Dental Bridges

Dental bridges allow us to replace a patient’s tooth without major dental work like surgery. Replacing missing teeth is important for speech, eating, and even jaw structure. At Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin, TX we offer dental bridges as a popular option for tooth replacement.

A bridge works by using the two teeth adjacent to the open space to fit a new tooth in between them. It is called a bridge because it literally acts like a bridge! There are also bridges available for when a tooth is missing on the end of your upper or lower set of teeth where it only has one tooth next to the opening.

To place a bridge, first, we prepare the one or two adjacent teeth so that crowns can fit on them. We then take impressions to send to a dental laboratory that creates the customized bridge. The bridge itself consists of the two crowns with a full replacement tooth in the middle, called a pontic. The patient will wear a temporary bridge for a couple of weeks while the permanent bridge is being created. When the permanent bridge is ready, it is bonded into place. The patient now has a natural-looking and strong replacement for their tooth.

Replacing missing teeth is important for your oral health. To learn more about bridges or to set up an appointment at Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin, TX, call us at (512) 451-7491 or visit our website, www.fredrickshawdds.com. 

Strong and Natural-Looking Dental Crowns

A large cavity or crack used to mean total tooth replacement. However, since dental crowns have been around, we are able to save patients’ natural teeth. Here at Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin, TX, we are able to provide our patients with strong and natural-looking dental crowns.

Dental crowns are the ideal restoration option for when there is more damage than a filling can hold, but still an intact root. A crown is like a cap that goes over the tooth so that it can still function in your mouth. We can make completely custom dental crowns so that they look and feel natural in our patients’ mouths. They look just like the real thing, plus, you can use it like it’s the real thing.

A dental crown can be made of metal, porcelain fused to metal, or full porcelain. The options with porcelain are able to replicate the look and feel of your tooth. Your dentist will first reshape your damaged tooth, remove any decay, and then take impressions of the area. A dental laboratory then creates the custom tooth while you wear a temporary one for a few weeks. When ready, the custom crown will be cemented into place. With good care, a crown can last for over fifteen years.

If you have damage or decay to a tooth, come in for an examination. It may be able to be saved with a dental crown before it is too late. To schedule an appointment at Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin, TX, call (512) 451-7491. More information about crowns may be found on our website, www.fredrickshawdds.com. 

Full and Partial Dentures for Tooth Replacement

Replacing your teeth ensures a great smile along with great oral health. One of the options we have for our patients here at Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin, TX is dentures. We offer full and partial dentures to suit all of our patients’ needs.

Full dentures are a removable option to replace all of the teeth in your mouth. They are designed just for you so they fit naturally and help you look like yourself. There are two types of full dentures we offer. We offer conventional dentures, which are placed after the gum tissue heals when extractions are necessary. We also provide immediate dentures, which are placed right away after any extractions, but will need to be refitted in the future. They usually need to be refitted because gum tissue tends to shrink as it heals.

While it is common to have the whole mouth of teeth replaced, it is also common for a patient to just need a few teeth replaced. This is why we also offer partial dentures. Our partial dentures work similar to a dental bridge except the restoration is removable.

If you are looking to replace teeth, come on in to learn more about your options. To set up an appointment with Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group, call our Austin, TX office at (512) 451-7491. More information can be found about us on our website, www.fredrickshawdds.com. 

Oral Cancer Screening

The goal of oral cancer screening is to identify mouth cancer early when there is a greater chance for a cure. Oral cancer screening is an examination performed by a dentist or doctor to look for signs of cancer or precancerous conditions in your mouth. Here at the dental practice of Dr. Fredrick Shaw, our doctor can talk to you about your health history and examine your oral cavity for signs of mouth and/or throat cancer.

The oral cancer screening is often completed with an ultraviolet light or similar device that allows us to view issues that can’t always be detected by the human eye under normal conditions. Factors that can increase the risk of oral cancer include tobacco use of any kind, heavy alcohol use, previous oral cancer diagnosis and history of significant sun exposure, which increases the risk of lip cancer.  It’s important to understand that even though Dr. Shaw may suggest an oral cancer screening, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have oral cancer.

If you are concerned about oral cancer, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about other 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.