September 27, 2013

In our last post, we talked about the powerful effect stomach acid can have on teeth. Most cases of decay aren’t caused by stomach acid, though. Instead, when most patients experience tooth decay, it’s the result of bacteria and plaque. Bacteria reacts to many foods—especially foods high in sugar—by producing acid, which leads to more bacteria and more acid, resulting in an environment harmful to teeth.

What’s more, the buildup of bacteria, plaque, and acid also contributes to gum disease. As one of the most common oral health conditions a patient can face, gum disease can have a dramatic effect on one’s oral health (it’s the most common cause of tooth loss in adults)

Thankfully, Dr. John R. Robison and Dr. J.D. Robison offer care for both tooth decay and gum disease. With services like composite fillings and porcelain crowns, plus periodontal therapy, our Canton dental team can provide effective care against both.

We also recommend coming to Robison Dental Group twice a year for checkups and cleanings. Though we offer these great general and restorative services, regular checkups and cleanings are designed to prevent the most common oral health conditions from forming in the first place.

During your visit we can also offer home care tips that will help you protect your smile in between visits to our Canton dental office. We recommend brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once. You may also benefit from an antibacterial or fluoride mouthwash.

Has it been more than six months since your last checkup? Call Robison Dental Group for an appointment. We serve patients from Canton, Ann Arbor, Northville, Westland, Plymouth, and beyond.

September 13, 2013

At some point, everyone experiences a touch of heartburn. For some, though, it’s not uncommon to have heartburn two, three, or more times a week. Cases like this are a good indication of acid reflux disease. Other common symptoms of an acid reflux condition include:

  • Bloating or burping
  • Regurgitation
  • Hiccups
  • Nausea
  • Narrowing of the esophagus
  • Weight loss
  • Bloody/black stools or bloody vomiting
  • Sore throat, hoarseness, wheezing, or dry cough

These uncomfortable or unpleasant symptoms can all have an impact on your overall wellbeing, but did you know your oral health can also be affected?

A patient who experiences acid reflux several times a week is at risk of decay and possibly worse. That’s because when acid from the stomach comes into contact with the teeth, it has a damaging effect on their protective layer of enamel. Then, as the sensitive layer of dentin underneath is exposed, this becomes a bigger and bigger problem.

Symptoms of teeth damaged by acid include:

  • Sensitivity, in particular to foods that are cold, hot, or sweet
  • Teeth that have thinned or become shorter
  • Pain or irritation
  • Teeth with sharp edges

Have you experienced any of these symptoms? Call Robison Dental Group for help. We offer effective general, cosmetic, and restorative services for patients from Canton, Ann Arbor, Northville, Westland, Plymouth, and beyond.

August 29, 2013

Many patients experience chronic headaches without understanding what might be causing them. The surprising truth is that, often, frequent headaches—plus neck, shoulder, and back pain—are caused by a problem with your bite, labeled as TMJ syndrome.

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. Every patient has two, and they’re located near the ear, where your upper jaw and your lower jaw meet. These joints make it easy to open and close your mouth for eating, speaking, yawning, etc. Sometimes, though, stress or an improper bite can cause the joints to dysfunction, exposing nerve endings and resulting in your uncomfortable symptoms.

Have you experienced symptoms that you think could be related to TMJ syndrome? Dr. John R. Robison and Dr. J.D. Robinson or Robison Dental Group can help. Using some of today’s best technology, we can detect your misalignment and treat it, bringing you relief from your symptoms.

Call Robison Dental Group today to schedule an appointment with our Canton dental team. We want to help you find relief from discomfort and enjoy better oral and overall health. We offer effective TMJ therapy to patients from Ann Arbor, Northville, Westland, Plymouth, and beyond.

August 15, 2013

For patients who avoid smiling because of how their teeth look, a full-mouth reconstruction from Robison Dental Group can help you improve how your smile looks and how it functions. Like a smile makeover, a full-mouth reconstruction combines multiple services into one customized plan.

Some of the services most often included in a full-mouth reconstruction include:

But how can you know which services are right for you? Dr. John R. Robison and Dr. J.D. Robison will help through a consultation appointment at their Canton dental office.

What does a consultation visit involve?

A consultation begins with your Canton doctor taking a close look at your teeth and gums to see what your needs are. Also involved is a conversation with you about how you’d like us to help you. What our Canton team is trying to understand with all of this is your medical history, your needs, and your goals going forward. Then, we’ll take all that and put together a treatment plan that’s completely customized. After all, not every patient has the same needs.

Do you want to learn more about full-mouth reconstructions? Call Robison Dental Group today to reserve an appointment with our Canton dental office. We provide excellent general, cosmetic, and restorative care to patients from Ann Arbor, Northville, Westland, Plymouth, and beyond.

July 31, 2013

For today’s post, we’d like to talk about something that is only tangentially related to oral health, but is related nonetheless—antioxidants.

You may have heard that antioxidants are good for your health, but do you understand why? Our guess is that most people don’t. Here’s why they’re important.

First, you have to understand that within the molecules that make up your body, there are atoms, each containing two positive protons and two neutral electrons. However, because of stress, poor eating, or environmental factors like pollution, it’s possible for an individual atom to lose an electron, causing it to become unstable. When that happens, the destabilized atom, known as a “free radical,” will try to steal an electron from a nearby atom, causing a chain reaction. This is what’s happening when we talk about the oxidation process.

If the oxidation process isn’t treated in some way, it can contribute to a variety of health problems, including:

  • Cancer
  • Gingivitis
  • Diabetes
  • Heart attack

Thankfully, that process can be stopped with antioxidants. The reason antioxidants are able is help is because they have an extra electron that they can lend to these unstable “free radicals.” But where can you find antioxidants? In all kinds of places, including coffee and green tea, fruits and veggies, legumes and seeds, and more. To effectively combat oxidation, we recommend having anywhere between five and nine servings of antioxidants a day.

Do you have questions about how antioxidants work, or do you just need to schedule an appointment with our Canton dental office? Call Robison Dental Group today to set up an appointment with Dr. John R. Robison or Dr. J.D. Robison. We serve patients from Canton, Ann Arbor, Northville, Westland, and Plymouth.

July 18, 2013

Drinks like coffee, tea, red wine, soda, and fruit juice are commonly cited for causing teeth stains, but there’s more to staining than any of these. Aging is another big factor. But unlike other common causes of staining, aging isn’t something that can be avoided.

Still, with a cosmetic dentistry service like teeth whitening, there’s a way around this type of staining, one that will improve confidence. But that’s not all. With your whiter, brighter smile, you can also turn back the clock on your appearance, enjoying wonderful anti-aging benefits.

At Robison Dental Group, your Canton cosmetic dentists—Dr. John R. Robison and Dr. J.D. Robison—offer two teeth whitening options for patients to take advantage of.

The first option, in-office whitening, takes just a single appointment to complete and allows you to sit back and relax in our comfortable office. The second option, take-home whitening, lets you do it all on your own schedule, while you’re cleaning the house, watching TV, reading, or any number of other things.

But which of these teeth whitening options is right for you?

If you’d like to learn more about teeth whitening in general, or you’d like to see which option might be best for you, call Robison Dental Group today. We’re happy to offer cosmetic care to patients from Canton, Ann Arbor, Northville, Westland, and Plymouth.

July 15, 2013

When you smile, you’re sending a strong signal to others. For instance, a smile can tell someone that you’re friendly and approachable. It can also tell someone else that they’re appreciated, or that you enjoy their company. Smiling isn’t just a way of communicating, though. This simple act has other far-reaching benefits. In today’s post, we’d like to highlight five of the biggest so that you have even more reasons to smile every day.

Reason #1

In medical research, it’s been found that smiling can have a positive effect on your blood pressure by lowering it.

Reason #2

Smiling produces more antibodies and white blood cells, which helps your immune system stay strong in the face of colds and other issues.

Reason #3

According to research conducted by the University of Illinois, people who are happier, and who smile more as a result,  live almost 10 years longer.

Reason #4

Smiling releases the feel-good hormones known as endorphins, as well as serotonin, a natural stress-reducer.

Reason #5

DePauw University in Indiana found that people who smile consistently reported having a healthier marriage than those who don’t.

What’s keeping you from smiling? Is it misaligned or stained teeth? Or do you possibly have gaps in your smile that you’re trying to hide? At Robison Dental Group, our team can help. We offer effective general, cosmetic, and restorative services. Call us today to reserve a consultation appointment with Dr. John Robison or Dr. J.D. Robison. We serve patients from Canton, Ann Arbor, Northville, Westland, Plymouth, and beyond.

July 1, 2013

If you’ve researched Invisalign, you know that the aligners you’ll wear are removable. But does that mean you need to wear them all day long?

That will depend in part on the personal instructions you receive from Dr. John Robison or Dr. J.D. Robison. In general, though, the answer to that question is yes.

For Invisalign to work efficiently, pressure needs to be applied to teeth for at least 22 hours a day. So, when should you take your aligners out? To eat or drink, and for brushing and flossing. As a result, Invisalign lets you enjoy the same kind of diet you enjoyed before you started treatment. Plus, by taking your aligners out for brushing and flossing, patients are able to clean parts of their smile that would be harder to clean with bracket-and-wire braces.

In some cases, you may be able to take your aligners out for special events. This might include a night out with friends or a special date. But to achieve the results you want in the average treatment time of 12-18 months, it’s best to wear your aligners for the recommended amount of time each day.

Do you want to learn more about how Invisalign can help you enjoy a straighter smile without the need or metal brackets or wires? Call Robison Dental Group to schedule a consultation with Dr. John Robison or Dr. J.D. Robison.  Our dental team serves patients from Canton, Ann Arbor, Northville, Westland, Plymouth, and beyond.

June 4, 2013

In our last post, we talked about the connection between hormone changes and oral health. Today we’d like to talk about another connection between oral and overall health. In this case, it has to do with the impact that stress can have.

Today, more than at any other point, our culture is driven by work and by staying plugged in. Regardless of where your stress comes from, though, it can contribute to inflammation in the body, including in your smile.

Inflammation is one of the body’s immune responses. As a natural response, it can do good work. But too much stress can interfere with the body’s ability to properly regulate inflammation. As a result, inflammation can actually become like a weapon the body uses against itself. That has consequences for your overall health, which includes your oral health. In 2012, the ADG reported that a definite link between stress and dental health exists. In their research, they point to problems with the immune system as a cause.

What this means for our Canton, MI patients is that following a good oral health routine is important. Dr. Robison recommends a regular routine of brushing twice a day, flossing at least once, and rinsing with an antibacterial or fluoride mouthwash. You should also visit Robison Dental Group twice a year, or about every six months.

Call us today to schedule an appointment. Our Canton office serves patients from Ann Arbor, Northville, Westland, Plymouth, and beyond.

May 21, 2013

Do you think of your smile as a separate from your overall health? It’s easy to do, but in reality, what happens in one part of your body can affect what happens in another. That’s even the case with hormone changes. When hormone levels rise and fall, that increases one’s vulnerability to a condition like gum disease.

Women are particularly at risk because of hormonal changes throughout their life. Three of the most obvious cases are puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. During these times, thorough at-home care and regular visits with Robison Dental Group are important.

But these aren’t the only times in life when hormonal changes can impact a woman’s oral health. Women taking birth control medication may find themselves at greater risk, while the menstrual cycle also contributes.

Taken together, this means that our Canton patients need to be especially vigilant about the health of their gums. It’s also important to let us know if you’re pregnant or taking birth control, since those can increase your vulnerability for gum disease.

To keep your smile at its healthiest, brush at least twice a day and floss at least once. We also recommend adding an antibacterial mouthwash to your regimen. Seeing Dr. Robison twice a year is also important, as is keeping to a balanced diet.

Has it been more than six months since your last dental visit? Call Robison Dental Group in Canton, MI to schedule your appointment. We provide general, cosmetic, and restorative care to patients from Canton, Ann Arbor, Northville, Westland, Plymouth, and beyond.