How to Choose a Safe and Effective Toothpaste

When choosing toothpaste, you want to make sure you are picking one that will suit your specific needs. You also want to make sure the toothpaste you are choosing is safe. At Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin, TX, we want to be sure our patients are taking excellent home care of their teeth. Read on to learn how to pick a safe and effective toothpaste.

The first thing to know is that the American Dental Association (ADA) labels toothpastes that they find both safe and effective at doing what it claims it will. You can look for the seal of approval on toothpaste to ensure you are making a healthy choice.

For whitening and tartar control toothpastes, especially, you will want to look for the ADA’s seal of acceptance. Whitening and tartar control toothpastes contain abrasive ingredients that can be harmful in too large of quantities.  

For sensitive teeth, toothpaste with potassium nitrate and strontium chloride are great. These help desensitize the nerves that create that uncomfortable sensitivity.

Kids will probably enjoy the many fun flavors that toothpastes have to offer. It may even get them more interested in brushing!

Along with brushing and flossing at home, it is important to see your dentist for routine cleanings and examinations. To schedule your appointment with Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group, call our Austin, TX office at (512) 451-7491. More information about our practice can be found on our website, www.fredrickshawdds.com. 

Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea can affect more than the quality of your sleep. It can also increase the risk of heart failure, hypertension, and stroke. Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin, TX treat sleep apnea so patients can get back to a healthy night of sleep.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissues in the throat collapse during sleep. This narrows or completely closes the airway, so the patient has difficulty breathing. A patient may stop breathing a few times or hundreds of times per night.

Here at Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group, we treat our patients with obstructive sleep apnea through surgery. There are several options available, depending on the condition of the patient and history with past treatments. The first option is called an uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. In this procedure, the doctor removes some of the soft tissue that is blocking the airway. Another option is maxillomandibular advancement which moves the upper and lower parts of the jaw forward to create more room in the airway. When most other treatments and surgeries for obstructive sleep apnea do not work, a tracheostomy may be needed. This procedure creates an opening in the throat where a tube is placed for breathing during the night. During the day, the tube is removed and the opening is covered.

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, act now to receive treatment. To schedule an appointment with Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin, TX, call our office at (512) 451-7491. For more information about our practice and how we treat sleep apnea, visit our website, www.fredrickshawdds.com. 

When is Crown Lengthening Required?

Sometimes, not enough of the tooth sticks out above the gum to support a filling or a dental crown. When this happens, crown lengthening is often required in preparing your tooth for the crown. Dental crown lengthening is a type of oral surgery that is necessary if you have a broken or decayed tooth at the gum line. However, there is no need to go to an oral surgeon because  Dr. Fredrick Shaw, DDS provides this service at Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group.

Crown lengthening procedures are done for restorative dentistry and/or to improve the esthetics of your smile. To place a filling or a crown, Dr. Fredrick Shaw, DDS needs to expose more of the tooth and crown lengthening will be necessary. Sometimes patients have what is considered a “gummy smile” when the teeth appear short and crown lengthening can be done to several teeth or your entire gum line to improve it, depending on your specific needs.

To learn about how the crown lengthening procedure is done, 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. 

Veneers to Restore Your Smile

At Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group, Dr. Fredrick Shaw, DDS offers veneers as an excellent way to redesign and reshape your entire mouth. Veneers are usually placed as an option for correcting stained, chipped decayed or crooked teeth. They are ultra-thin shells of ceramic (porcelain) or a composite resin material, which are bonded to the front of the teeth.

Veneers offer a conservative approach to changing a tooth’s color and shape and they generally don’t require the extensive shaping prior to the procedure that crowns do, yet offer a stronger most aesthetic alternative. In terms of the process to place veneers, it is a procedure that takes approximately two to three visits. The first step involves your active participation and you explaining to Dr. Fredick Shaw, DDS the goal you are trying to achieve. During this appointment, he will examine your teeth to make sure that veneers are appropriate for you and discuss what the procedure will involve.

If you wish to enhance the appearance of your smile or if you have questions about veneers, 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. 

What Happens During a Dental Cleaning?

No matter how much you diligently brush or floss your teeth at home, harmful bacteria grow in your mouth that can only be removed by a dental professional. These bacteria can cause gum disease and significantly affect your overall health. Here at Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group, Dr. Fredrick Shaw will use professional tools to remove plaque, tartar and bacteria build-up that you are unable to efficiently remove yourself.

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, it is recommended that a dentist or hygienist perform a dental cleaning every six months. The professional dental cleaning reinforces the home-care oral health regimen of brushing and flossing and gives the dentist an opportunity to locate areas in the mouth that may need special attention. During a teeth cleaning, our hygienists will thoroughly clean the area above and below the gum line with scaling tools to rid them of plaque and tartar. Once the surfaces are smooth, polishing is done using a slow speed handpiece with a soft rubber cup that spins on the end. Last but not least, the dentist flosses every crevice between your teeth. He or she may apply fluoride if needed.

If you need your teeth cleaned don’t wait any longer, call us today so we can help you maintain a healthy smile! To learn more about Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin, TX, call us at 512-451-7491 or visit our website, www.fredrickshawdds.com. 

Two Types of Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. There are two main types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea, the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax, and central sleep apnea, which occurs when your brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. Here at Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group, Dr. Fredrick Shaw utilizes oral surgery to help assist with sleep apnea.

When obstructive sleep apnea occurs, the muscles relax, your airway narrows or closes as you breathe in, and you can’t get an adequate breath in. Your brain senses this inability to breathe and briefly rouses you from sleep so you can reopen your airway. You may make a snorting, choking or gasping sound. When central sleep apnea occurs, you may awaken with shortness of breath or have a difficult time getting to sleep or staying asleep. Like with obstructive sleep apnea, snoring and daytime sleepiness can occur.

If you have sleep apnea, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin, TX, call us at 512-451-7491 or visit our website, www.fredrickshawdds.com. 

Choosing the Right Toothbrush

Picking the right toothbrush can mean the difference between reaching all areas of your mouth and frequently missing spaces that collect bacteria. At Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin, TX, proper dental hygiene education is one of our top priorities.

A major difference between toothbrushes is that some are electric and some are manual. While studies show that electric and manual toothbrushes do about the same job cleaning, electric toothbrushes may be easier for people with hand difficulties. For instance, patients with arthritis may be able to take better care of their mouth with an electric toothbrush since it handles a lot of the work.

Whether you choose electric or manual, a good grip on the handle is important. A small head is also recommended for reaching those hard-to-reach areas in the mouth. You want to make sure you can reach your back molars. When choosing the bristles, softer bristles are best for removing plaque. Bristles that are too stiff can irritate gums and actually wear down enamel. This can actually make you prone to cavities and lead to sensitivity.

Toothbrushes should help you take care of your mouth, not cause damage or promote disease. To learn more about Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin, TX, call us at (512) 451-7491 or visit our website, www.fredrickshawdds.com.