or dental implants. Regular dental visits allow Dr. Eric Hull to catch potential problems early, saving you time, discomfort, and money.

  1. Maintain a Beautiful Smile

Preventative care focuses on protecting your natural teeth, ensuring they stay healthy and aesthetically pleasing. Routine cleanings remove plaque and tartar, keeping your teeth white and reducing the risk of gum disease.

  1. Improve Overall Health

Oral health is directly linked to overall health, with conditions like gum disease often connected to heart disease, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s. Preventative care can lower your risk of developing these complications.

  1. Prevent Tooth Loss

Gum disease and untreated cavities are the leading causes of tooth loss. With regular preventative care, such as professional cleanings and early intervention, you can avoid dental extractions and maintain your natural teeth.

  1. Build Good Habits for Life

Patients who invest in their dental health early—especially young patients—are more likely to maintain good habits throughout their lives. Dr. Hull and his team provide valuable guidance on brushing techniques, flossing, and dietary choices to support long-term dental health.

Make Preventative Dentistry a Priority

Life can get busy, but prioritizing your oral health is essential. When you schedule your regular checkups with Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park, MI, you’re making an investment in your health and well-being. From routine cleanings to personalized care plans, Dr. Eric Hull and his staff are here to ensure your smile stays healthy and radiant.

Don’t wait for a dental issue to arise. Contact us today to schedule your next appointment and experience the benefits of preventative dentistry for yourself!

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

Dec20

Afraid of the Dentist? 5 Ways to Reduce Dental Anxiety

Categories: Dental health, Dental hygiene, Oral Health

woman in a dental chair covering her mouth in fear

Talk to your dentist

There’s something about having knowledge on anything unknown that makes us feel less afraid or at least more self-assured handling the unknown. If you consider dentistry an unknown topic, maybe you can educate yourself by asking your dentist lots of questions. Find a dentist willing to listen to your fearful thoughts and concerns so they can better assure you there isn’t much to worry about usually when we talk about our fears someone with more information can help by reducing our uneasiness. They may even eliminate it completely by showing our thoughts to be entirely irrational. At Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry, we help our patients battle dental anxiety.

 Meditate

Studies show how incorporating a 10-minute meditation routine can significantly increase our overall feeling of wellness. Think of meditation as a way for you to focus on the present moment and be comfortable with a subtle feeling of relaxation. This will provide a sense of tranquility we don’t always experience in our day-to-day lives. Ask yourself, “When was the last time I dedicated time to focus on the present moment and simply watch life pass, instead of trying to control everything.” With meditation, we can tune in to our natural way of being and more easily distinguish the difference between a real-life threat or an anxious thought.

Bring a friend or family member to your appointments

Sometimes modifying your environment in a way that’s more familiar will reduce uneasiness. A great way of doing this is to bring someone familiar to your dental appointments who can offer emotional support. This could be a close friend or family member who understands how you feel. You should bring someone who is prepared to talk you out of negative thinking patterns. Your companion ideally will comprehend they are there for you and that this isn’t so much about the two of you hanging out socializing. Make sure they are up to the challenge!

Practice good oral hygiene

By having first-rate oral hygiene you can feel more self-confident about your next visit to the dentist. With excellent dental care, you can go to the dentist with a lower chance of having a root canal or being diagnosed with gingivitis, the onset of periodontal disease. See why these conditions may worsen your uneasiness. If you were diagnosed with gingivitis, your mind would have logical reasons for feeling anxious which is not what we want. However, if you’ve been doing the regular brushing and flossing as recommended then there isn’t as much to stress about.

Seek out a therapist

Are you feeling anxious all the time or just while at the dentist? Seeking out a therapist may help with dental anxiety. Your therapist may recommend adjusting your daily routine to help resist both dental anxiety and any anxiety from day-to-day life. Or, your dentist may suggest distinct techniques to focus on while at the dentist. The 3-2-1 technique involves naming 3 things you can hear, followed by 3 you can see, and lastly, things you can feel. Then you reduce the numbers to 2, then 1. This is a beneficial exercise you can do while in a dentist’s office or anywhere you may feel anxious.

 

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

Mar22

The Advantages of Implant-Retained Dentures

Categories: Dental health, Dental Implants, General Dentistry

implant dentures Comstock Park

Are you trading your traditional dentures for implant-stabilized dentures? Implant-retained or implant-stabilized dentures both provide numerous benefits over standard dentures. At Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry, our team can help determine if implant-retained dentures are right for you.

Secure in the mouth—no slipping

Provides up to 100% natural chewing function

The upper denture doesn’t cover as much of the palate

This helps patients taste food more easily. (Hooray!)

More comfortable

When dentures are fixed in place, they don’t slip around, allowing the wearer to feel more self-assured in social or professional situations.

Little or no gum irritation

Mouth sores lower the quality of life and can make eating painful.

Doesn’t impair speaking power

Denture wearers recognize how frustrating it is to not be able to speak appropriately. With implant-stabilized dentures, you can regain the ease of talking and laughing.

Stronger

Implant-retained dentures are durable and long-lasting.

Prevents bone loss

When bone recedes, you can get that “sunken face” look. Nothing ages a person more than hollowed-out cheeks.

Allows wearer to eat any type of food

Has it been a while since you’ve taken a bite of a juicy steak or crisp, red apple? It’s time to experience your favorite foods again!

No adhesive required

You won’t miss gluing your dentures into your mouth.

What Are The Differences Between Fixed and Removable?

Fixed implant-retained dentures (sometimes called screw-in) necessitate more implants than the removable type. However, they can restore 100% chewing capacity.

Removable implant dentures (sometimes called snap-in) may require just 4 implants to stabilize the upper arch and just 2 for the lower denture. Removable implant-stabilized dentures can restore up to 90% of chewing ability.

Should I get removable or fixed implant-anchored dentures?

The following factors will affect your determination.

Bone Health

Implants require the patient to have an adequate amount of healthy bone structure for placement. The condition of your jawbone influences whether it can support implants and where the posts can be inserted.

Price

Fixed implant dentures cost more but some people believe the merits outweigh the extra expense.

Convenience

Fixed implant-stabilized dentures don’t have to be taken out for cleaning. Patients who have found it inconvenient to clean traditional dentures would face the same issue with removable implant-retained dentures.

Preferred Foods

Fixed dentures are stronger than removable dentures. Patients who prefer foods that are harder to chew should consider this.

Sleep Conditions

Individuals with TMJ or sleep apnea may find it more onerous to manage these conditions if they have to remove their dentures at night.

Now denture wearers have a better option.

 

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

Aug21

Why Is Dry Mouth Dangerous For Comstock Park Dental Patients?

Categories: Oral Health

Why Is Dry Mouth Dangerous For Comstock Park Dental Patients?Hello, welcome to the Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry blog. Today we are going to talk about Dry Mouth, an unpleasant condition that can actually endanger the oral health of Comstock Park Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry dentistry patients.

Reduction of saliva flow resulting in a dry mouth is a more common problem among older Comstock Park adults, however, people of all ages in the Rockford, MI area may experience the symptoms of dry mouth at one time or another. These symptoms include a dry, red tongue, difficulty swallowing, and persistent sore throat.

Sometimes dry mouth in Comstock Park dental patients is caused by a disease or infection, but a more frequent cause of dry mouth for patients in Rockford, MI is prescription medications.

Decongestants, blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and painkillers (all used extensively in Comstock Park) are just some of the drugs that list ‘dry mouth’ as a common side effect.

It is common for allergy-prone Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry dental patients to complain of dry mouth when they start taking antihistamines during the Rockford, MI hay fever season.

Aside from being an uncomfortable nuisance, untreated dry mouth can cause tooth damage for Comstock Park dental patients. Adequate saliva is necessary to keep the mouth lubricated, wash the food from teeth, and neutralize the acidic environment caused by plaque. Extensive tooth decay can occur in the absence of saliva for Rockford, MI dental patients with chronic dry mouth.

If you are unsure of the cause of your dry mouth, or if you are looking for dry mouth treatments, call Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry to schedule an appointment with Drs. Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull.

When you visit Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry in Comstock Park, please be sure to bring a list of medications you are taking so Drs. Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull can give you an accurate diagnosis.

Drs. Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull
Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry
769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park Michigan
616-784-2377

Meet Dr. Bruce Stewart

Sep26

Looking For A Great Dentist In Grand Rapids?

Categories: About Our Office

Looking For A Dentist Comstock Park

Finding a fantastic dentist in Grand Rapids is often achieved with a personal recommendation. The most common way people find a dentist in a new area like Comstock Park is to ask a friend or neighbor, “Who is your dentist?” The answer is usually followed up with an explanation about whether or not your friend likes their dentist, and whether they would recommend them.

Patients evaluate a dental practice on the dentist’s chairside manner and dental skill, the services offered, location, dental office atmosphere, wait times, and availability of dental financing.

Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull are experienced, caring dentists serving the Comstock Park, MI, community. Our practice name is Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry, and we welcome new patients from Belmont, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker, Rockford and all surrounding areas.

We realize that most of our new patients come to us by word-of-mouth referrals and patient testimonials. It is our goal to deliver such a terrific dental experience that you will be compelled to tell your friends about how happy you are with our dental service.

We offer cosmetic, general and restorative dentistry, including:

Porcelain veneers
Invisalign
Implant dentistry
Teeth whitening

We invite you to schedule a consultation by calling us at 616-827-7019. We look forward to meeting you.

Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull, DDS
616-827-7019

Sep12

Overbites And Underbites In Comstock Park

Categories: Family Dentistry

Overbites And Underbites in Comstock Park

Have you heard of overbites and underbites? Bite problems can occur when the upper and lower parts of the jaw are different sizes. When the lower jaw is smaller than the upper jaw, it is called an overbite. When the reverse is true, it is called an underbite.

Another related alignment disorder is called a crossbite. Crossbites occur when the lower teeth are in the wrong position. They may be incorrectly positioned sideways, forward, or backward.

Malocclusion (literally ‘bad bite’) is the term used for all types of bite problems, including overbites, underbites and crossbites. Jaw alignment disorders can cause a range of problems and often prohibit proper chewing and/or swallowing. Teeth can shift around in the mouth, causing even more discomfort or difficulty. Gum disease and tooth decay are also harder to prevent because proper oral hygiene can be difficult with a malocclusion. TMJ disorder can develop over time. Distorted facial shape and unattractive teeth are often the most noticeable and troubling issues for those affected.

Fortunately, there are a variety of effective treatments for bite problems. If you suspect your child has a bite misalignment, it is especially important to have them examined by Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull, your Grand Rapids dentist, as early as possible. By starting early, you can make sure they avoid years of pain and self-consciousness.

Call Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry at 616-827-7019. Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull are experienced in diagnosing bite disorders in patients of all ages. We can create a successful treatment plan for you. We also offer cosmetic dentistry and Invisalign for our Belmont, Grand Rapids, Comstock Park, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI area dental patients.

See you soon!

Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull
Stewart and Hull Aesthetic and General Dentistry
769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan 49321
(616) 365-5216
https://www.greatmismiles.com/meet-dr-eric-hull/

 

 

 

Dec6

Traveling Advice from Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull

Categories: General Dentistry, Oral Health

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

Mar22

The Scoop on Dental X-rays

Categories: Oral Health

Dental X-rays are an essential and invaluable tool to help assist us in evaluating your oral health. With X-rays, we can see what’s happening beneath the surface of your teeth and gums and identify oral health issues otherwise hidden during a visual exam, including:

• small areas of decay between the teeth or below existing restorations (fillings)
• infections in the bone
• periodontal (gum) disease
• abscesses or cysts
• developmental abnormalities
• types of tumors

If left untreated, these problems can lead to expensive, time-consuming, and painful conditions, so it’s important to find and treat them early.
Dental X-rays are extremely safe, and our team is certified in the proper use of our digital X-ray equipment. The amount of radiation that you are exposed to from dental X-rays is very small compared to your daily exposure from things like atmospheric radiation and naturally-occurring radioactive elements, as well as medical X-rays you may have gotten at your doctor’s office or hospital. In fact our digital system dramatically decreases the already minimal amount of exposure even further. We try to be as conservative as possible when prescribing x-rays but do need them to see what is going on where our eyes can’t see.

Dec7

Have you had a check-up with Dr. Bruce Stewart lately?

Categories: Oral Health

Even if you brush and floss daily, it is still important to see Dr. Bruce Stewart every 6 months, or as recommended. Why?

• We can detect and treat tooth and gum problems that you may have never felt or noticed.
• Even thorough daily oral care may not be enough to prevent cavities and oral decay.
• Frequent visits can allow us to treat a problem early to prevent future complications.

If you are overdue for an appointment with us, please give us a call today!

— Dr. Bruce Stewart & Team

Oct27

How technology helps us all, from Dr. Bruce A. Stewart

Categories: Dentistry

Dr. Bruce A. Stewart wanted to share this story about how technology helped a recent patient get expert advice without leaving our office.

I had a patient the other day who had a severely damaged tooth. I wasn’t sure if it could be saved, so we took an intra-oral picture and an x-ray of the tooth. We emailed it to a periodontist who looked at the x-ray and the picture and decided that the best option was extraction and an implant. He felt the tooth could be removed and an implant placed the same day.

Our patient was extremely happy to get all this information while sitting in our office. He saved the time and cost involved with an office visit to the specialist to get this diagnosis, as well as gasoline costs.

I thought you would enjoy this story of how our technology can be of help to you, should you have a problem.