Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group: January 2017

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

The Benefits of Electric Toothbrushes

In the past, the Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Clinic in Austin, Texas blog touched briefly on electric toothbrushes while describing toothbrush choice in general. We thought now would be a good time to describe electric toothbrushes more extensively.

Toothbrush manufacturers such as Oral B and Kolibree are constantly coming up with new digital features. Many of these incorporate smartphone apps. You can now set a program to tell you whether you’ve been brushing your teeth for long enough, whether you’ve reached every part of your mouth, and whether you need to adjust your settings to brush harder or softer. Parents can also set children’s brushes to provide them with rewards or play a game on their phones while they’re brushing.

The point of most of these features is to correct poor technique. While studies show that electric and handheld toothbrushes are only slightly more effective than handheld toothbrushes when both are used properly, proper brushing technique with a handheld toothbrush is to use it vigorously for two minutes twice a day. In reality, very few people do this. Many patients find that the instant feedback provided by new brushing apps, the decreased time commitment, and the decreased need for hand motions make a huge difference.

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.

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

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.

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

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.

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.

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