Category: Holland Dentist

Did you know that 69% of adults ages 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth to an accident, gum disease, a failed root canal or tooth decay? And nearly 26% of adults over the age of 65 have lost at least their upper, lower, or all of their teeth?

Life expectancy continues to increase and the risk of tooth loss has increased along with it. Without teeth, it’s difficult to eat and this can impact your diet. Without teeth to support your face, and without tooth roots and the stimulation of chewing, the bones that had supported your teeth begin to deteriorate, causing more sagging and wrinkling, prematurely aging your appearance.

Dental implants in Holland can replace one or all of your teeth. They’re composed of three parts: the titanium implant that fuses with the jawbone; the abutment, which fits over the portion of the implant that protrudes from the gum line; and the crown, which is created by a prosthodontist or restorative dentist and fitted onto the abutment for a natural appearance.

Implants are very durable and can last for many years. When they’re well cared for, they can last a lifetime. But just as accidents can happen or problems occur with your real teeth, they can happen to implants as well. Dr. Jeffrey Huisman can restore a damaged implant that will blend perfectly with the rest of your teeth or implants.

If you need one or more teeth replaced, or have damaged a dental implant, call our Holland dental office at 616.396.5919. The bone deterioration from tooth loss begins almost immediately and it’s important to have your teeth replaced as soon as possible.

TMJ and TMD are acronyms for a disorder of the temporomandibular joint, the hinge-like joint that attaches your jaw to your skull. If you clench your jaw, or if it sometimes locks or feels stuck, you may have developed TMD. It can cause pain, headaches, and ringing of the ears as well.

TMD in Holland is partially diagnosed from the symptoms and complaints reported by our patients. The possible symptoms are wide-ranging, but the most reported are:

• Persistent pain in the face, neck, or shoulders
• Headaches and migraines
• Jaws that “lock” in an open or closed position
• Unusual clicking or popping sounds
• Worn, chipped or cracked teeth
• Pain or soreness around the jaw joints
• Congestion or stuffiness of the ears

At Huisman Family Dentistry in Holland, we use MRIs, CT scans, and even Doppler sound recordings to measure the movement and function of your jaw. Once we know exactly how your bit is misaligned, we can recommend appropriate treatment options to relieve your pain. We can smooth or build the surfaces of your biting teeth, replace them with crowns, or fit you with a mouthguard to help prevent clenching and grinding your teeth.

Don’t let consistent pain, headaches, and muscle tension impact your life. Call our Holland dental office at 616.396.5919 if you are experience any of the symptoms of TMD/TMJ.

Have you ever chipped or broken a tooth? If you’ve broken a front tooth, you feel like you can’t go outside, it’s too embarrassing. If you’ve broken a back tooth, you can’t stop exploring it with your tongue, and it makes it difficult to eat and chew.

You may think it’s going to take hours of expensive dental work, but nothing could be further from the truth. Many chips, cracks, and breaks can be easily repaired with dental bonding in one 30- to 60-minute visit. It’s much less expensive than more complex repairs, and best of all, it’s pain-free.

At Huisman Family Dentistry, we will create a composite resin paste that’s custom-matched to your tooth color. The tooth is lightly sanded and coated with a primer. Then the resin is applied and shaped. It’s hardened with a special light, after which the dentist trims and adjusts it to blend with your other teeth, and can be cleaned and flossed normally. A bit of polishing, and you’re ready to go.

The same composite material used for tooth bonding is also used for tooth-colored fillings, to lengthen crowns, close spaces between teeth, and improve the color of deeply stained teeth.

If you live in the Grand Rapids area (that includes Holland, Zeeland, Hudsonville, Douglas and other nearby towns), call our Holland dental office 616.396.5919 call as soon as you can if you’ve chipped or broken a tooth. You don’t want to let that go! Or talk to us about how we can use dental bonding in Holland to improve the look of your smile.

Everywhere you look, people seem to have bright, white, seemingly perfect smiles. Are you considering tooth bleaching to get your smile whiter than white?

Be careful! Your teeth may seem tough, but the bleaching craze can take its toll on the health of your teeth and gums. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that anyone considering a tooth-whitening treatment, whether with a dentist or by using an over-the-counter product, should first have an exam and consult with a dentist about the best tooth-whitening system for you. Over-bleaching can harm your teeth and gums, sometimes requiring root canal treatment. Advances in technology have made root canal therapy quicker and more comfortable, but a professional whitening treatment would be much more pleasant!

If you’ve already checked out the cosmetic dentistry services in Holland, MI at Huisman Family Dentistry, you can see that tooth whitening is first on the list. And with good reason—it’s the most requested dental service in the country!

Dr. Jeff Huisman offers his patients the KöR Whitening Deep Bleaching™System, rated in a leading dental journal as the most effective method for in-office tooth whitening. KöR is a combination of in-office power bleaching and custom whitening trays you use at home. You can also opt for at-home whitening only.

With a tooth-whitening treatment from Huisman Family Dentistry, you’ll get a smile that’s just right for you. One that’s not too white, but just right. Look at our Smile Gallery and you’ll see nothing but beautiful, natural-looking smiles.

If you live in the Grand Rapids area (that includes Holland, Zeeland, Hudsonville, Douglas and other nearby towns), call our Holland dental office at 616.396.5919. We’ll help you achieve a terrific looking smile in just a very short period of time.

We all make resolutions at the start of the new year. Many of those resolutions are geared towards better health, such as dieting or exercising more. Did you ever think of a smile makeover as one of the best things you can do to improve your health and wellbeing, as well as your appearance?

Cosmetic dentistry in Holland, MI is as much about good health as it is about a beautiful smile. Just a few benefits of a smile makeover include:

• Missing teeth can make it difficult to chew and can change the contours of your face; they can be replaced with dental bridges or implant dentistry.
• Tooth size, shape, color, length and width can be changed with veneers or crowns. More symmetrical teeth provide a better structure for your face.
• Chipped, worn, broken teeth get worse over time, leading to gum disease or lost teeth. They can be restored with crowns or porcelain veneers.
• Ugly metal, mercury-containing fillings can be replaced with tooth colored restorations that are stronger for your teeth.

Our patients often tell us at first that they never want to show their teeth, or they’re so frustrated they want their teeth pulled out! Once they’ve had their smile made over by Dr. Jeff Huisman, they tell us how great they feel about their smiles and what a difference its made in their lives. Dr. Huisman is a perfectionist who will create a beautiful, natural-looking smile that’s in proportion to your face. He uses the most advanced and gentle dental technologies to transform your smile.

If you live in the Grand Rapids area (that includes Holland, Zeeland, Hudsonville, Douglas and other nearby towns), you can start your smile makeover by calling our Holland, MI dental office at 616.396.5919 for an exam and a consultation. Or please contact us via our website. Every step of the smile makeover process is your choice, and we’re looking forward to helping you transform your smile.

When you’re kissing and hugging your loved ones over the holidays, do they welcome being close to you, or do they give you a quick peck and move away?

If this happens consistently, you may be experiencing chronic halitosis, or bad breath. Consistent halitosis can be a symptom of a more serious issue, such as a periodontal disease. The most common gum diseases are gingivitis or periodontitis. Both can be treated when caught early, and the treatments are advanced and gentle. Don’t think “gum surgery” and avoid having bleeding or sore gums checked out. There are many new therapies to treat periodontal disease here in Holland.

Gingivitis is an inflammation of your gums, usually caused by bacterial plaque. If this inflammation is left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis, where the inflammation has spread to the tissues and bones supporting your teeth. That’s why gum disease puts you at risk for losing your teeth.

If your gums bleed while brushing or flossing, or if they’re red or sore to the touch, don’t delay in having your teeth and gums examined. When caught early, treating periodontal disease can be as simple as paying more attention to brushing and flossing. At Huisman Family Dentistry, we know that recent studies have verified the connection between serious health conditions and the bacteria and inflammation of gum disease. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, even some cancers can all be influenced by periodontal diseases. If you know of or suspect any health problems, Dr. Jeff Huisman can give you more information about the health hazards of dental disease.

If you live in the Grand Rapids area (that includes Holland, Zeeland, Hudsonville, Douglas and other nearby towns) we can treat gingivitis and periodontitis with a variety of up-to-date and gentle therapies for scaling (removing plaque buildup) and treating your gums. Don’t put it off! The earlier we can treat your gum disease, the more likely it is that you can avoid more invasive treatments such as dental surgery. Please call our Holland dental office 616.396.5919 or contact us on our website so we can help you as soon as possible.

Here at Huisman Family Dentistry, we want to wish everyone holidays filled with family, friends, and happy memories for years to come.

Whether it’s a big party or quiet family nights at home, the holidays are a time to celebrate and enjoy some of our favorite foods. Some we might eat or drink all year long, others are ones reserved just for the holiday season. During this exciting time of year, remember that foods like juices and wine, candy and chocolate, sauces and seasonings can all stain your teeth. What can you do to minimize food stains on your teeth?

• Most parties and snack tables usually include foods that can help combat tooth staining. Crunchy foods like carrots, celery, and apples help cleanse your teeth naturally.
• Take a sip of water occasionally with your coffee, tea or wine. Water can help naturally rinse your teeth.
• Don’t skimp on your dental care routine! Pay extra attention to flossing and brushing to remove food particles and stains.

If you live in the Grand Rapids area (that includes Zeeland, Hudsonville, Douglas and other nearby towns) call us at our dental office in Holland at (616) 396-5919 during or after the holidays for a regular checkup (or maybe a KOR Deep Bleaching tooth whitening treatment!) to get your new year started with a bright, white smile!

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month and nothing encourages lifetime health better than knowing the dangers of tobacco use.  While it’s important to recognize that not all patients battling lung cancer are tobacco users, smoking is the leading risk factor for developing lung cancer.  Additionally, smoking is not only harmful to your lungs, it can wreak havoc in your mouth.

Smoking often leads to several unwanted health and dental consequences including raising the risk of oral cancer, periodontal (gum) disease and discoloration of the teeth.  In fact, oral cancer is six times more common in people who smoke.  These scary realities of tobacco use make scheduling and keeping regular appointments at my Holland, Michigan dental office even more important.

Here at Huisman Family Dentistry, we offer exceptional care for lifetime health.  In fact, that’s not only our tag line, it’s our mission.  Smoker or not, we believe in conducting thorough oral cancer screenings at every comprehensive exam to ensure a healthy mouth.

We also screen for periodontal disease which is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults.  Smoking can increase the risk of periodontal disease and the bacteria that cause this dental disease have been linked to serious health issues such as heart problems, strokes, diabetic concerns and even cancer.

Smoking can also cause unwanted discoloration of your teeth.  We can help with that, too.  Here at Huisman Family Dentistry, we offer the in-office KOR Whitening system which is the highest ranking dental product – ever!  If you prefer to whiten your teeth at home, we also offer the KOR take-home whitening system.

During Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and every month, it’s important to become educated on the dangers of tobacco use and also reflect on the dental damage smoking can cause.  Call my Holland, Michigan dental office today at 616-396-5919 and have us treat you to a lifetime of health.

 

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, we can’t help but point out some things that we at Huisman Family Dentistry are thankful for.

I know that I’m extremely thankful for my family as well my staff – my extended dental family.  Our entire team works together to make sure each patient’s appointment goes smoothly and that every individual that walks through our door is comfortable at all times.  The staff at Huisman Family Dentistry provide smiles and laughter to help keep all patients relaxed and at ease.

And speaking of patients, all of us here at our Holland, Michigan dental practice want to extend the most sincere gratitude to each and every one of our patients.  We love our patients and are thankful for the trust they put in us – and it seems that they love us too!

John has expressed his thanks to us by saying, “Everyone I work with at Huisman Family Dentistry is hospitable, caring, efficient, up-to-date, knowledgeable and willing to go the extra mile in a caring, comforting way.  Thank you, Dr. Jeff for the great oral care you and your awesome team administer.

Linda, another patient of ours, was debating between implants and a bridge and has said, “Dr. Jeff clearly explained my options and, once I decided on implants, provided me with a step-by-step description of the process, which I really appreciated.”  Linda’s work took a total of 10 months but now that she is living with no pain, she says, “I’m very happy with the look and feel of the implants but I’m most pleased with the opportunity to face each day pain-free.

We are so thankful and appreciative of John, Linda and all of our patients at Husiman Family Dentistry.  Thank you for putting your dental care in our trust.

 

Halloween is a lot of fun. Kids really love to dress up and go trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. But sugar can be a major problem for kids’ teeth. What’s a parent to do? As long as you are careful and limit the candy consumption, enjoying sweet treats on Halloween can be fine.

Dental decay is the most chronic childhood dental disease and can lead to further health problems. So, what can you do to keep your children’s teeth protected, even during one of the most candy intensive holidays of the year.

Start by paying attention to the kinds of candy your children are consuming.  Not all candy is equally harmful. Sour candy is one of the worst culprits in tooth damage because of the high acidity content. This acidity can have a similar effect as battery acid and has more power to damage teeth than regular candies.

Next, consider how often your kids are eating candy. Dr. Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation says that, “The key thing for parents to remember is that it is how often sugar is consumed, rather than how much sugar… It takes the saliva in the mouth up to an hour to neutralize the acid.” We recommend that parents keep treat bags for their children and allow sweets after meals or substitute tooth-friendly Xylitol treats. We don’t think you should eliminate Halloween candy completely. That would be ghoulish!

For more information about caring for your kids’ teeth, call my Holland, Michigan dental office at 616.396.5919. We’ll take the scare out of dentistry for all of your family members!