Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety.
Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are designed to make you feel both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our practice to keep patients and staff safe.
Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the directives of these agencies so that we are up to date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued.
You may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:
Our office will conduct a health screening and temperature check upon your arrival.
We have hand sanitizer available throughout the office.
You may see that our waiting room no longer offers magazines, books, children’s toys, etc. to reduce the spread of germs.
Our clinical staff will wear additional personal protective equipment (PPE) to better protect themselves and their patients.
Appointments will begin with an oral rinse to reduce bacteria in the mouth prior to treatment.
We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call our office at (972) 964-3774 or contact us today.
Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends.
Can I put off my dental appointment until after the COVID-19 pandemic is over?
Regular dental appointments are an important part of taking care of your overall health. While it can be tempting to put off your regular checkup until things feel more “normal” again, I advise against it. Routine appointments give me an opportunity to check for a number of health conditions and catch them early. Some conditions, like tooth decay, can be more difficult, painful and expensive to treat if they’re left undetected.
Your health and safety is, and has always been, my top priority. My staff and I are taking every precaution to limit the risk of COVID-19 transmission at your visit.
What about teledentistry? Can / substitute a virtual visit for my regular appointment?
A phone or video appointment isn’t the same as your regular appointment. Teledentistry can be helpful in some situations, such as deciding if an oral health issue you’re experiencing is an emergency that requires immediate treatment or if it’s something that can wait a bit. If you think you may be experiencing a dental emergency, call my office and we’ll help you decide if you need to come in.
What are you doing differently because of COVID-19?
There are a number of science-backed steps my staff and I are taking to help limit the spread of COVID-19. These include:
Increased personal protective equipment including masks, face shields, goggles and surgical gowns or long-sleeved lab coats.
Increased cleaning protocols. This includes using disinfectants known to kill the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, removing high-touch items like magazines and toys from waiting rooms and frequently cleaning items like pens and clipboards.
I’ve heard it’s safer to schedule your appointment for first thing in the morning – the office will be cleaner because there haven’t been patients coming through before me. Is that true?
You should schedule your dental appointment for the time of day that works for you. The same enhanced cleaning protocols occur all day long, including leaving the room empty after a patient leaves to allow the appropriate time necessary as part of thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the space between patients.
How is your dental team monitoring themselves for COVID-19?
Staff at our practice are subject to daily health screenings. This includes taking their temperatures to make sure they don’t have a fever and asking them a series of health-related questions each day to make sure they’re not experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19.
You said you cannot see me as a patient because of my COVID-19 risk. Can you do that?
Yes. The safety of our patients and the dental team is our highest priority. As Dentists, we use our professional judgment and guidance from the CDC and the American Dental Association (ADA) to determine risk levels for seeing patients. If it was determined that you were high risk, or had a high temperature on the day of your appointment, we can have a conversation about which factors determined delay of service, so that you can self-monitor and reschedule.
We are known for providing honest, quality dentistry in the most comfortable setting. Our integrity and honest dentistry are what you can expect when you are a patient with Dr. Wilhite.
You can schedule a free no-obligation consultation with Dr. Wilhite, CALL: (972) 964-3774
Dr. Wilhite is one of the select number of dentists with an MAGD, Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry.
Patients tell the staff and Dr. Wilhite that they have never had a dentist call on the evening of their procedure and check on them.
For the comfort of our patients, we like to offer freshly washed throws and neck pillows for greater comfort. Following the procedure, we have warm, dry hand towels and hot washcloths to freshen up.
Finally, we offer a scoop of Baskin-Robbins ice cream for anyone wanting a little treat. All this is done for anyone being seen in our office to enhance the dental experience while receiving the highest quality of dental care.
Ready for your dental appointment in the Plano, Texas area?
Contact us today to set up your examination. Dr. Wilhite is a Plano dentist with over 30 years experience helping patients to keep their smiles healthy. We truly take our patients care and experience very seriously. We strive to ensure only the most comfortable and relaxing experience with every appointment.
Historically, fruit juice was recommended by pediatricians as a source of vitamin C and as an additional source of fluids for healthy infants and young children. It was also sometimes recommended for children with constipation.
Fruit juice is usually marketed as a healthy, natural source of vitamins. Because it tastes good, children will usually accept it easily, as opposed to many other foods at this age. Although juice consumption has some benefits, it also has
Although juice has some benefits, it also has potentially negative effects as well. It is usually full of both sugar and calories and can lead to unnecessary weight gain.
“We know that excessive fruit juice can lead to excessive weight gain and tooth decay,” said co-author of the statement Steven A. Abrams, M.D., in a news release.
He goes on to say “Be cautious about putting a bottle or sippy cup in the child’s mouth with fruit juice because that can cause really cause problems for their teeth,” Abrams said.
“Some parents will use the bottle as a pacifier and just stick some apple juice in the bottle.” That leads to sugar from the apple juice just sitting in the child’s teeth, which can increase the risk of tooth decay.”
“One hundred percent fresh or reconstituted fruit juice can be a healthy part of the diet of children older than 1 year when consumed as part of a well-balanced diet. Fruit drinks, however, are not nutritionally equivalent to fruit juice.”
Juice for children recommendations
Children under one year of age should not have any juice.
Children ages 1-3 should not have more than 4 ounces of juice daily.
Children ages 4-6 should be limited to 4 to 6 ounces daily.
Children ages 7-18 should be limited to 8 ounces daily.
Toddlers should not be given juice in “sippy cups”. This allows them to drink juice all day long, causing excessive exposure of the teeth to sugar and tooth decay.
Toddlers should not be given juice at bedtime.
Children should be encouraged to eat whole fruits. These contain both vitamins and dietary fiber.
Consumption of unpasteurized juice products should be strongly discouraged for children of all ages.
Children who take specific forms of medication should not be given grapefruit juice, which can interfere with the medication’s effectiveness.
Fruit juice is not appropriate in the treatment of dehydration or management of diarrhea.
We hope that you will take these recommendations into consideration for your own children. We want to help parents establish good dental health habits for children so they get a good foundation for health as adults.
To discuss products we recommend, call our office at (972) 964-3774
Disclaimer
Reference in this publication to any specific commercial product, process, or service, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or certification of any kind by David Wilhite DDS.
Persons using such products assume responsibility for their use in accordance with current directions of the manufacturer.
About BioMinF
A new toothpaste, BioMinF, remineralizes tooth enamel or hardens teeth. Normal toothpastes lose their effectiveness after about 2 or 3 hours, but this new formula slowly releases minerals that help harden tooth enamel over 8 to 12 hours.
The formula allows a layer of strong fluoride to develop on tooth enamel and create a barrier that is more resistant to daily sugary drinks than standard toothpaste. Calcium and phosphate are also in the formula and help your saliva replace the minerals that are lost during eating and drinking. The new toothpaste helps to strengthen and protect the tooth structure while forming and rebuilding new tooth mineral.
Tooth sensitivity affects up to 40% of the population and causes sensitivity to temperature and pain. According to the BioMinF website, “Sensitivity is caused by open tubules in the teeth, allowing access to the nerves receptors connected to the tooth pulp directly linked to the central nervous system. BioMinF containing toothpastes are effective by blocking the tubules and acting as a barrier to hot and cold being transmitted inside the tooth.”
In addition, the BioMinF toothpaste helps prevent tooth decay, the number one disease worldwide. Tooth decay leads to cavities, infections, and the need to remove teeth completely. 92% of adults age 20 to 64 have dental cavities in their permanent teeth.
The technology behind BioMinF toothpaste may be able to be incorporated into professionally applied dental products like polishing pastes, fillings, and varnishes. Though the company is working on commercializing the development of the toothpaste worldwide, it is currently available online through special retailers at www.biomin.co.uk.
NOTE: BioMinF toothpaste is NOT endorsed, recommended or sold by David Wilhite DDS.
Persons using such products assume responsibility for their use in accordance with current directions of the manufacturer.
Imagine losing your front teeth. It would change how you breathe, eat, smile. You would have to endure several time consuming and costly dental procedures to fix it. This is why it is critical you wear a custom fit mouth guard when participating in contact sports.
There are many reasons a custom fit mouth guard is better than stock.
A custom fit mouth guard will better protect your teeth and mouth since it is designed especially for you.
The American Dental Association and the Academy for Sports Dentistry both recommend a properly fitted custom mouth guard for all contact and collision sports.
Custom mouth guards typically last longer than stock or boil and bite mouth guards 5 to 1 times.
Custom mouth guards are easier to breathe with since they are designed for oxygen flow. This is helpful for athletes since endurance and communication is not limited.
Custom mouth guards protect braces, bridgework and other costly dental work.
Stock mouth and boil and bite guards make it more difficult to talk.
Stock mouth guards can be uncomfortable.
Stock and boil and bite mouth guards do not last as long since they can be chewed through more quickly.
Over 5 million teeth are knocked out each year and the lifetime cost to replace one tooth is approximately $20,000
Any parent knows it can be a struggle to get our kids to brush and floss regularly. It takes a lot of time to teach proper technique but this set them on a lifelong path to oral health. Follow these simple tips to teach your child how to keep mouth healthy and smile sparkling.
1. Make It Fun!
Teeth brushing and flossing can be a bit boring. Turn the time into a game or storytelling. Play a song during their oral hygiene routine or teach them to count their teeth.
2. Positive Reinforcement
Remember to praise your kids! They will be excited you noticed and are proud of them.
3. Flossing Charts
This coincides with positive reinforcement. A flossing chart with stickers and incentives will encourage kids to maintain their flossing routine. They can see their progress and remain motivated.
4. Kids Only Tools
Kids will take pride in their brushing efforts even more when they have their own dedicated tools. It’s difficult for kids to wrap floss around their fingers, so try getting them individual flossing sticks. They are easy to hold and use and make flossing more fun. When they’re done, they can just throw it away!
5. Be The Example
Show your kids how important brushing and flossing are by being a positive role model. If they see you taking good care of your mouth and following an oral hygiene routine, they will be even more likely to succeed.
These simple steps should help young children follow a healthy oral hygiene routine!
Contact us
In a new policy statement published by the 
He goes on to say “Be cautious about putting a bottle or sippy cup in the child’s mouth with fruit juice because that can cause really cause problems for their teeth,” Abrams said.
David Wilhite is a 
Any parent knows it can be a struggle to get our kids to brush and floss regularly. It takes a lot of time to teach proper technique but this set them on a lifelong path to oral health. Follow these simple tips to teach your child how to keep mouth healthy and smile sparkling.