Dental Implant Failure

Dental implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel, and function like natural teeth. In fact, they are one of the most reliable long-term methods of tooth replacement. However, as with any other surgical procedure, there are a variety of internal and external factors that cause complications or even total failure of treatment. If this ever were to happen to you, Dr. Fredrick Shaw is here to assess the situation.

Osseointegration describes the formation of a direct functional and structural connection between a person’s bone and an artificial implant. There are two primary reasons for “later” implant failure after the osseointegration process has been successful. These include over-stressing implants with too much biting force or inflammatory disease of the gum tissues and/or bone around the implant. Prevention plays a tremendous role in avoiding implant failure. Once the implants are placed, it’s crucial to maintain a good oral hygiene routine. Make sure you schedule regular dental cleanings to help keep the tissues around your implants healthy.

If you have questions about dental implants, 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. 

Invest In a Tongue Cleaner

Bad breath can have a negative impact on a person’s life, relationships, and self-esteem. It can also be an underlying cause for more serious oral health issues, such as gum disease. Dr. Fredrick Shaw recommends scheduling professional cleanings and oral exams twice a year as a preventive measure against serious gum conditions, however, in addition to using a toothbrush to clean your teeth, you can improve your mouth’s freshness by using a tongue cleaner.

Do yourself a favor and step in front of a mirror. Do you spot a coated tongue? If you do, tongue scraping may be helpful. Tongue scrapers, which are available in most drugstores in various shapes and sizes, have been deemed a way to reduce or eliminate bad breath. To use it, all you need to do is place the tongue scraper at the back of your tongue and gently bring it forward along your tongue, repeating as often as needed. Although there’s no harm in trying a tongue scraper to treat bad breath, you should remember that it’s just as important to practice good dental hygiene overall. Brush your teeth and tongue at least twice a day, floss in between your teeth at least once a day, and rinse or gargle with mouthwash to help keep your breath fresh.

If you 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. 

How to Prevent Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is the destruction of your tooth enamel, the hard, outer layer of your teeth. Hundreds of different types of bacteria live on our teeth, gums, tongue and other crevices in the mouth. Some are helpful, but some can be harmful such as those that play a role in the tooth decay process. At Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group, we want our patients to know that good oral and dental hygiene can help you avoid cavities and tooth decay.

When a tooth is exposed to acid frequently – for example, if you frequently eat foods or drinks containing sugar and starches – the repeated cycles of acid attacks cause the enamel to continue to lose minerals. This will cause a white spot to appear if the minerals have been lost. When this happens, this is a sign of early decay.

You can help prevent tooth decay by following these tips:

• Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.


• Clean between your teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner.


• Eat nutritious and balanced meals and limit snacking.


• Visit us at Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group for professional cleanings and oral examination.

If you need assistance maintaining your oral hygiene routine, 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. 

Bad Oral Habits

Tooth sensitivity – also known as dentin hypersensitivity – affects the tooth or exposed root surfaces. If you experience discomfort when eating hot or cold beverages, you may be a victim of this condition. Tooth sensitivity can come and go over time. Sometimes the solution to relief is simply breaking bad habits. If you catch yourself performing any of the following tasks, Dr. Fredrick Shaw of Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group suggests you do your best to break them.

• You’re brushing too hard – over time, if you brush with too much force, you can wear down the protective layers of your teeth and expose the microscopic hollow tubes or canals that lead to your dental nerves. When these tubules are exposed, tooth sensitivity is a result.


• You’re eating too many acidic foods – If the pathways to your nerves are exposed, acidic foods will cause you pain.


• You have tooth decay – If you have tooth decay, it’s easy for bacteria to accumulate in these tiny crevices, which causes acid build-up and enamel breakdown.


• You’re a tooth grinder – Grinding your teeth can wear down your enamel. This exposes the dentin and causes sensitive teeth.

If you suffer from sensitive teeth, 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. 

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.