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Do you feel anxious before every dentist appointment? If the answer is yes, you are not alone—more than 75 percent of Americans feel anxious when visiting their dentist. Today, Dr. Bill Whitley and our team thought we would provide some tips to reduce your stress about visiting our Dallas office.

The first thing we want you to do is plan ahead. If at all possible, book an appointment at a time when you know you won’t be in a rush to get somewhere else, such as picking up your children from school or an important meeting at the office. We also recommend you avoid caffeine and sugar prior to your visit as too much of either can make you feel even more anxious, not to mention jittery.

Once you’re here at our office, take some slow, deep breaths to relax. Then, try to relax your muscles by sitting back comfortably. If you are still feeling anxious, let Dr. Bill Whitley or someone on our team know. We deal with nervous patients all the time and may have additional relaxation techniques for you to try. If you’d like, we also encourage you to bring headphones and listen to music of your choice to distract yourself while we work on your teeth.

If you have additional questions about relaxation techniques, or would like to schedule an appointment, please give us a call!

Happy October, everyone! October may be widely known for Halloween, but our team is focusing on National Book Month this year instead. Books allow us to expand our knowledge in so many different aspects of life. They also make for great entertainment!

In our office, Tamara loves the Mark of the Lion trilogy by Francine Rivers. Dr. Bill, on the other hand, would reread Term Limits by Vince Flynn, The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy, or anything by Malcolm Gladwell in a heartbeat.

What books will you be reading this month? We’re always looking for more recommendations to add to our list!

We hope you’re all enjoying October so far and look forward to seeing you in the office soon.

While Dr. Bill Whitley and our team at Whitley Family Dental strive to offer a comfortable and unmatched experience for all our patients, we realize that fear or anxiety while visiting the dentist still affects some of our patients. For those of our patients who need extra comfort and relaxation during their visits, we are more than happy to offer IV sedation, a safe and effective option that provides a deeper and more complete relaxing state than most common oral medications.

Sedation dentistry at our Dallas office can turn a nerve-wracking and sweaty-palmed visit into a comfortable and pleasant one, and allows our patients to drift through their appointments, including complex dental work, feeling completely relaxed and without any discomfort or pain.

During sedation, Dr. Bill Whitley and our team will monitor your comfort, providing as much medication as necessary to keep you relaxed. We will also use the best tools we have at our disposal to monitor your vital signs so that you can have peace of mind before your procedure.

Dr. Bill Whitley and our team will be able to tell you if you are a candidate for sedation dentistry and will be more than happy to discuss any concerns, issues, or fears you may have before or during your visit. By talking with us about sedation dentistry, you can feel more comfortable and relaxed during your next visit to Whitley Family Dental. Give us a call today!

How better to spend the fall months than inside by the fireplace with a warm cup of cider and a book in hand? Dr. Bill Whitley and our team at Whitley Family Dental encourage you to warm up your mind this fall season with a few great books. Sure it may be easy to put off reading when balancing a hectic schedule, but reading is vital to brain development. Besides, reading is always a blast!

This week, we thought we’d ask what you or your child are reading this fall. Do you have any suggestions for must-read books this year? Out of ideas for great fall reads? Ask us for suggestions, and we would be happy to provide a few. You may also ask a local librarian here in Dallas for some ideas.

Happy reading! Be sure to share with us your fall picks or your all-time favorites below or on our Facebook page!