Adults with Baby Teeth

Are you an adult who still has some baby teeth? It’s unusual, but not an unknown situation. At the Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Texas, we extract and replace teeth that are compromised for whatever reason. Baby teeth in an adult mouth could certainly be a problem cosmetically, not to mention for hygiene and bite comfort, so we thought we should explore the situation more.

When permanent teeth push through, they cause the roots of the baby teeth to dissolve. Normally, the baby teeth fall out immediately before the emergence of a permanent tooth; when they don’t we call them “retained deciduous teeth.” Sometimes, the permanent tooth emerged in a radically different location than its baby counterpart, resulting in the patient having two sets of the same tooth. This would lead to overcrowding and the one that gets stuck in back would be very difficult to brush. The typical treatment is to extract the baby tooth and refer the patient for orthodontic treatment.

Sometimes, there simply is no adult tooth coming in. A small percentage of people are congenitally missing certain teeth, usually the upper lateral incisors. Many people dislike having a mix of baby and adult teeth, which is why they may want to get the baby tooth extracted and replaced with an implant or denture. Some orthodontic work may also be required to make room for an adult-sized crown, but we can provide a variety of restoration options.

Frederick Shaw, DDS, operates the Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group at 1500 W 38^th Street, Suite 34, Austin, Texas, 78731. To schedule an appointment, call 512-451-7491 or visit Frederick Shaw DDS and fill out a contact form.

 

Arestin to Treat Periodontitis

When the body develops a bacterial infection, we use an antibiotic to treat it. The same applies to infections in the mouth.  Doctors at Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group utilize arestin for patients with periodontitis who need a scaling and root planing procedure performed. Periodontitis is a chronic bacterial infection, caused by plaque, which has settled underneath the tooth’s surface below the gum line.

Arestin has the ability to reduce the severity of periodontal disease.  After a scaling and root planning procedure, the medicine in powder form is applied to the gums.  In a clinical study, when used in addition to scaling and root planing, arestin reduced harmful bacteria by nearly 2 times as much as scaling and root planing alone. This is because adding arestin to the mix disrupts the progression of periodontitis by specifically targeting the active infection.

If you have questions or concerns about the status of your periodontal health, please give us a call. To learn about the treatments we offer, visit FredrickShawDDS.com for more information.  To schedule an appointment with Dr. Fredrick Shaw,DDS in Austin, TX, call 512-451-7491.

Dangers of Tartar Accumulation

When we eat certain foods and beverages that contain sugars, these particles will remain in our mouths long after we’ve put them there. Bacteria thrive on these foods and produce acids that will attack tooth enamel. Plaque is a soft, sticky substance that won’t be eliminated unless we adequately brush and floss our teeth. If plaque isn’t brushed away, it will turn into tartar, which only Dr. Fredrick Shaw will be able to remove during a professional cleaning.

Unlike plaque, tartar is a mineral buildup that is easy to see above the gum line. The most common sign of tartar accumulation is a yellow or brown deposit between the lower front teeth at the gum line. Proper brushing, especially with a tartar control toothpaste, and flossing, are necessary to reduce plaque and tartar buildup. If tartar is left on the teeth, it may lead to periodontal disease which can cause the bone that supports the teeth to deteriorate.

If you have questions or concerns about oral care or dental health, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, visit FredrickShawDDS.com for more information.  To schedule an appointment with Dr. Fredrick Shaw in Austin, TX, call 512-451-7491.