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Dr. Graves Dentistry Goes Global

After 30 years, Cynthia Graves, DDS has a storied history with her profession. The most recent of which was her dental mission trip to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. Rather than soaking up the sun or scuba-diving, one of her favorite pastimes, Dr. Graves was providing her dental expertise to underprivileged people on the island.

The Dominican Republic is known for lush beaches and beautiful weather. But what is often forgotten is that one third of their population lives in poverty and cannot afford basic dental care. As a dedicated member of the International Dental Implant Association, Dr. Graves felt this was an opportunity to serve people with her talents.

International Dental Implants Association

IDIA, International Dental Implants Association, has been organizing trips for just under a decade, and has a global mission to provide advanced dental care to people unable to afford it themselves. The vision for this organization was for economic empowerment in these impoverished areas. Dr. Arun Garg created the IDIA to provide training alongside the dental procedures in these underserved communities. While the organization started small, it now boasts almost 3000 members globally, including Dr. Graves.

On average, each trip will provide dental and facial surgery for 500 implants, 45 complex sinus lifts, 10 ridge splits and 5 crestal sinus lifts. A team of 30 doctors will perform around $2 million worth of dental care.

This trip involved a team of 25 dental surgeons, all associated with IDIA. Dr. Graves herself provided almost $200,000 worth of dental implants in the space of 3 days. Putting over 30 hours of time towards the effort earned Dr. Graves a prestigious IDIA commendation. And almost 300 patients benefitted from her and her associates’ work.m

Overcoming Challenges

The International Dental Implant Association has pioneered the world’s most successful live patient educational programs. For many dentists it can be a struggle to balance teaching and treatment. But this is not so for Dr. Graves. She spoke of the experience excitedly. Being able to teach while also practicing dentistry is something she incorporates into her work in Texas, “It’s second nature for me, teaching and tending to others go hand-in-hand,” said Dr. Graves.

The most challenging aspect was the work schedule and using unfamiliar equipment. At the clinic, a 10+ workday was standard and she only had the tools provided. Often these were unfamiliar or antiquated. Here in Austin, Dr. Graves uses guided dental implants to create perfect smiles. Luckily, her decades of dental experience meant she never felt unprepared.

Looking Forward

Dr. Graves celebrated Labor Day by doing the work she loves. She feels confident that she’ll return to the Dominican Republic, though perhaps as a tourist in the future. For now she’s happy to return to work in Austin, as there’s plenty of adventure to be found at home.

Suffering from sinus problems after your root canal surgery?

So you’ve had your root canal surgery. The hard part is over. You’re feeling a little stuffy and uncomfortable, but you figure that’s just part of it. Well, it’s not. Other than some tenderness in your gums, or minor tooth sensitivity, you shouldn’t experience any symptoms after a root canal.

Austin dentist Dr. Cynthia Graves warns that sinus problems similar to the common cold or allergies could be a serious issue.

The Sinus-Tooth Connection:

Much like how the ears, nose and throat are connected, so are your sinuses and teeth. There’s only a thin barrier of bone separating the sinuses from the dental canals of the upper jaw. Sometimes when that bone is breached, hypochlorite seeps into the sinuses and drips back into the patient’s mouth, leaving an unpleasant taste. Hypochlorite is a dental disinfectant solution, but the seeping and dripping can lead to swelling and facial pain. This is known as acute chemical sinusitis and should be taken seriously.

Symptoms include:
• Runny nose
• Pressure or congestion in the face and nose
• Symptoms similar to eye and nasal allergies
• Sinus drainage
• Symptoms similar to the common cold

Wait for improvement? Absolutely not!

Don’t hesitate to follow up with your dentist or specialist when you notice the symptoms. You may only need antibiotics and decongestive therapy. However it may be necessary to close the breach, which requires further consultation.

Dr. Graves is a highly recommended family dentist offering comprehensive dental care, including the treatment of gum disease, cavity fillings, dental crowns, restorative dentistry and preventative care. Through continuous learning and a gentle touch, she can advise on and treat any oral health issue you experience. Consult with Dr. Cynthia Graves today!

We’re Doing Dental Differently

Transforming Modern Dental Care In Austin, TX

Dr. Cynthia L. Graves isn’t your typical dentist. Don’t be distracted by the whimsical butterfly garden in the front of the office or the Pizza Hut styled architecture that draws many amused smiles through the door. On the inside, this dental office is nothing like the cookie cutter memories you have of an oversized medical closet and a distracted front office staff. At Cynthia L. Graves, we’re doing dental differently. And it all starts with you.

Fully Integrated Technology. When you need dental work done, you want it done right the first time, and you want it to last. Dr. Graves, who is a certified CEREC Basic Trainer with a Clear Aligner Therapy Certification and countless hours of continuing education, trains other dentists on CEREC technology. She also treats dentists that travel across Texas to see her, as well as local dentists in the community. Wouldn’t you want the same dental care that other dentists in Austin schedule themselves for? We thought so.

A Staff To Write Home About. Our staff is so passionate about our standard of care that they’re known to thumbs up dental posts on the Internet and text reading materials to each other on the weekend. There’s not a lot of Cosmopolitan or Lifestyle Magazine in this office– but we might have those for you to read, too!

One thing that makes our office so delightfully sweet for our patients and their teeth is our exceptional dental cleanings. We have the most advanced dental technology here, too, but if it’s just a simple cleaning you need, we’re just as devoted to providing high standards of care.

“Our patients have said they’ve never had such a thorough cleaning and they are surprised at how gentle the hygienists are! I purchased new equipment for the hygienists so they can ultrasonic clean and high power-polish teeth more comfortably.”

24/7 Access, 365 Days A Year. Ever thought you’d be cool enough to have your dentist on speed dial? Now you can. Dr. Cynthia Graves will be there for you from beginning to end of your dental treatment. If you’ve had restorative dental work (many patients have chosen us for dental crowns and bridges, dentures and dental implants), Dr. Graves will provide her personal phone number. Don’t be worried if you have a dental emergency or a question about a toothache on Christmas Eve–she’s been there, and she’ll be there for you too.

No Less Than The Best. It’s our standard. It’s your expectation. At Cynthia L. Graves in Austin, we’re changing the way patients view their trip to the dentist by offering state of the art dental care in everything from custom Clear Aligner Therapy orthodontics to guided dental implants. Your life may change for the better when you call us for a consultation! We’re all about delivering the best, so you can breathe easy knowing your family is in good hands.

Thank Goodness For A “Real” Dentist. You don’t often meet a dentist who scuba dives, builds butterfly gardens for migratory Monarchs or serves coffee and neck pillows in the office. But just like her favorite butterflies, Dr. Graves is all about transforming the way you feel at the dentist. If you’ve ever been nervous to see the dentist or gone cross-eyed looking at dental insurance, we’re here to take the hassle out of dentistry for you. At Cynthia L. Graves we’re all about the exhale when you realize your experience with us was even better than you thought it could be.

It’s Okay To Look Forward To Your Appointment.
We look forward to seeing you! Give us a call to set up you next visit. If you’re still making up your mind about going to the dentist, grab your bike and go for a ride through our butterfly garden–you won’t be the only one! Reach us at (512) 258-8001 or swing by our office in Austin, right down the street from Westwood High School. We’re located at 10418 Lake Creek Pkwy, Austin, TX 78750.

What Is A Dental Implant?

What Is A Dental Implant?

You might be wondering what a dental implant is. Put simply, dental implants function as close to your natural teeth as possible. Made of titanium, the implant mimics the root of your tooth and is inserted into jawbone permanently. You will be able to chew, drink, laugh, smile, and speak effortlessly. What could be better than that?

Dental Implants in Austin, TX

The experience of tooth loss can be stressful, but not to worry: we have solutions for you! At Cynthia L. Graves, DDS, we use state-of-the-art technology to restore your beautiful, natural-looking smile with dental implants.

Your tooth loss might be the result of untreated tooth decay or gum disease, or perhaps the result of a tooth extraction or dental injury. It is nothing to feel embarrassed or ashamed of! Whatever the reason, we want you to feel assured that you have the best treatment plan available to you. As your general and restorative dentist in Austin, we can fully restore your smile and have you walk out of our office feeling confident.

What to Expect When Getting a Dental Implant

Dr. Graves will use an Omnicam, a highly advanced digital scanner, to scan your mouth, and create a digital 3D impression.

Next, a same-day crown will be designed in the office with our onsite milling machine that utilizes Sirona CAD/CAM software (aka CEREC). Gone are the days where you need to wait for days for a crown to be made! Relax in your chair as we create your natural-looking, custom-designed tooth replacement right in front of you.

Your Dental Implant Options:

Each patient has unique needs, and Dr. Graves will provide your treatments with personalized care and excellence.

• Single-tooth replacements are naturally resistant to tooth decay, such as cavities.  These have the highest success rate, and are considered the best long-term investment for replacing a single tooth.
• Multi-tooth replacements are perfect for when three or more teeth in a row need replacing. The tooth implants used to connect the replacement teeth to the surrounding teeth do not affect surrounding teeth.
• Implant-supported dentures replace the entire jawline, whether the top, bottom, or both rows of teeth. The dentures never shift or fall out as they lock into place.

Benefits of Dental Implants

There are multiple benefits in choosing crowns, bridges, or dentures. Here are a few reasons why dental implants are highly desirable for tooth replacement:

• They are naturally strong and resistant to cavities and staining
• They do not require any changes to be made in a regular healthy dental hygiene routine
• They can last a lifetime with regular at-home maintenance and regular dental checkups
• They can reduce or even prevent rapid bone loss in the jaw after tooth loss
• They are designed to look and feel natural
• They are shown to reduce the risk for losing adjacent teeth after tooth loss

Your Family Dentist in Austin, TX

We welcome all patients in the Austin, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Leander, Georgetown, Wimberly and surrounding areas to our office! At Cynthia L. Graves, DDS, we invest in cutting-edge technology as part of our commitment to providing you with ongoing superior service, detecting oral health issues early on, and delivering treatment plans with unmatched accuracy and excellence.

Whether it’s a routine cleaning or a complete restoration, you’re in for a patient-centered, gentle experience. Give our Austin office a call today at (512) 258-8001 and we can get started on restoring your confidence and your beautiful smile!