Bone Grafts

Dr. Shaw of Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group, located in Austin, TX., offers bone grafting procedures to his patients. Bone grafts are used to build up the jaw bone to accommodate a restorative device. When a tooth is missing or extracted without replacement, the bone begins to disintegrate. A bone graft corrects this issue.

 

At your first appointment with Dr. Shaw, he will go over your eligibility for a bone graft. An x-ray will allow him to see how much bone jaw is available. This is also necessary for determining the size of the potential graft. There are multiple ways to receive tissue for the bone graft. In some cases, bone is taken from another section of the patients mouth. That section is drilled into, with the bone fragments being suctioned out to reuse. Other times the bone graft is received from a tissue bank. Regardless, Dr. Shaw will evaluate the bone graft for size and functionality.

 

Dr. Shaw will begin the bone grafting procedure by placing you under general anesthesia. He will make an incision along your jaw where the bone will be placed. The bone graft will be placed, being held in place using pins, plates, screws, wires, and/or cables. Once Dr. Shaw is finished, he will stitch and bandage the area.

 

Recovery is very dependent upon the patient. One main factor is the size of the graft itself. The larger the graft the longer the necessary recovery time. Your general health and natural healing time is also a big factor. Typical recovery can take place from two weeks up to a full year. Try not to engage in any vigorous activity while healing. Follow any post-operative instructions that Dr. Shaw gives you.

 

Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group is located in Austin, TX. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Shaw, visit our website or call 512-451-7491.

 

Children's Dental Hygiene

At Fredrick Shaw, DDS we want children to practice good oral hygiene. Tooth decay is the most chronic disease for children which is preventable through practicing good oral health care. We encourage our patients to begin brushing their children’s teeth as soon as their teeth come in.

Our staff advises our patients to brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush to effectively clean children’s teeth without irritating your child’s sensitive gums. Parents should only use a dab of toothpaste to prevent them from swallowing the toothpaste.

The cause of tooth decay is when plaque and bacteria form on your teeth and ultimately forms cavities. When possible, we encourage all of our patients to eat a healthy diet and limiting your consumption of sugar and acidic that can damage your teeth.

Remember to bring your children to the dentist twice a year for cleaning with us. When good oral hygiene habits are practiced at a young age it sets them up for a lifetime of good oral care.

To learn more about Dental Phobia and all of the services we provide at our practice, visit www.fredrickshawdds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Fredrick Shaw in Austin, TX, call 512-451-7491. 

Flossing

 

Flossing is a key element of your daily oral health hygiene routine. Though you might not think so, flossing is just as important as brushing. Only flossing can reach areas of your mouth that your toothbrush can’t. Dr. Frederick Shaw, D.D.S. at Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group, can answer any and all questions you might have about your daily oral routine, including flossing.

One of the best hygiene habits you can have is flossing every time you brush. Establishing a flossing routine is as easy as that. There are a few reasons why people don’t floss regularly. If your teeth are too close together, look into different varieties of floss. Floss comes waxed and unwaxed along with various thicknesses. A common misbelief is that flossing is too time-consuming. In reality, flossing has never been more accessible. Floss can be bought anywhere. Try sitting down to floss while you participate in leisurely activities, like watching TV.

Most patients don’t even realize that they might be flossing wrong. The American Dental Association (ADA) provides a few healthy tips and tricks to flossing correctly.

1. When flossing, use eighteen inches of floss. Wrap the majority of it between your two middle fingers. One finger will twirl out the used floss, the other with the clean floss.

2. Use your thumb and forefinger to guide the floss between the teeth. Be gentle, don’t snap the floss against your gums.

3. Wrap the floss around the tooth in a C shape.

4. Rub along the sides of the tooth in an up and down motion.

5. Throw away your floss when finished.

If you’d like to know more about flossing, or our other provided services, visit Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin, TX. Dr. Frederick Shaw, D.D.S. is available for appointments online and over the phone. Visit our website or call 512-451-7491.