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. 

Safe Sedation with Nitrous Oxide

Dr. Fredrick Shaw safely uses nitrous oxide, sometimes called “laughing gas,” to control patient pain and anxiety during a procedure. It is not intended to put you to sleep and you will be able to hear and respond to any requests or directions Dr. Shaw may have. Your speech may be slightly slurred, and your responses may be slower than usual, but in general, you will be relaxed and cooperative.

For people who avoid dentists like the plague, sedation dentistry can be used for everything from invasive procedures to a simple tooth cleaning. How it’s used depends on the severity of the fear. To administer nitrous oxide Dr. Fredrick Shaw will ask you to breathe normally through your nose, and within a few short minutes, you should start to feel the effects of nitrous oxide. You may feel light-headed or a tingling in your arms and legs. Ultimately, you should feel calm and comfortable.

If you have questions about sedation dentistry or nitrous oxide, please give us a call. 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. 

Dentures and Partial Dentures

Guide to Dentures and Partial Dentures

If you're missing some or all of your teeth - either due to gum disease or trauma - you may be considering dentures. Dentures and partial dentures help fill in the spaces where your teeth are missing. They allow you to eat, speak and smile with confidence. Dr. Fredrick Shaw is an Austin dentist who can determine if dentures or partial dentures are right for you.

What to Expect

It will take a few weeks and several appointments with your dentist to create dentures or partial dentures designed to fit your mouth. Your insurance company will likely pay for a large portion of your dentures. Dentures can be taken out and put back in your mouth as you please. Many people take them out at night - just be sure to place them in room temperature water or a denture cleaning solution. Dentures are not real teeth, and as such, are delicate. They should be gently brushed after eating, just like real teeth. However, avoid putting them under hot water, as this could ruin them.

Dentures may take some time to get used to. They often feel loose or bulky, and can make it difficult to eat or speak. Practice makes perfect. After a few weeks or so, your mouth will be trained to adjust to the dentures. They may never feel as comfortable as real teeth, but they are better than having no teeth at all.

Take the Next Step Toward a Better Smile

Dr. Fredrick Shaw can help improve your smile and self-confidence with dentures or partial dentures. Contact his Austin office for a consultation today at (512) 451-7491.

www.fredrickshawdds.com

When Does an Extraction Become Necessary?

Although permanent teeth were meant to last a lifetime, having a tooth pulled is sometimes necessary. At the dental practice of Dr. Fredrick Shaw right here in Austin, TX, our doctor would like you to know that before he considers extraction, every effort will be made to try to repair and restore your tooth.  You’re probably most familiar with wisdom teeth extractions, but other reasons for the procedure may include:

• Severe tooth damage/trauma – some teeth have such extensive decay and damage (broken or cracked) that repair is not possible.


• Orthodontic treatment – people getting braces may need teeth extracted to create room for teeth that are being moved into place.


• Some teeth may need to be extracted if they have the potential of becoming infected.


• Extra teeth – extra teeth may block other teeth from erupting, therefore, will require extraction.

If you have a tooth that is causing you pain, 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. 

Dental Implants Defined

A dental implant is a prosthetic replacement for a missing tooth. There are three common parts to an implant – the implant device itself (which is inserted directly into the bone); the abutment – the piece that connects the implant device to the third part – the overlying crown or denture. When strategically placed, implants can now be used to support permanently cemented bridges, eliminating the need for a denture. If you have missing teeth, wear dentures that are uncomfortable or don’t want to have good tooth structure removed to make a dental bridge, talk with Dr. Fredrick Shaw at Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group to see if you are a dental implant candidate.

Dental implants are designed to blend in with your natural teeth. Additionally, they are an excellent long-term option for restoring your smile. Dental implants are made of titanium and other materials that are compatible with the human body. However, you must be in good health and have the proper bone structure and healthy gums for the implant to stay in place. The success rate for implants depends on the tooth's purpose and location in the mouth, as well as a patient's overall health.

If you wish to replace your missing teeth, 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.