Category: Holland Dentist

Porcelain dental veneers. When many people mention them, they are in the same breath with the name of some star or celebrity sporting an utterly perfect smile. But dental veneers aren’t just for making smiles better looking. They can also be restorative and repair teeth you might not have expected to ever look or feel good again.

We can do amazing things with porcelain veneers: Worn, unbalanced teeth can be lengthened; cracked, chipped and broken teeth can be strengthened and repaired and even gaps can be closed.

The process is fairly simple and painless, but if you feel a bit nervous, ask about dental sedation. Once your veneers are placed, your teeth will look amazing, your confidence can be restored and even eating and caring for your teeth is improved. For more information about the benefits of porcelain veneers, call my Holland, Michigan dental office at 616.396.5919.

Periodontal disease or gum disease is a major problem for dental patients in the United States – over 85% of the population has some form of periodontal (gum) disease. This is a very serious problem if you consider that gum disease affects much more than just your mouth.

Studies show that the bacteria associated with gum disease can get into your blood stream and travel through your system, causing a long list of serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, including pancreatic cancer; rheumatoid arthritis, complications in controlling blood sugar levels in diabetes, premature birth and low birth-weight babies.

In fact, a study completed by Harvard shows that men with gum disease were 63 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer when compared to those with no periodontal problems.

That’s why we spend so much time and energy making sure our periodontal treatments are up-to-date and actually on the leading edge. We start by testing you for diabetes, then move on to our advanced treatment. Every treatment is, of course personalized to meet your particular needs, but often, we include laser therapy in the treatment.

Laser therapy is very effective in treating and healing gum disease. This therapy gently and quickly removes scar tissue in periodontal pockets, sealing the affected area as it passes and most of our patients undergo treatment without any anesthesia at all.  The laser also kills bacteria causing the disease and promotes the reattachment of the gum to tooth.  After laser therapy, we apply Arrestin®, a specialized antibiotic placed inside the infected gum pockets to continue killing bacteria for up to 21 days.

If you have not had your gums evaluated recently call my Holland, Michigan dental office at 616.396.5919. It could save more than your smile. It could save your life!

Eating right has so many benefits – you feel fitter, healthier and stronger. But did you know that eating the right foods could do the same for your dental health.

While certain foods and beverages are most certainly harmful to your teeth, others can actually protect and boost the health of your mouth – while supporting whole body health as well. Here are a few tips to help you eat your way to health:

Ÿ  Add more milk, cheese or yogurt to your diet.  Dairy products seem to lessen the occurrence of tooth and gum disease and protect your tooth enamel by providing necessary calcium.

Ÿ   Drink tea! Compounds in black tea can kill growth and acid production of cavity-causing bacteria in dental plaque.

Ÿ  Add fresh, unprocessed foods to your diet. In other words, if you want a snack between meals, try something like crunchy and fresh raw veggies or crisp fruit. Not only are they good for you, they help clean your teeth.

Ÿ  Add more Xylitol-based gum and mints and cut down on sugary or carbohydrate rich foods. Xylitol actually helps prevent the formation of cavities!

Ÿ  Avoid foods that have the dangerous three – sugar, acid and stickiness. Sour gummies or tangy taffy kinds of candy are probably the worst in this category, but even dried fruits can be a culprit in causing tooth damage.

Ÿ  If you do eat or drink highly acidic things such as sports drinks or lemonade, be sure to wait at least 30 minutes before you brush to avoid further damaging your enamel.

For more information about how to keep your mouth healthy and strong, call my Holland, Michigan dental office at 616.396.5919.

I have seen so many patients that come to me suffering from TMJ disorder. Sometimes the first time we discuss it is when they open their mouths for an exam and a sound like a shot rings out through the office – their jaw popping! Other times they happen to mention that they have been dealing with chronic headaches and don’t know what to do anymore.

So many people don’t realize that they can get help from a dentist rather than just keep suffering. I am so elated when I can help patients find relief from TMJ disease and get them back to living life fully and without pain. And the really exciting part is that we can generally do it quickly and non-invasively. Sometimes patients feel relief from pain almost instantly.

For more information about TMJ disorder and headaches, and to see if you might have the tell-tale symptoms, visit my TMJ disease webpage or call me or call me, Dr. Jeff Huisman at 616.396.5919.

Did you know that an infection in your mouth such as gum disease could contribute to heart, lung and other diseases and make them worse? These oral infections have even been discovered to be a major contributor to cancers such as Pancreatic cancer!

In addition to the problem with oral bacterial infections and their link to whole body health issues, oral cancer rates are rising. In fact, the American Cancer Society estimates that about 35,000 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer in 2012.

Even more reason to keep up with all of your oral health screenings. This data is also the primary reason I have incorporated Oral DNA testing into my protocol.

Oral DNA testing is so groundbreaking and important that the National Institute of Health (NIH), the American Dental Association and the Academy of Periodontology are pursuing it as a way to diagnose both gum disease and oral cancer earlier.

To read more about the Oral DNA testing I offer at my Holland dental office, visit my periodontal care webpage or call me, Dr. Jeff Huisman at 616.396.5919.

It’s estimated that as many as 75 percent of adults in America experience some level of fear or anxiety about visiting the dentist. If you’re one of the many, don’t let fear keep you from taking care of your oral health. Consider Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) sedation available at my dental practice in Holland.

Safe and effective, Nitrous Oxide will help you completely relax during your treatment. All sorts of patients can benefit from sedation dentistry. Do you…

• Have excessive fears about dental appointments?
• Have difficulty getting numb?
• Hate needles and shots?
• Hate the noises and smells associated with the dental office?
• Have a strong gag reflex?
• Have highly sensitive teeth?
• Have complex dental problems that will otherwise take several appointments to complete?
• Wish to have a comprehensive smile redesign?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask us about nitrous oxide sedation dentistry for your next appointment!

After you brush your teeth tomorrow morning, take another minute or two to look inside your mouth. Look at your tongue – color and texture changes or sores could indicate a variety of problems from iron deficiencies to oral cancer. Then check out your gums. The same sorts of things that show up on your tongue can show up on your gums. Color changes, puffiness and bleeding, for example can indicate anything from gum overgrowth from medications to gum disease or the first signs of Diabetes. If your teeth have begun to wear down, change color or crack, it could indicate anything from stress to gastric reflux to nutritional deficiencies.

What do you use to rehydrate during and after exercise? Many people drink sports drinks, thinking they are protecting both their health and their teeth with a safer alternative to soda. Others drink sports drinks to replenish electrolytes and improve their performance. What they don’t realize is that, while they may be supplementing their sodium and potassium levels, they are also damaging their teeth!

Children’s fluoride treatments are more important than ever. Studies show that tooth decay in young children is on the rise. It’s not surprising. Just take a moment to consider what our children are eating and drinking these days – soda, juice, sports drinks, candy, sweets. The list is endless and the nutritional value of these items is non-existent.

Humans have found that keeping their teeth clean is an important activity. At first it was simply for survival – without teeth, one couldn’t eat properly. As time went on, the clean and white appearance of teeth became more important as well. The earliest known toothpaste, referred to in an Egyptian manuscript as a way to obtain “white and perfect teeth”, was a mixture of flowers now known to be an effective agent against gum disease. Other common – and probably less effective – dentifrices have included talc, honey and fruit. Nowadays, toothpaste is a little more effective and an important element – along with your regular dental hygiene and cleanings – in keeping your gums and teeth clean and healthy. We always recommend that you use a toothpaste containing Fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral that helps protect and repair your tooth’s surfaces. It makes your teeth more resistant to attacks from sugars and acids and can even reverse early decay! And don’t forget, no matter what kind of toothpaste you use, or how well you brush your teeth, there is no replacement for your regular dental hygiene visits. To schedule your Holland Michigan dental cleaning today, call me, Dr. Jeff Huisman, at (616) 396-5919.