Panorex Imaging

Dr. Shaw’s Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin is a high-tech clinic with the most modern devices for examining our patients. Among these is the Panorex. Increasingly popular for observing below-the-gum changes, the Panorex eliminates many of the drawbacks of traditional x-rays.

Older x-rays required the patient to bite down on film while a series of photographs were taken. This could be problematic for someone with a toothache! The Panorex requires only that the patient clench a bite blocker with their front teeth for about twenty seconds. During this time the x-ray emitting slides will rotate around the patient’s head on a pair of robotic arms. The patient’s chin will rest comfortably on a ledge, the height of which can be adjusted.

The Panorex’s image is digital, allowing it to be fed into the software Dr. Shaw uses to predict tooth migration and decay. It provides a 360 degree view, meaning patients don’t need to hold still for multiple photographs of small areas. While the Panorex images are mainly used to see whether jaw bone tissue has receded or is responding well to implants, it can also be used to detect oral cancer and deeply impacted teeth. The larger image from the Panorex means that Dr. Shaw may detect sinus and jaw bone issues, as well.

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

 

Pocket Reduction Surgery

Reducing gum pockets is one of the most important procedures performed at the Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Center. Before full-blown periodontal disease develops, the gums become inflamed, which is scientifically described as gingivitis. At every step in the gingivitis to periodontal disease process, tooth decay below the gum line creates pockets which will lead to further decay without intervention.

When bacteria feed on tartar, they produce plaque. This is what causes inflammation, which makes the roots of teeth difficult to clean. As tissue rots away, the pockets they leave behind become breeding grounds for bacteria and repositories for more plaque. These pockets are difficult to reach with a toothbrush, but the damage they do to the gum around a patient’s teeth roots is easy to see. To fix the gums, Dr. Shaw will start with a deep cleaning to remove whatever plaque and bacteria colonies have accumulated in the gum pockets.

Closing the pockets may require a gum graft, but if the decay can be caught before it advances too much, it may only require the gum tissue to be pulled over the exposed tooth roots. Whether sutures or post-operation maintenance are required will depend on the specifics of the situation. However, gum reduction is a crucial preventive step, as well as a cosmetic restoration.

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

 

What are Inlays and Onlays?

The Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin offers the full range of dental restorations. The most basic means of restoring a cavity is with a filling; for full-mouth restorations, we use conventional dentures. One step above fillings are inlays and onlays. Also known as partial crown, these are restorations to the biting surface of the tooth.

The differences between inlays and onlays are how much of the tooth’s surface they replace and which parts they cover. Onlays are slightly larger and cover the cusps of the crown, which are the pointy bits surrounding the indentation of a molar or premolar. After the decayed part of the tooth has been removed, Dr. Shaw will make an impression of the patient’s mouth to use as the basis for designing a new inlay or onlay. The impression is sent to a dental manufacturer who mills the restoration out of porcelain. If the patient prefers, plastic and glass resins or gold can also be used as materials for this type of restoration (or for many other types, as well).

After a few weeks, the new inlay/onlay will be ready for insertion. During the waiting period, patients can be given temporary restorations. The new, custom-fitted inlay/only will be cemented over the tooth, returning optimal bite function and appearance.

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

Oral Care for Seniors

As we all grow older, certain health concerns earn our full attention, but we should never forget about the health of our teeth. When it comes down to numbers, according to the Washington Dental Service Foundation (WDSF), around 75 percent of adults 60 and older only have a portion of their original teeth. You only get one set of permanent teeth and Dr. Fredrick Shaw is here to help you take care of them for as long as possible.

Advancing age puts many seniors at risk for a number of oral health problems, such as darkened teeth, dry mouth, root decay, gum disease, tooth loss and even a diminished sense of taste. If teeth are lost over the years and not replaced, an uneven jawbone can develop and this allows the rest of the teeth to drift and shift into open spaces, causing the skin to sag more than it should. At Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group, we want to assist our senior patients in avoiding these problems by providing the best care possible.

If you or a relative are due for a dental checkup, please give us a call. To learn more about Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin, TX, call us at 512-451-7491 or visit our website, www.fredrickshawdds.com. 

Thank You For Your Testimonials!

Here at Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group, our staff appreciates feedback from our patients because it teaches us how to improve as a team. Our staff would not only like to thank Melinda for this five-star review, but we would like to thank her for being an excellent patient. If you recently experienced exceptional service from our office, please let us know!  

“I fell on Thanksgiving and did a lot of damage to my teeth. I have been very nervous about the recovery process and everything involved, but from the moment I walked in the door, everyone here (the doctor and all his staff) has been friendly, genuine, and more than helpful! They are good about explaining everything to you and maintaining communication about the entire process. They have completely put me at ease. I would recommend them to anyone!” –Melinda

If you would like to leave a testimonial or are interested in learning more about the services we provide at Shoal Creek Prosthodontic group, visit www.fredrickshawdds.com. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Fredrick Shaw in Austin, TX, call 512-451-7491.

Full Mouth Reconstruction

In cases where there is severe decay or trauma, there needs to be a full mouth reconstruction. This is a process where all or most of a patient’s teeth need to be restored. At Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin, TX, we can perform a full mouth reconstruction to get patients back to optimal oral health and overall health.

Full mouth reconstruction may consist of repairing teeth, gums, and the jaw. X-rays and pictures will be taken of your smile to help us accurately diagnose you. We will then create a unique plan for you.

To restore teeth, we may want to implement crowns, bridges, inlays or onlays, implants, dentures, or porcelain veneers. We can also perform bone grafting for those who need restored bone tissue before implants. For restoring gums, we are able to implement gum disease treatment. We can also perform gum grafts.

When you restore the health and function of your mouth, you will find that your overall health will improve, as well. If you are in need of major dental work, be sure to set up an appointment with Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group. To reach our Austin, TX office, you can call us at (512) 451-7491 or visit our website, www.fredrickshawdds.com. 

Bone Grafting Options

When the parts of the jawbone are not large enough, it may keep implants from being an option. Because implants need a good amount of bone to successfully be inserted, at Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin, TX, we are able to perform bone grafting. This helps patients who desire implants but first need a more built-up jawbone.

Bone grafting is the process of taking bone from another area of the mouth or body and placed in the area where the jawbone needs to be repaired. Some cases may use bone material from a bone bank; a very safe source. After the area is opened up and packed with the bone graft material, the area is allowed to heal for a few months before implants will be installed. During these months, the newly placed bone will heal and it will cause further regeneration of new bone. The end result will be a strong jawbone able to hold an implant for a lifetime.

Sinus augmentations and ridge expansions are very common bone grafts needed for dental implant placement. Some patients need their jawbone repaired because of degeneration after a lost tooth or some need it because they have low sinuses or naturally smaller jawbones.

If dental implants are your perfection option, talk to us about the implant process and bone grafting. To learn more, visit our website, www.fredrickshawdds.com. To set up an appointment in our Austin, TX office, call Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group at (512) 451-7491.