Implant Secured Dentures

At the Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group, Dr. Shaw has a great deal of experience supplying patients with dentures. People usually think of dentures as removable, but it is possible to make them permanent fixtures in a patient’s mouth through the use of mini-implants. These implants are much less taxing on the patient to install than implants for individual teeth, but can partially help to reinforce the jaw bone.

Mini-implants are narrow rods which can be placed into the patient’s jaw through simple incisions. The long osseointegration process required for full-size implants is unnecessary, as is the need for artificial crowns. Instead, the denture is modified to include holes in it for the mini-implants to slide into, as well as a gel cushion to squeeze and stick to them. The denture is kept securely in place by the mini-implants, not only reducing its risk of falling out, but also providing the jaw bone with more stability so that it will not change shape as much in the future. This reduces the number of refittings the patient will need to undergo. Mini-implants can be installed in a single visit to the office in a safe procedure requiring only conscious sedation.

Frederick Shaw, DDS, operates the Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group at 1500 W 38^th Street, Suite 34, Austin, Texas, 78731. To schedule an appointment, call 512-451-7491 or visit FrederickShawDDS.com and fill out a contact form.

Gum Grafts

At the Austin clinic of the Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group, we regularly see the ravages of periodontal disease on gum tissue. There are many restorative approaches for teeth, and mild gum surgery is frequently done to close pockets in the tissue, but reconstructing receded gums could require a more complicated type of graft.

If the gums have receded too far to be stretched back over the roots of the teeth, Dr. Shaw may think it best to add new soft material. If the new tissue also comes from the patient, this is referred to as a “self-donation.” Donor tissue is usually taken from the soft palate at the roof of the mouth. In some cases, a flap is cut into the soft palate and tissue is removed from beneath it, and the flap is sutured afterward. At other times, some of the outer surface may be transferred as well and sewn over the exposed tooth roots. The donor site would then be protected with surgical film while it heals.

The development of synthetic grafting materials and use of cadaver donors eliminates the need for one of the surgical sites. Getting new gum tissue may seem frightening to a patient, but the surgery has a very high success rate and should greatly reduce the sensitivity of their teeth.

Frederick Shaw, DDS, operates the Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group at 1500 W 38^th Street, Suite 34, Austin, Texas, 78731. To schedule an appointment, call 512-451-7491 or visit FrederickShawDDS.com and fill out a contact form.

Toothbrush Care

Brushing your teeth plays an important everyday role for personal oral hygiene and effective plaque removal. You may not give much thought to cleaning your toothbrush; however appropriate toothbrush care and maintenance are important considerations for oral hygiene. At Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group, we want you to know how and when to replace, clean, and store your toothbrush.

The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush approximately every three to four months or sooner if bristles are frayed. However, toothbrushes will wear out more rapidly depending on factors unique to each patient. It is also important to never share a toothbrush because this practice could be a concern for people with compromised immune systems or existing infectious diseases. If your toothbrush comes in contact with another, thoroughly rinse the brush with warm tap water to remove any remaining toothbrush and debris. When you are done using the toothbrush, store it in an upright position and allow the toothbrush to air-dry until used again.

If you have further questions regarding toothbrush care, give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin, TX, call us at 512-451-7491 or visit our website, www.fredrickshawdds.com. 

Oral Care for Diabetics

People with poorly controlled diabetes are more prone to dental problems. They are more likely to develop infections of their gums and the bones that hold the teeth in place because diabetes can reduce the blood supply to the gums. If you have diabetes, please call our office to schedule a professional exam with Dr. Fredrick Shaw of Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group to prevent further dental complications.

If you have diabetes, symptoms of dental problems include bleeding and sore gums, frequent infections, and bad breath. Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, managing your blood sugar level is critical. The higher your blood sugar level, the higher your risk of tooth decay, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Additionally, high blood sugar may cause dry mouth and make gum disease worse. The decrease in saliva can cause an increase in tooth-decaying bacteria and plaque buildup. You can prevent these problems by maintaining good blood sugar control, brushing and flossing and least twice a day, and scheduling a dental checkup every six months.

If you are diabetic and have questions about the quality of your oral care, 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. 

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.

 

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.

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.

 

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.

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.