Who says dental school is all hard work? Not Olivia and Sophia Huszti, who are working their way through University of Detroit Mercy’s School of Dentistry. (The same place their parents met many years ago.) While dental school is truly a great deal of work in the classroom, there is also a lot of work outside the classroom. Upperclassmen take it upon themselves to meet members of the first-year class to offer friendship, support and some tips for handling the studying and the stress of dental school. In addition, many students participate in local chapters of national organized dental associations. Still, the sisters know there has to be a little time for fun. The photographs here are from a recent event the sisters threw to meet the new students and blow off a little steam watching the Detroit Lions. The event was a membership meeting of the Detroit Mercy chapter of the American Student Dental Association, “a national, student-run organization that protects and advances the rights, interests and welfare of dental students.” That’s according to the webpage on Detroit Mercy Dental’s website. The ASDA’s goal is to introduce students to organized dentistry in the hopes that they will be involved during their career. It provides services, information, education, representation and advocacy. The chapter has monthly meetings where members learn about issues that affect dentistry and organizes workers to staff the free dental clinic they partner on with St. Vincent de Paul as well as other events that serve the community and allow the students to hone their skills with patients.

Aside from twice-yearly checkups, the most common reason people make appointments with Huszti Dental Care is to address issues that make them uncomfortable with their smile. It could be uneven teeth, maybe discoloration or maybe you chipped a tooth and don’t like the way it looks. It's called cosmetic dentistry and our patients are surprised at the number of options they have to bring their smile to its fullest. And they are even more surprised at the low costs of many of them. And we should say they are relieved to learn nearly everything can be done in our Milford Road office. Take tooth contouring for instance. This is a procedure where a dentist takes a special tool and reshapes the tooth by removing some of the enamel. Why do this? Well maybe one of your teeth is larger, making for a non-symmetrical smile. Or maybe you have chipped a tooth and you would like to fix that. Some people have teeth that overlap near the bottom and that, too can be addressed through tooth contouring. It’s simple, painless and can be done in one appointment without any follow-up. Gum contouring is a similar procedure except that the dentist removes gum instead of enamel. This addresses what some people call a “gummy smile” and can fix an uneven gum line or an overgrowth of gums. This procedure is done by a periodontist — we have one right in our office — and will require local anesthesia to numb the area, and you may experience mild soreness, but it’s temporary and quickly goes away. One of our most popular cosmetic dentistry services is teeth whitening. Many patients come to us after an over-the-counter product to bleach their teeth yields an uneven or disappointing result. (Spoiler alert: They usually do!) Our products are better, quicker and last longer — provided you take care of your teeth. We also offer clear braces that realign your teeth quicker than traditional braces. Our patients say none of their friends and family notices their aligners, but they all notice the results! Lastly, porcelain veneers can cover broken, undersized or permanently discolored teeth to make them symmetrical and bright. So if something is bothering you about your smile, let us know next time you are in. Chances are we have a solution that will give you a more confident smile and leave you wondering why you didn’t take care of it before!

Missing teeth can impact your life in many ways, but the longest lasting might be the hit your self esteem takes. Implants are a common way of addressing tooth loss, but for many patients they were out of reach. A new procedure that is growing in popularity — and available at Huszti Dental Care — may work for patients who had been denied the benefits of an implant in the past. Zygomatic dental implants have been around for a few years, but they are becoming more widespread in the field. These implants are a revolutionary option that can give you back your beautiful smile, especially if you’ve had issues with traditional implants due to bone loss or other challenges. So, what exactly are zygomatic dental implants? Think of them as a special type of implant designed to anchor to the cheekbone — or zygoma — rather than the jawbone. This unique approach is useful for people who might not have enough healthy jawbone left to support standard implants. By anchoring into the cheekbone, which is often more solid in some patients than jawbone, zygomatic implants offer a stable foundation for replacement teeth. It's important to note that this type of implant is only for upper teeth. The process is not as frightening as it may sound. It starts with a detailed consultation where experts at Huszti Dental Care will assess your needs and determine if a zygomatic implant is right for you. If they are, the implants are placed into the cheekbone. After some healing time, patients return to have the new teeth fitted. This is a much quicker and less invasive procedure than the bone grafting that often is needed with traditional implants. Huszti Dental Care patients love these implants. They look, feel and work like real teeth and will have you smiling in a shorter period of time. If you think you might be a candidate for this treatment, give us a call. Patients who have had significant bone loss and were told they were not candidates for implants in the past have had success with the procedure. You'll be glad you called.

Huszti Dental Care founders Bill Huszti and Anna Chong-Huszti celebrated along with their daughters as their oldest, Olivia, second from left, participated in the White Coat Ceremony at Detroit Mercy Dental. A landmark event in many healthcare education programs, the White Coat Ceremony, for Olivia, means her journey through dental school is halfway over! The ceremony is meant to remind the students about the importance of their chosen field and calls on them to uphold the high ethics and standards of care required by the field. Together, the students recited an oath that binds them to the highest degree of patient care. Students will now be able to work with patients at the Detroit Mercy Dental Center, which provides patient-centered care and comprehensive dental services in a state-of-the-art facility. Most patients at the center are part of the student clinical program where student doctors provide treatment under the supervision of licensed faculty dentists. Services are provided at a reduced rate, making costs more affordable for the patient. "Today was a big milestone for me as I received my white coat from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry," Olivia said. "I couldn't be more excited to take another step toward joining my parents at Huszti Dental Care and fulfilling my dreams of walking in their footsteps." Olivia is a strong student who also gives back to the school, volunteering her time at many events, attending conferences and was class president her first year. Even though Olivia's parents also graduated from University of Detroit Mercy, this was their first White Coat Ceremony. That's because the school did not begin the tradition until after they graduated. It won't be their last, though: Their second daughter, Sophia, is right behind Olivia at the same school. Her White Coat Ceremony will come next year around this time. Congratulations to Olivia and the whole Huszti family!

Many people may think they have a healthy mouth. They brush, they floss, they whiten, they use fluoride rinses to keep their teeth strong. But many people forget something else that takes up a lot of space in their mouth: The tongue! Ensuring you have a clean tongue should be an important part of any oral healthcare regime. An appointment at Huszti Dental Care often includes a discussion about your tongue, because that is often where early signs of health problem. The tongue is made of eight muscles and is usually about four-inches long. It can have up to 10,000 tastebuds that help you enjoy what you eat and drink. A healthy tongue is bumpy and pink. If your tongue is white, you might have thrush, a fungal infection of the mouth. It happens mostly to young children and is often the result of certain medications. It's nothing to worry about, but should be addressed. A tongue can look yellow, purple or even black and when this happens, it is best to have a trained medical expert like those at Huszti Dental Care look at it. Usually a discolored tongue is easily remedied by paying special attention to cleaning it, but it could also indicate a vitamin deficiency or an underlying condition or a bad habit like smoking. Cleaning your tongue reduces the bacteria in your mouth that can lead to bad breath and plaque buildup, but simply using mouthwash won't do the trick. The easiest way to keep your tongue clean is to brush it along with your teeth. Brush both ways and remember to get it underneath. Tongue scrapers are another step you can take. They are readily available in pharmacies.  So next time you're brushing your teeth, take a moment to give your tongue some love. A happy tongue means a happy mouth.

The most important tool in your oral hygiene is a good toothbrush. How you take care of that brush is important to your overall health, so we here at Huszti Dental Care think it's worth a refresher. One important consideration is how you store a toothbrush. It's important that a toothbrush dry out between uses in order to inhibit bacterial growth. So don't store it flat on the counter where it will likely sit in a puddle of water and don't put it in a drawer where there is no airflow. The best way to store a toothbrush is bristles up in a holder made to store toothbrushes. If not, a cup will work, but try not to have the whole family's brushes stored in one cup, as it can pass on germs. The next thing to think of is where that cup is stored. Most people keep them on the counter, but you should know that's not the best idea. When you use a sink to wash your hands or face, you usually splash water, which contains soap and even bacteria onto the toothbrush. Don't store it near the toilet, either, because — disgusting as this sounds — flushing a toilet can spray germs around the room. Don't keep your brushes in the line of fire. Wall-mounted holders are a good option, as long as they are positioned away from splashing water, which helps them dry out. You should also clean your holder regularly with sanitizing wipes to keep it free of germs and dust. And while you're at it, remember to clean the toothbrush -- rinse it well, don't let dried toothpaste collect on it. Remember, this is something you put in your mouth, keep it clean! Lastly, remember that the American Dental Association recommends replacing toothbrushes every three or four months. Let the bristles tell you when it's time — worn down bristles make a toothbrush less effective. So treat your toothbrush well and it will treat you well. 

Now that the weather is getting warmer and days are getting longer it's the perfect time to get out and take advantage of all Milford and Highland have to offer. Huszti Dental Care supports local businesses and events and we would love to see you out and about. Let's start with the big news: The long-anticipated Central Park transformation will be completed this summer. This bridge between the Southside and Downtown will feature a new pavilion that's being installed now. This will be a new hub for events, concerts and all sorts of get togethers. Check out this video and see what we all have to look forward to! The Milford Farmers' Market is back for its 15th season from 3-7 p.m. May 9. This is a great place to find fresh fare from local farmers, producers and artists. You'll also meet old friends and, hopefully some new ones. It's all on East Liberty Street between Main and Union. Find out more here . And don't forget about the great dining and shopping offered all summer long. Nothing says summer like a meal out of doors watching the world go by. Check out something new or revisit an old favorite, t here are lots of options ! Your tastebuds will be glad you did. Highland Township also has its share of spring and summer fun. The season kicks off with its annual Founders Day Parade and Festival on May 18. The parade is followed by a day full of family centered events. Highland's Downtown Development Agency also organizes concerts, special shopping days and more all year long. Check out the plans here . So whether you are a resident or not, come see Milford and Highland and find out why we chose this area to make it our home for Huszti Dental Care!

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The videos are all over Instagram and TikTok, which means many Huszti Dental Care patients are asking about them. In these trends, young men – mostly – chew on a flexible silicone ball and their jawlines are instantly transformed into the chiseled look of a male model. Other videos demonstrate “mewing” the practice of pressing your tongue to the roof of your closed mouth. Done regularly, it is said to reduce sagging skin under your chin, thus creating a square jawline. Spoiler alert: No matter what these videos may show, these practices don’t work and may even be detrimental. Let’s start with mewing. This has been around since the 1970s and its creators say it helps resolve issues from misaligned teeth to sleep apnea, speech disorders and more. Disorders like these, the creators – Dr. John Mew and his son Mike – say have been caused by the fact that people’s jaws are getting smaller. That part is true. Chances are it won’t hurt you, but here is very little evidence to support the doctors’ claims. The funny part is that, if not done properly, there is some reason to believe mewing can lead to the very things it was meant to fix. Give this one a pass. The more problematic of these two trends is the one often called Jawzrsize, for the product that launched the craze. Chewing on a rubber or silicone ball as a jaw workout designed to square up the jaw and reduce double chins. Doing this can strengthen your bite, but for the vast majority of people, there is no need for that. Problem No. 1 is that patients can develop temporomandibular disorders, which is pain in the jaw and the muscles that control it. Injuries can occur causing popping and clicking of the jaw and, importantly, pain. A second possibility dentists worry about with jaw strengtheners, is that the device puts force on the teeth in ways that could cause them to move, causing alignment issues and loosening of teeth. Another potential problem is that chewing stimulates the production of stomach acid because the body thinks it’s getting some food. Because it is not, the extra acid the body produces can lead to acid reflux, which erodes teeth. We’ve said this over and over , and we’ll say it again. Don’t take medical advice from teenagers on social media. Huszti Dental Care professionals can explain the pros and cons and help you to make an informed choice. And always remember, just because it’s on the internet doesn’t mean it’s true.