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Dr. Bill Whitley and our team at Whitley Family Dental understand that many of our patients have a fear of dentistry. You may be concerned about experiencing pain from sensitive teeth or routine procedures. General anxiety is also common. Do not put off visiting our Dallas office; we offer various types of sedation to take the pain and fear out of your dental procedure.

Nitrous Oxide Sedation

For many patients, nitrous oxide, combined with local anesthetics, will both provide pain relief and reduce anxiety. Nitrous oxide is beneficial because the dosage can be regulated during treatment and patients are normally capable of driving shortly after the procedure is completed.

Oral or Injected Sedation

With oral sedation, you may be given a pill or liquid to consume several hours before your procedure. You will not be able to drive yourself to the appointment. An oral liquid is often given to children before any shots or intravenous anesthesia. An intramuscular injection may be given at the office that provides relaxation benefits for 20 to 30 minutes.

Nitrous Oxide with an Oral Sedative

If you experience higher levels of anxiety, an oral or injected sedative can be offered before nitrous oxide is started. This is also effective for reducing anxiety regarding the injection of local anesthetics. A liquid medication followed by nitrous oxide is beneficial for children. This combination can produce a deep sedation level.

General Anesthesia

This type of anesthesia can be offered as an inhaled gas or intravenous liquid. If no oral sedative is given before the general anesthesia is administered, you should wake up quickly after your procedure is complete. An injection, pill, or liquid medication can be offered to reduce anxiety before intravenous sedation begins. Intravenous sedation can also be used at moderate-to-deep sedation levels without complete loss of consciousness.

Do not hesitate to ask Dr. Bill Whitley about receiving sedation or pain prevention when you visit. We will be glad to explain the options we have available and answer all your questions to ensure that your exam is pleasant for you.

A dental emergency can strike anywhere, anytime, and without warning. Perhaps you’re playing a game of touch football on Thanksgiving and your brother-in-law decides to up the ante and tackles you, accidentally knocking out your two front teeth. Or maybe you’re on vacation somewhere in the tropics and decide to go deep-sea fishing, but when you’re climbing onto the boat you slip on the dock, fall, and chip three of your teeth. From misplaced fly balls to bagel seeds causing a painful bout of inflammation, there are all kinds of dental emergencies.

Here are the five most common reasons for emergency care visits.

1. Somehow you've managed to knock out a tooth. Whether it's the result of a sports injury or because of decay, when you lose a tooth, you need emergency dental care. If the tooth is salvageable, then it can be reattached to the socket, but this needs to be done within a one- or two-hour window.
2. A chipped tooth is the most common dental emergency. Small chips can be caused by food (chicken bones and nuts have sent many people to the dentist); however, it's usually some sort of accident or injury that more often causes a chip. While you might be embarrassed to walk around with a gaping chip in your front tooth, it is easily fixed with a bond, crown, or veneer.
3. A broken tooth is more severe than a chipped tooth. When a tooth breaks, it might be due to a small or hidden chip. However, chances are the pain and discomfort will be more severe.
4. It might seem comical, but getting a piece of food lodged in the wrong place can result in a dental emergency. If something gets stuck deep in a crevice, it can cause pain and inflammation.
5. The loss of a filling happens more often than you think. When you lose a filling, you need to receive emergency care immediately. If you don’t, you risk further damage to your tooth.

When you injure your teeth or mouth, you need to seek emergency care as soon as possible. In the event of a suspected emergency, don't wait. Contact Dr. Bill Whitley immediately.

From a student handing out sweets for her classmates to an older married couple exchanging boxes of candy, Valentine’s Day is the time of year when people like to show affection by gifting sugary treats to their loved ones. Whether you’re on the giving or receiving end of Valentine’s Day candy, you can celebrate the holiday in a healthier way by making dark chocolate your confection of choice.

Contribute to Your Health

According to the Cleveland Clinic, studies have shown that the cocoa beans used to make chocolate contain flavonoids, which can help protect the body against damage from various toxins. Flavonoids may also help lower blood pressure and improve blood flow to the heart and the brain. Dark chocolates typically contain a higher amount of flavonoids than other types, making them a great choice for chocolate lovers. However, you should keep in mind that many companies produce chocolate that is so heavily processed that the flavonoids are largely eliminated. Your best bet is to look for high-quality dark chocolates and cocoa powders that have undergone minimal processing.

Protect Against Cavities

If you think there’s no way candy could ever be beneficial for your teeth, think again. The Texas A&M Health Science Center has reported that the tannins present in cocoa beans may actually help prevent cavities by interfering with bacteria’s harmful interaction with teeth. Just like with flavonoids, tannins have been found to be present more often in dark chocolates, rather than milk chocolates, giving you another great reason to choose the richer, sweet varieties.

Avoid a Sticky Situation

One more benefit of choosing chocolate over other candies is that it is less likely to get stuck in the crevices and spaces between teeth. Gooey sweets like taffy can stay lodged in the mouth for longer periods of time, putting you at a greater risk for developing cavities. When you choose your chocolate, be sure to avoid types that also contain sticky ingredients like caramel or marshmallow, and instead opt for the plain varieties.

Remember that the health benefits you can receive from dark chocolate are largely based on eating the candy in moderation. With that being said, it’s easy to make this delicious and health conscious switch when you’re out shopping for your sweetheart, friends, loved ones, and yourself. Have fun satisfying your sweet tooth this year and Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Whitley Family Dental!

January has come and gone and we can’t wait for all that February has in store! Candy hearts and red roses are fine and dandy, but we think February is the perfect chance to spread love and kindness to everyone! Whether you’re single or in a relationship, we’re sharing a few ways we all can share the love.

When patients come to Whitley Family Dental, we truly think of them as family. We’re looking forward to seeing our wonderful patients come into our office this Valentine’s Day. Even though we won’t be indulging too much in Valentine’s Day treats, we can’t say no to a little chocolate here and there!

Candy aside, we think it’s so important to remember that life is short. Last year, Dr. Bill’s father passed away from Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. We are so thankful for the many wonderful years we shared with him and the loving memories we will always hold dear. So whatever your Valentine’s Day plans, be sure to let those around you know that they are loved.

Did you know February 17th is National Acts of Kindness Day? We encourage everyone to participate in any way that they can but also remember to spread kindness all year long. Even something small like a smile could turn someone’s day around!

In honor of American Heart Month, we want to remind everyone to take care of themselves and be aware of the warning signs for heart disease. So many people are affected by heart disease each year but one way to set yourself up for a healthy heart is with a healthy diet. We had the pleasure of attending an event where Princess Diana’s former chef, Darren McGrady, shared one of the princess’ favorite heart-healthy recipes. It’s not only good for you but it proves that healthy food can still be delicious! We’ve included the recipe below so be sure to let us know what you think!

We hope this month brings you and your family lots of love. Have a wonderful February and we hope to see you in the office soon!

Honey, Lime and Cilantro Chicken

• 1 quart fat free chicken broth
• 4 four oz. chicken breasts
• ½ c garlic, crushed
• 1 tbsp. light soy sauce
• 1 tbsp. green onion, finely chopped - light green part
• ¼ c honey
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 tbsp. lime juice
• 1 tbsp. cilantro

Place the chicken breasts side by side in a large pan and pour over the broth. Place on a high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, place a lid on the pan and cook until the chicken is tender, about 8 minutes. Remove the chicken breasts to a plate and keep warm. The broth can be poured into a plastic container and frozen for another use.

In a small pan, add the olive oil and saute the onion and garlic over a low heat until it starts to soften. Stir in the honey, soy sauce, green onion and lime juice. Add the juices from the plate the chicken is on. Slice chicken onto a serving plate and pour the dressing over the top. Sprinkle with cilantro just before serving. Serves 4.