New Patient Information

Before your first visit with us at Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group, we are going to need some more information about you. During your first visit, it is important that we get all of your medical history, background information, and for our staff to make a personal connection with you and get to know you better.

On our website you can find out all of the things you need to know for what you need to bring, our hours, address, and the payment and insurance policies. Our website also has forms that you can print and fill out prior to your visit to save time when you come in.

As a practice, our mission is to work together to realize a shared vision of uncompromising excellence in dentistry.

All of the information we need from you is important to helping us give you the best care possible. Our staff looks forward to meeting you and giving you a great dental experience.

To learn more about 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.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder where your breathing stops and starts repeatedly. This can be a potentially serious disorder that can cause your brail to fail to breathe for a short period of time in more serious cases.

Some symptoms of sleep apnea include loud snoring, gasping for air during your sleep, dry mouth, morning headaches, and tiredness even after sleeping, and difficulty staying asleep.

The cause of sleep apnea is when the muscles in the back of your throat relax and your airway closes as you breathe in, preventing air from allowing you to breathe. For patients with sleep apnea you may wake up 5 to 30 times a night gasping or choking.

Sleep apnea is treated with oral surgery in which our doctors at Dr. Frederick Shaw, DDS remove the excess tissue in your throat that is blocking the upper air passages.

If there are signs that you have sleep apnea please schedule an appointment with us.

To learn more about 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.

Sealants for Children

Sealants are a plastic coating on the chewing surfaces of the molar to prevent tooth decay. Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children. Sealants have shown to reduce the risk of tooth decay by nearly 80% in molars, making them a great investment for your children’s oral health going forward. At Dr. Frederick Shaw, DDS we know it can be hard to clean between every nook and cranny of your teeth which is why we advise our younger patients to get sealants.

To apply the sealants to your molars, an adhesive is applied with a liquid that is painted right on your tooth. The liquid than hardens and creates barrier between your tooth and any plaque or bacteria that can be damaging to your teeth.

Sealants can last for up to 10 years and are replaceable when then they need to be. Sealants aren’t a substitute for brushing and flossing but it is a great addition to keeping your molar’s healthy and clean.

To learn more about 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.

Panorex

A panorex is a machine that takes images of your mouth and can identify issues and structures in your mouth that a traditional x-ray cannot identify. The benefit to the panorex is that it allows our doctors at Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group to see beyond your teeth and into the structural problems that exist in your mouth.

Besides identifying structural issues, our panorex machine also tells if you have any infections or asymmetry that needs to be fixed. The ability to identify issues that are small at the moment and correct them before they become serious issues is important.

To use the panorex machine, we have you sit in a chair with your chin on a small ledge. Once the machine is positioned it will do a 360 rotation of your head to get a full view of your teeth, head, sinuses, and bones. From there we can view any potential issues and go forward with any necessary treatment.

To learn more about the panorex 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.

Soft Gum Graft

A soft tissue graft is needed when there is a lot of gum recession in an area of your mouth. The earlier you catch gum recession the more correctable it is with some changes in your dental hygiene routine. In the early stages we recommend that you brush longer, floss regularly, and use things such as mouthwash to strengthen your gums.

If your gums reach the point of no return and there is a greater risk for infection and bacteria, you will likely be sensitive to hot and cold foods which is a sign of gum recession.

To restore your gum level, our doctor at Fredrick Shaw, DDS performs a soft tissue graft. During the graft soft tissue is either removed from the roof of your mouth, or repositioning healthy gum tissue from your other teeth.

If you notice signs of potential gum recession, please give us a call at Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group. It is important to catch gum recession before it becomes a major issue.

To learn more about soft tissue grafts 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.

Mouthwash

Mouthwash is a liquid that is used to help prevent cavities and acid from damaging your teeth. Dr. Frederick Shaw, DDs and his staff encourages patients to add mouthwash to their dental hygiene routine. Fluoride is a mineral in mouthwashes that makes your teeth stronger and is resistant to decay caused by acid and bacteria.

There are many different mouthwashes to choose from that are sold in stores and over-the-counter. We advise our patients to read the label to see which mouthwashes are designed to fight tooth decay and not just for better breath.

For you to benefit the most from mouthwash, we recommend that you use mouthwash at the same time every day. Don’t forget to avoid eating or drinking for at least 30 minutes after using mouthwash to allow the fluoride to be effective.

Don’t forget, mouthwash shouldn’t be a replacement for brushing and flossing but rather an addition to your routine.

To learn more about mouthwash 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.

Why You Should Avoid Drinking Soda

At Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group, we encourage our patients to drink plenty of water and avoid soda for your healthiest teeth. Soda is damaging to your teeth since the bacteria in your mouth feeds off of sugar to create acids.  When acid is created it feeds off your tooth enamel which is there to protect your teeth. Drinking soda puts you at a greater risk for tooth decay and other health problems.

When you consume soda, we advise our patients to use a straw if to limit the amount of sugar that is resting on your teeth. If possible, you should brush your teeth after drinking soda or rinse your mouth out with water to wash away the acid. The best time to brush your teeth and rinse is 20-30 minutes after drinking soda to remove the acid.

When possible, we encourage all of our patients to follow a healthy diet and consume milk that makes your teeth stronger and drink plenty of water as an alternative.

To learn more about the dangers of drinking soda 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.