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

Mar1

Comstock Park Whiter Smiles

Wishing for a whiter smile in Comstock Park but not sure how to get it? New to tooth whitening lingo? At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry, we educate clients on the variety of affordable teeth whiting treatments; from whitening trays to teeth bleaching to Zoom whitening. We do smile whitening for Rockford MI patients every day.

Almost every toothpaste claims to whiten teeth, but as we age our teeth gradually turn yellow or gray, despite all the whitening toothpastes we use regularly. Tooth enamel, while one of the hardest substances in the body, is porous. Over time, the food and drinks that comes in contact with our teeth cause staining and discoloration. You probably have already discovered that a toothbrush cannot clean these microscopic pores.

Carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide are the two main teeth whitening ingredients. They can penetrate the outer layer of your teeth to remove the build-up, and help restore whitening to teeth. Call Dr. Eric Hull or Dr. Bruce Stewart at 616-827-7019 to schedule an appointment and we will explain the difference between these tooth bleaching ingredients and how they may affect your Comstock Park smile whitening results.

At-home teeth whitening products are probably not a good choice if you have dental crowns or veneers. You could end up with extremely uneven results or possible damage to your existing cosmetic dentistry.

We know the best Comstock Park teeth bleaching options and can recommend the perfect white smile solution for you.

At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry, we hope to see you soon. Give us a call at 616-827-7019.

Feb22

What Is Lurking Under Your Gumline?

Hello Grand Rapids residents! Your overall dental health depends not only on healthy teeth but also healthy gums. Proper oral hygiene helps keep both your teeth and gums in good shape.

When brushing, hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle with the bristle tips aimed at the line where the tooth and gum meet. The bristles of a soft toothbrush can clean the food particles in the pockets in front and in back of the tooth, but you need floss to clean between the teeth. Make sure you get the floss into the pocket between the teeth and scrape food particles up and out of the pocket.

Back to toothbrushing: if the toothbrush is not held at the correct angle, the bristles can’t get in the pockets to clean out the bacteria before it turns into enamel-damaging plaque. If plaque multiplies in the pockets around the teeth, the gum will start pulling away. Eventually, the pockets will become too deep for your toothbrush bristles to reach. Unfortunately, the tooth structure below the gumline is more susceptible to decay than the enamel above the gumline.

There is more than one way to damage your teeth – even if the visible parts of your teeth are cavity-free, gum disease can cause problems with the parts you can’t see.

We are Dr. Bruce Stewart and Dr. Eric Hull. We, along with our friendly staff, promote preventative dentistry by working with our patients of all ages to establish essential oral hygiene habits.

If you haven’t had a check-up in a while, or are experiencing gum soreness or recession, call our Grand Rapids area dental practice today at 616-827-7019 to schedule a thorough tooth and gum examination in Comstock Park. During your exam, Dr. Bruce Stewart or Dr. Eric Hull will measure the depth of the pockets around each tooth. If you already have gum disease, we will help you restore gum health.

At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park, we provide full general and cosmetic dental services including dental veneers and restorative dentistry. If you have healthy teeth and gums but want to brighten your smile, ask us about tooth bleaching procedures we perform in-office.

Bruce A. Stewart, DDS, FAGD
Eric D. Hull, DDS
769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan 49321
https://www.greatmismiles.com/

Feb15

Tooth Restoration in Comstock Park

At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park, we use a variety of techniques to restore damaged teeth. Most family dentistry patients in the Comstock Park and Rockford MI area are familiar with fillings. Traditional fillings are also called ‘direct restorations’ because they are applied to the tooth, shaped and polished in one visit.

Another type of filling is called an ‘indirect restorations’ and is fabricated in a dental lab. There are two types: inlays and onlays.

When a tooth needs more extensive dental restoration, a dental crown is often used. Dr. Stewart and Dr. Hull create strong, natural-looking crowns from a variety of materials.

What if the tooth is damaged beyond repair? There are a number of functional replacements for missing teeth. Dentures are not the only option. Talk to us about dental implants.

Call 616-827-7019 to learn about the restoration options available. We have been improving smiles for Rockford MI and Grand Rapids area patients since 1974.

Whether the damage is caused by decay, injury, bite problems, or natural wear; Dr. Bruce Stewart and Dr. Eric Hull will choose the best cosmetic dental treatment plan for your tooth restoration needs. Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry is conveniently located at 769 York Creek Dr NW in Comstock Park. We provide quality dental care for Grand Rapids and Comstock Park families.

Bruce A. Stewart, DDS, FAGD
Eric D. Hull, DDS
616-827-7019
https://www.greatmismiles.com/
Lighting Up Rooms One Smile At A Time

Feb8

Soft, Medium, or Buzz Lightyear?

At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry, Dr. Bruce Stewart is often asked how to choose the most basic tool of dental hygiene, the toothbrush. Picking a toothbrush in Rockford MI can be as difficult as choosing a paint color, and there seems to be just as many choices.

If you have visited the dental section of your local Grand Rapids grocery store or Rockford MI Walmart lately, you know what I am talking about. There are brushes with bristles of varying lengths, brushes that massage your gums, and brushes that change color when they are used up. (If I had to rate them purely on their fun factor, I would choose the Spiderman brush.)

Some toothbrush manufacturers claim their brushes freshen your breath or remove stains from your teeth. How do you choose?

One key factor is the firmness of the bristles. Hard bristles may be more effective for cleaning burnt steak off a grill or hard water deposits off a shower floor. However, this does not hold true for your teeth. Medium and firm brushes can damage your gums. Soft and extra-soft bristles are plenty stiff enough to clean plaque, food particles, and surface stains from your teeth. Soft bristles also offer more flexibility for hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.

After having cosmetic dental work or oral surgery in Rockford MI, especially anything involving soft tissue grafts, make sure you use an extra-soft brush and be careful!

When buying a toothbrush for a child in Comstock Park, make sure the brush feels comfortable in their hand. If the size and angle feels awkward, the child will be less likely to use it long enough to clean all areas of the mouth. Children do not necessarily need a child-sized tooth brush. Some Rockford MI kids can manage an adult size brush better than a short, narrow child size brush. If you are unsure, ask your Comstock Park family dentist at Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry.

What about the electric types and water-shooters? Some Comstock Park folks like the feeling of vibrating bristles or a mini-squirt gun blasting away at the plaque. Rockford MI people with arthritis or other movement-inhibiting conditions can benefit from powered brushes which take some strain off hands and arm muscles.

Is your toothbrush doing the job? Schedule an exam with your Comstock Park dentist at Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry.

At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry, our very friendly and thorough dental hygienists instruct our pediatric clients and adult patients alike on proper brushing and flossing. If you haven’t experienced a dental deep cleaning at Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry, you don’t know how clean your teeth and gums can feel.

Schedule a thorough dental cleaning today by calling Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry at 616-827-7019. An outstanding feature of Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry is our wide selection of dental technology. We offer cosmetic dentistry and a full spectrum of restorative dental procedures.

Feb1

Do You Have Sore Gums?

Every dentistry patient’s mouth provides a cozy home for over 600 types of bacteria. If you are diligent about oral hygiene and have healthy gums, these microbes usually don’t affect your health. However, if you have gum disease, bacteria can enter your bloodstream through your gums and cause problems.

Gingivitis is the term for the mild gum disease. At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry, we routinely discover gingivitis in Grand Rapids clients who are not even aware they have the condition.

The first signs of gingivitis are swollen, sore gums.

It is important for our Comstock Park and Rockford MI area dental patients to understand that it is not normal for gums to bleed when they are brushed or flossed. If you haven’t had an oral examination in a while and live in the Grand Rapids area, call Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry at 616-827-7019. Dr. Bruce Stewart thoroughly exams teeth and gums and takes time to discuss the results and recommendations with each general dentistry patient.

Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry is a full-service dental practice at 769 York Creek Dr NW in Comstock Park. We provide comprehensive general and cosmetic dentistry for clients who live in the nearby communities of Grand Rapids, Comstock Park and Rockford MI.

During your dentist consultation, we can discuss any cosmetic or restorative procedures in which you are interested. Some of the dental procedures that we use to create perfect smiles are porcelain veneers, clear braces, dental implants and tooth bleaching. Our hygienists are skilled professionals who perform the ultimate in dental deep-cleanings.

Oral health and overall health go hand in hand. Schedule a dental consultation today by calling 616-827-7019 or visiting us online at https://www.greatmismiles.com/.

Jan25

Have A Large Cavity In Your Tooth?

When Dr. Bruce Stewart of Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park repairs a tooth that has decay or damage, the procedure chosen often depends on the location of the problem. (We’re talking tooth-specific locale here; it doesn’t matter whether you live in Grand Rapids, Comstock Park, or Rockford MI.) If there is a chip, crack or cavity on the biting surface of a tooth, an onlay or inlay is often used to restore the tooth.

Inlays and onlays are a type of tooth restoration used successfully at Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry. They are usually bigger than a conventional filling yet smaller than a complete dental crown. An inlay is used to fill an area inside the cusp tips or bumps of a tooth. An onlay covers an area that includes more than one cusp.

At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry, the inlays and onlays we place for our Grand Rapids area general dentistry clients are indistinguishable from their natural teeth. Dr. Bruce Stewart has the finely-honed eye for detail and complete mastery of dental aesthetics to create an exact match.

Bruce A. Stewart, DDS, FAGD inlays and onlays:

Are stain resistant
Do not cause tooth sensitivity
Are beautifully matched to natural teeth
When bonded to the tooth, they strengthen the tooth and prevent further decay or damage

Call 616-784-2377 to book a cosmetic dental consultation today.

We’ll help you keep your smile happy and healthy!

Jan11

Live Better With Dental Implants in Comstock Park

Ill-fitting dentures cause more problems for Comstock Park denture wearers than they solve. If you live with loose dentures, you probably regard them as a necessary evil. Though they certainly look better than a toothless mouth, in practical terms they leave much to be desired because they affect two essential activities: eating and talking.

Unfortunately, many frustrated Comstock Park denture wearers have quit dining in restaurants or engaging in social activities because they are afraid their dentures will slip.

Implant dental procedures at Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park are allowing former denture patients to re-engage in life.

Consider the advantages of implant anchored dentures:

They are stable because the implant is anchored in the bone.
Your denture is fixed, it will not move around in your mouth.
They prevent bone loss that typically occurs when teeth are removed.
They eliminate the necessity of regular denture relines.
They do not irritate gums.
No denture adhesive is required.

Our Comstock Park dental implant bone clients who have replaced their traditional dentures with implant overdentures enthusiastically say that the cost of dental implants was more than worth it.

Do you want to eat normally again? What is the value of maintaining your facial shape? Can you put a price on confidence?

If you want more information about dental implants, call 616-784-2377 to schedule a cosmetic dental consultation with Dr. Bruce Stewart. Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry is located at 769 York Creek Dr NW in Comstock Park. We have been providing advanced cosmetic and general dentistry care since 1974.

Lighting Up Rooms One Smile At A Time

Sep25

Signs That Your Tooth Has A Cavity

We have all experienced those times when we have a toothache and think…”Do I have a cavity?” You brush twice a day and floss regularly, so a cavity is unlikely. Right? Here is how you can tell if it’s time to give us a call:

The Signs and Symptoms of a Cavity

It’s believed that roughly 90% of Americans will get at least one cavity in their lifetime. When a cavity is in its initial stages, you will often be symptom-free and experience no discomfort at all. It’s not until the tooth decay has reached a certain level that you will begin to notice the signs and symptoms. While a toothache and sensitivity to hot and cold foods and liquids are surefire signs that you have a cavity, there are lesser-known symptoms as well. If you’re experiencing any of these warning signs, you may want to consider making an appointment with our office as soon as possible:

• Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth
• When you bite down, there is a sticky, tarry feeling
• Puss or discharge around a tooth
• A visible discoloring, usually black or brown
• Small pits or holes in the tooth

Routine dental care is important. While good oral hygiene, a healthy diet, and regular cleanings at the dentist will deter the formation of cavities, they do not constitute a foolproof practice. A cavity can occur at any time, no matter what your age. Bacteria causes tooth decay, and no amount of brushing, flossing, and rinsing will eradicate all the bacteria from your mouth. If you think you may have a cavity, please contact our office immediately.

Sep21

Foods That Can Harm Enamel

Many people who are careful about brushing and flossing their teeth wonder how they still end up with cavities or tooth decay. Several factors affect wear and tear on tooth enamel. Diet is a major factor, with certain foods increasing the likelihood that your enamel will become discolored or decayed. Pay close attention to the foods you eat to keep your pearly whites looking healthy and clean.

What Causes Enamel Damage?

Tooth enamel refers to the hard, semi-translucent, whitish part of the tooth that shows above your gums. The enamel is primarily composed of minerals that are strong but susceptible to highly acidic foods. When acid reacts with the minerals in enamel, tooth decay results. Strongly pigmented foods can also damage enamel by discoloring the surface of the tooth.

Foods that Harm Enamel

Acidic foods are the greatest source of enamel damage. To determine whether a food is acidic, look up its pH. Scientists use pH, on a one-to-seven scale, to define the relative acidity or alkalinity of a substance. Foods with low pH levels, between a one and three, are high in acidity and may damage your enamel. Foods with high pH levels, such as a six or seven, are far less likely to cause enamel harm.

So which foods should you avoid? Many fruits are high in acidity, including lemons, grapefruit, strawberries, grapes, and apples. The high sugar and acid content in soda makes it another huge contributor to enamel decay. Moderately acidic foods include pineapple, oranges, tomatoes, cottage cheese, maple syrup, yogurt, raisins, pickles, and honey. The foods that are least likely to cause enamel damage include milk, most cheeses, eggs, and water.

Beverages such as red wine and coffee also damage the enamel by discoloring it. Although stains do not necessarily undermine the integrity of your teeth, they can be unsightly.

What Can I Do to Prevent Enamel Damage?

Fortunately, there are several measures you can take to prevent your enamel from discoloring or decaying. The easiest way to avoid decay is to steer clear of high-acidity foods. This may not always be possible, but eliminating sugary fruit juices and soda from your diet is a good start. Brushing your teeth after each meal and flossing frequently also preserves your enamel. Another good idea is to rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash after eating to wash away high-acidity particles.

Although enamel damage is common, it does not have to be an inevitable occurrence. Knowing the foods that harm your teeth gives you the tools to prevent discoloration and decay. With some easy preventive measures, your teeth will stay strong and white for years to come.

Sep13

When is the Best Time to Floss?

At our dental office, we prefer our patients to practice good oral hygiene between office visits. Part of that process includes flossing, which is the process of cleaning between the teeth to remove food and debris from the areas that are hard to reach with a toothbrush. When food is allowed to remain between the teeth, it provides a breeding ground for bacteria, which can cause periodontal disease.

Should You Floss Before or After Brushing?

According to the American Dental Association, you can floss either before or after brushing, according to your own preference. By flossing first, you can brush away dislodged food debris afterward. On the other hand, brushing first allows you to loosen plaque between the teeth, making it easier to floss more effectively.

Whichever you choose, the most important goal is to floss thoroughly. That means using a fresh strand of dental floss each day, and carefully pulling it back and forth between all of the teeth. Do not skip flossing because your teeth look or feel clean.

When to Floss

Unlike brushing, you need only floss between your teeth once per day. Although you may choose to do it in the morning or afternoon, many prefer to floss at night to prevent food and debris from remaining in the crevices of the teeth overnight. This could prevent the build-up of plaque too, which is a cause of tooth decay.

Help with Flossing

If you have questions about your flossing technique or what type of floss is best for your teeth, contact our office. The staff will be more than happy to assist you in perfecting your home hygiene regimen. In most cases, you can choose between interdental cleaning picks or flexible floss strands to perform your daily flossing routine. If you have permanent oral appliances or restorations, be sure to follow the flossing instructions provided to you, and contact our office with any questions.

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