Most don’t know that the original color associated with St. Patrick’s Day was blue. Over the years this changed to green as Saint Patrick was said to have used the green, three-leafed shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish in his attempts to teach Christianity. Currently, the wearing and displaying of shamrocks has become a central feature of St. Patrick’s Day.

The ever-popular “Kiss Me I’m Irish” slogan has become a common catch phrase among Americans celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Dr. Jones hopes your smile is beautifully bright and your breath is noticeable fresh for this holiday. In addition to daily brushing and flossing, what techniques do you use to keep your mouth fresh and clean? Comment here to let us know or on our Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/ThePlanoDentist1

“The map keeps getting redrawn; technology keeps changing the routes we take. The compass, on the other hand, is more important then ever. If you don’t know which direction you’re going, how will you know when you’re off course? We spend most of our time learning the map, while we should be calibrating our compass.” Seth Godin

How many of you have felt like this? You get comfortable with one way of thinking, only to find the “experts” changing their opinions and now needing to learn a new way. It’s hard to keep up!

Luckily, you can always count on Dr. Jones to be on top of the latest education and technological innovation. With all the other responsibilities you have at home and at work, it would be impossible for you to keep up with advances and changes in the dental field pertaining to your dental health, as well as over all health.

Let Dr. Jones be your “compass.” You can put your trust in us at The Plano Dentist and know we always make your health and peace of mind our #1 priority. Whether you’re coming in for a regular cleaning, finally getting that Smile Makeover you’ve always wanted or taking care of that pesky toothache, know that we always utilize the latest education and technology to care for your dental needs.

Smiles For Life is an organization set up through members of the Crown Council, a prestigious alliance of leading-edge dentists around the world who are strongly committed to excellence in their fields, to continuing education, to serving their communities through charitable work, and to focusing on treating patients, not teeth.

Every year from March through June, Dr. Jones, a Crown Council member, donates her time, FREE of charge, to whiten the teeth of her patients to raise money for seriously ill, disabled, and underprivileged children here in the Plano, Dallas – Fort Worth areas and around the world.

Philips Oral Healthcare (makers of ZOOM! teeth bleaching and BriteSmile trays) DONATES ALL of the tooth whitening supplies, and Dr. Jones DONATES ALL of her time. Together, they offer professional teeth bleaching services at substantially reduced prices (donations) with 100% OF THE PROCEEDS GOING TO A CHILDREN’S CHARITY.

After your appointment, you will make your payment for your teeth bleaching procedure to the Smiles For Life Foundation. 50% of that payment will be given to the YET, Youth Education Town, Emmitt Smith’s charity in Arlington. The remainder is given to a children’s charity approved by the Smiles For Life Foundation. It is as simple as that. Whiten your teeth, help a child.

Whether or not you choose to have your own smile whitened, you can make a HUGE difference for these children by simply sharing this opportunity with your friends, family members, and coworkers on Facebook. Simply become a fan of our Facebook page—then share this message with all of YOUR friends on Facebook!

So, even if you can’t help through your own teeth whitening appointment, you can make it possible for others to help because of your efforts. Help Dr. Jones and The Plano Dentist make a difference in children’s lives today!

During Julius Caesar’s time, the only rule for determining a leap year was that the year had to be divisible by four. This created too many leap years; therefore, the rule was eventually corrected. In the Gregorian calendar, three criteria must be met in order for a year to be a leap year:

1. The year is evenly divisible by four.

2. If the year is evenly divisible by 100, it is not a leap year unless…

3. The year is also evenly divisible by 400.

This means that the years 1800, 1900, and 2000 were not leap years, nor will 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, or 2500 be.

Countries often created their own traditions to explain or celebrate these special years. One that goes back centuries states that on a leap year, woman had the opportunity to propose marriage to men instead of the other way around. However, if a man refused the proposal he owed the woman a kiss and a silk gown, as long as she was wearing a red petticoat at the time of the proposal.

What traditions will you create on this special day, during this special year? Will you take advantage of this extra day to accomplish a goal you’ve been putting off? Will you use the extra time to finish a task you’ve been procrastinating? Perhaps you will use this day to reach out to a loved one you’ve lost touch with. What ever you do, make sure to capitalize on the extra 24 hours you’ve been given!

Here at The Plano Dentist, we think it’s important for patients in the Dallas area to know the right way to choose a dentist, whether you’re choosing a cosmetic dentist or a family dentist. Although it may seem easy to just pick a name out of the phone book, Dr. Jones has some recommendations that can make the selection process more effective for you. Since you and your dentist will become long term partners in the quest for a beautiful smile and excellent oral health, it’s best you know a thing or two about this dental professional.

Dr. Jones suggests calling an office and asking these questions:

1. What continuing education has the dentist taken in the last 12 months? Your dentist of choice should be keeping up with all of the newest developments in technology, diagnosis, and treatment.

2. How long will it take to perform my initial examination? A thorough dentist will set aside at least an hour or more to do a complete exam and consultation.

3. What is included in my initial exam? You should want a thorough, effective exam that will protect you and your long-term health. These things include:

a. A check of all your teeth for decay including the current condition of any existing restorations.
b. A full series of X-rays rather that just four “bite-wings” if the total condition of your dental health is being evaluated thoroughly.
c. A complete and thorough check of the health of your gums with a periodontal probe.
d. A check of your bite should be made to determine how your teeth come together.
e. There should be an oral cancer exam to check for any signs of oral cancer.

4. Ask when the dental team went through Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliance training. OSHA has very clear guidelines for dental offices to follow in order to maintain the highest standard of sterilization and infection control.

Other things Dr. Jones recommends making a mental note of:

1. Is the reception area tidy, organized, neat, and clean?

2. Are you seen on time? It may not be realistic to expect the dental practice to be right on schedule all the time, but it is realistic to expect to be told within 10 minutes of your arrival if there will be a time delay.

3. Is the restroom near the reception area neat and clean?

4. Are the doctor and the members of the dental team good examples of proper dental health and hygiene? Do they have attractive smiles?

The above suggestions are just some of the things you can ask and observe in order to make the right choice of a dentist who will serve you and your needs the best. Take the time to ask the right questions so you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that you are in the best hands for what you want for the long-term health of your mouth and your smile.

There were several early Christian martyrs named Valentine; however, no romantic elements were present in the original biographies of these martyrs. The first recorded association of Valentine’s Day with romantic love is in Parlement of Foules written by Geoffrey Chaucer in 1382, in honor the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia. He wrote:

“For this was Saint Valentine’s Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate.”

In present times, Valentine’s Day has become linked with love, romance, happy couples and gift exchange. Honor your significant other, or attract a new one, by showing off a beautiful, white, healthy smile.

Dr. Jones recommends making sure your breath is kiss-ably fresh by brushing, flossing and rinsing with antibacterial mouth wash twice a day.

Keep your smile white and bright by getting regular cleanings to remove built up plaque and tartar, as well as brushing soon after eating or drinking items that can stain teeth.

The most important thing to remember is to smile! If you are not happy with your smile, let us know. Dr. Jones would be happy to work with you to design a new, custom smile that shows off your best assets.

Happy Valentine’s Day

You’re in line waiting to pay for your groceries at the super market; the shelves next to the check out counter are lined with a myriad of gums and mints. You grab a pack of gum and a container of mints and toss them on the conveyor belt with the rest of your items. You would hate to be on the way to a date, a job interview or lunch out with your friends and be caught with bad breath.

The Council of Scientific Affairs published a report that stating that 50% of the US population has bad breath at any one time. And of that 50%, half of that group has chronic halitosis.

Halitosis (bad breath) is a term used to describe noticeably unpleasant odors exhaled in breathing. Halitosis combines the Latin halitus, meaning ‘breath’, with the Greek suffix osis often used to describe a medical condition

There are over 600 types of bacteria found in the average mouth. If you don’t brush and floss your teeth daily, food particles can remain in your mouth, which promote bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. This causes bad breath.

Dr. Jones suggests these strategies for dealing with bad breath:

• Cleaning the tongue surface twice daily using a toothbrush, tongue cleaner or tongue brush/scraper.

• Chewing gum: Since dry-mouth can increase bacterial buildup and cause or worsen bad breath, chewing sugarless gum can help with the production of saliva, and thereby help to reduce bad breath.

• Gargling right before bedtime with an antibacterial mouthwash.

• Practice good oral hygiene, including daily tongue cleaning, brushing, flossing, and regular visits to dentists and hygienists. Flossing is particularly important in removing food debris and bacterial from between the teeth, especially at the gum line.

If you you’re concerned that you might be suffering from bad breath, give us a call or come by to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jones…because, everyone deserves to smile!

At The Plano Dentist, we always expect the best, but prepare for the unexpected. Being a mother herself, Dr. Shih knows how crucial it is to protect the safety of our children. As a result we are providing ToothPrint kits FREE to local children.

ToothPrints was developed by a pediatric dentist who began using dental bite impressions to protect his own children. The ToothPrint kit consists of a wafer that records the size and shape of the child’s bite characteristics, the child’s DNA captured in saliva, your child’s information (name, nickname, hair color, eye color, etc), and your child’s picture.

The process is very simple. Dr. Shih simply softens the wafer in warm water, the child bites down on the wafer and his/her dental imprint, along with his/her DNA, is captured on the wafer. The wafer is placed in a sealed plastic bag and parents are then instructed to store the bag in the freezer to protect the DNA sample.

Like fingerprints, dental imprints are personal and unique to every child, so ToothPrints can provide an exact means of identification. Schools and law enforcement agencies use and recommend this product for children of all ages.

Call or stop in our office to get your kit. The safety and protection of our children is our #1 priority! Your FREE ToothPrint Kit will help keep your child safe.

In recent times, the fight against cancer has received much media attention, mostly the fight against breast cancer. Dr. Shih warns that a very common type of cancer is often forgotten and overlooked when it comes to protecting your health…Oral Cancer.

The American Dental Association states that only half of all patients diagnosed with oral cancer survive more than five years, usually because the diagnosis happens so late. What can be alarming is that although the use of tobacco and alcohol are risk factors in developing oral cancer, approximately 25% of oral cancer patients have no known risk factors. In addition, there has been a nearly five-fold increase in incidence in oral cancer patients under age 40, many with no known risk factors. Dr. Shih wants to change these statistics by educating her patients and others in the Dallas area.

Signs and Symptoms:
• A sore that bleeds easily or does not heal.
• A color change of the oral tissues.
• A lump, a thickening, a rough spot, crust or a small eroded area.
• Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips.
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving the jaw or tongue.

Risk Factors:
• Alcohol use combined with smoking.
• Prolonged exposure to the sun increases the risk of lip cancer.
• Oral Cancer is more likely to strike after age 40.

Prevention and Detection:
• Avoid tobacco and alcohol use.
• Regular dental check-ups, including an examination of the entire mouth.
• Studies suggest that a diet high in fruits and vegetables may prevent the development of potentially cancerous lesions.

At The Plano Dentist, Dr. Shih explains that screening for Oral Cancer will be done during each routine check-up. The exam will include looking for lesions, areas of abnormal cells (white or red patches), as well as checking all mucous membranes. If Dr. Shih sees a suspicious area, he then utilizes Velscope technology. The Velscope uses tissue fluorescence, which is an optical phenomenon that causes abnormal tissue to appear a different color.

Patients can rest assured that Dr. Shih takes your total health very seriously and is doing all he can to keep you safe and healthy.

The Silent Killer has recently received much attention in the media because of its connection to a myriad of other health problems. A National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), involving 10,000 Americans between the ages of 18 and 74, found that people with periodontal disease were much more likely to be diagnosed with heart disease than those without periodontal disease.

Dr. Shih is concerned that many people don’t know they have gum disease because it doesn’t always hurt. After all, for years the first question the physician asks a patient has been “what are your symptoms” or “where does it hurt?” Therefore, people are trained to think something is wrong only if it hurts.

Unfortunately, people’s ignorance here could result in many other health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, premature birth and fertility problems.

Dr. Shih wants to educate her patients on the risks, symptoms and prevention techniques for this Silent Killer.

Risks:
• General illness.
• Poor dental hygiene.
• Pregnancy.
• Uncontrolled diabetes.
• Tobacco smoking or chewing.
• Some types of medication such as steroids, some types of anti-epilepsy drugs, cancer therapy drugs, some calcium channel blockers and oral contraceptives.
• Bridges that no longer fit properly.
• Crooked teeth.
• Fillings that have become defective.

Symptoms:
• Bleeding gums (blood on toothbrush even with gentle brushing of the teeth).
• Bright red or red-purple appearance to gums.
• Gums that are tender when touched, but otherwise painless.
• Mouth sores.
• Swollen gums.
• Shiny appearance to gums.
• Gums that have pulled away from the teeth.
• Persistent bad breath or bad taste.
• Permanent teeth that are loose or separating.
• Any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite.
• Any change in the fit of partial dentures.

Prevention:
• Brush your teeth well twice a day.
• Clean between your teeth every day.
• Eat a balanced diet.
• Visit your dentist regularly.

Dr. Shih believes the good news is that gum disease is preventable by taking good care of your teeth every day and having regular dental checkups.