Crystal Lake Dental – General dentist in Leander, TX (2024)

Dr. McKinney grew up in the Memphis, Tennessee area and upon high school graduation moved to Chattanooga to complete his Bachelors of Science degree in Biology with a concentration in Molecular Genetics at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. After his undergraduate studies, Dr. McKinney moved back to his hometown of Memphis to study at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in the College of Dentistry. Upon graduating with his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from UTHSC he moved to Austin, TX to pursue his dream of helping others achieve their optimal health.

Dr. McKinney enjoys the deep connection he makes with his patients and their families. Recently Dr. McKinney has taken many continuing education hours dedicated to the oral-systemic connection and the significant role that sleep disordered breathing plays in the life of a patient daily. He is a member of the Capital Area Dental Society, Capital Area Dental Foundation, Texas Dental Society, American Dental Society, Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Physiological Medicine and Dentistry, and the Institute of Craniofacial Sleep Medicine. Dr. McKinney moved to Austin because of the phenomenal food, outdoors, and fantastic music scene; the weather isnt half bad either. He enjoys cooking, reading, exercising, camping, and practicing the guitar when he can.

The loss of one or more permanent teeth is not an issue to be taken lightly. Teeth are essential for a number of reasons. Every time you talk, smile, or laugh, your teeth will be the first thing people notice. And, apart from the vital role they play in a persons esthetic and self-esteem, teeth continue to be necessary for basic functions like chewing and talking.

There are several tooth replacement options, and this can cause patients to feel overwhelmed by them all. We suggest that anyone seeking tooth replacement treatment get in touch with our office. At Crystal Lake in Leander, well inform you about your options and offer advice for your particular situation.

Patients on a budget or those missing several teeth may choose less expensive alternatives like dental bridges or dentures. But its important to understand that neither of these alternatives will ever be able to last as long as dental implants.

Implants are a long-term investment that can last a lifetime when properly cared for. They also offer several other health benefits for the patient. One benefit of implants is that they decrease the risk of bone resorption in areas where missing teeth were previously. Implants also allow patients to eat anything they wish, because they feel and function like natural teeth.

As long as theyre cared for properly, dental implants can last a lifetime. However, its important for patients to know that during the time that dental implants are integrated into bone and gum tissue, they can still be vulnerable to periodontal disease and infection. If proper care isnt taken, an implant can actually be lost to periodontal disease, just as with natural teeth.

Although an implant is very strong, it is made up of multiple pieces. Once in a while, one or more of these components can experience cracking or breakage. Sometimes, the crown of the implant can crack, or the screw which holds the abutment can loosen. Both of these issues are fairly simple fixes. However, on occasion the abutment screw may be stripped or become cracked. The implant itself may also fracture. These situations are typically more complex, and so correcting them can be a little more complicated.

Brushing and flossing carefully, along with attending the dental office for regular checkups and dental cleanings is absolutely crucial. This ensures that the tissues around the implant remain free of infection, and that the implant itself is well-fitted and doing its job.

Wrinkles and altered facial contours are two unmistakable signs of aging. Most people understand that these signs occur as the result of the lack of collagen in the skin. However, did you know that they can also be the result of tooth loss? Teeth support soft tissues, but when multiple teeth are gone, small wrinkles and a sunken appearance in the lower third of the face will also commonly occur.

Millions of Americans suffer from tooth loss decay, trauma, and periodontal disease are three of the top reasons for this. Luckily, there are several options available for tooth replacement these days, and we encourage patients to seek professional advice as soon as tooth loss occurs.

Many patients first considerations to replace missing teeth are full or partial dentures. And while both of these options are good alternatives for some patients (especially those on tight budgets), we encourage our patients to also consider other options.

Bone tissue anchors the tooth. But when that tooth is lost, the bone tissue no longer has a purpose, and the body detects this. Because the body doesnt conserve tissue that no longer has a purpose, it triggers the resorptive process. Dental implants are the only tooth replacement alternative that prevents the body from triggering bone resorption; thats why theyre considered to be the solution that offers the most convenience. If missing teeth arent replaced in time, any bone resorption that may affect only a small area initially will end up affecting the entire jawbone. And once the jawbone is involved, alteration of facial appearance will occur, so we advise patients who want to conserve a youthful appearance to give dental implants serious consideration.

The jawbones contain the roots of all of your teeth. Those roots experience light pressure when you chew food, and its this regular stimulation which keeps your jawbone strong and healthy. When you lose your permanent teeth, the bone in that area ceases to be stimulated, and so your body triggers a tissue breakdown process known as bone resorption. Over time, if multiple teeth are lost, the tissue breakdown that occurs as a result of resorption will affect the entire jawbone. This causes the lower third of the face to appear weak and sunken. Replacing missing teeth with dental implants preserves jawbone structure and prevents this bone from disintegrating.

Traditional dentures are not supported by implants. As a result, they will require continuous adjustments due to the shrinkage of the jawbone over time. Ill-fitting dentures that simply sit on top of gum tissue wont provide the stimulation needed to stop jawbone resorption. After several adjustments, the patient will ultimately need new dentures.

As soon as you lose a tooth, we advise you to get in touch with your dentist to ask about alternatives for preserving the bone in the affected area. The only way to preserve this bone tissue is to keep it in active use. And this is done by placing dental implants.

Dental implants are small titanium posts. They are surgically screwed into your jawbone. Once the implants are installed, the surrounding bone begins the process of osseointegration. During osseointegration, which lasts between 4 and 6 months, bone tissue begins to heal around the titanium, fusing to the implants surface. Once the process is finished, the implants are able to firmly integrate into the bone. The pressure they receive during chewing is transmitted to the surrounding bone. This keeps bone tissue active and healthy, and, as a result, the body wont trigger the resorption process.

The only way to know whether youre an eligible candidate for dental implants is to visit the dental office for an evaluation. No professional will be able to tell you exactly what treatment option will be the most suitable for you over the phone; they must first look at your teeth and gums.

In the office, the dentist can use different tools including x-rays and 3D images to make their assessment about whether youre a suitable candidate for implants. If you are not deemed suitable for implants, Dr. Hsu will consider the possibility of either performing a bone graft procedure or talk directly to you about the other available alternatives to tooth replacement. All smiles are different, but theres almost always a way to get you the results that youve been dreaming of.