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Because we want to strictly adhere to every standard recommended by the Texas state board of dentistry and ensure your continued protection, we are postponing opening our practice due to a delay in the arrival of our personal protective equipment. We anticipate a new opening date of Monday, May 18. But as always, we will continue to keep our PDC families updated of any new developments or changes in the schedule. Thank you for your understanding, flexibility and trust in our office

May 4, 2020
To our patients,

We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. Due to COVID-19 Pandemic, our community has been through much over the last few months. Our entire team is eager to see our patients and continue establishing excellent oral health for your children.

On April 30, Texas Governor Greg Abbott along with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners agreed on a declaration that cleared the path for some elective dental procedures to resume as early as May 1. We plan to reopen as soon as possible and will be taking this time to train our staff on the new PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) rules set forth by the Texas State Dental Board. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety!

Infection control and PPE has always been a top priority for our practice for everyone. Our office has always followed infection control and PPE 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). In order to meet and exceed these recommendations there will be some changes as we resume patient care.

We are also revising our schedule to follow new state guidelines for reopening. We will be calling over-due patients first to schedule your next appointment. While happy to be returning to our office, this pandemic is far from over and as cases of the virus still remain prevalent in our community. We will take guidance from state and local health officials in case we have to alter the schedule again.

Here are some changes you may see when it is time for your child(ren)‘s next appointment.

Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions regarding your child and the parent accompanying your child. You’ll be asked those same questions again the day you come in.
We ask that everyone sanitizes their hands as they enter the office.
You may see all of our team members wearing masks, we ask that you wear one as well.
You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.
Patients are accompanied by only one adult to minimize the number of people in our office space.
Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.
Please wait in your car and alert us to your arrival via phone or text so that we can reduce the number of patients in the waiting area at any one time.
Due to the extra equipment that is required, an additional safety fee of $5 may be collected at your appointment to cover these new expenses. We apologize for an inconvenience this may cause but feel that it is necessary to keep everyone safe.

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 214-321-4880 or visit our website at www.PDCkids.com. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends. Thank you for being our patient!

Sincerely,
Dr. Karina Marr
Dr. Anna H. Seo
The Entire PDC Team

Extractions

TOOTH EXTRACTIONS RESTORE ORAL HEALTH

We always strive to protect your child’s natural teeth but sometimes removing a tooth is the best solution to protect overall oral health. Teeth work both individuals and as a part of an interconnected framework including your jawbone, gum tissue, and supportive structures. When a tooth threatens daily comfort and dental health or compromises nearby tissues, it is often most beneficial to perform an extraction as a part of a long-term treatment plan to restore your child’s smile.

About Extractions

Your Child’s Comfort

We offer sedation dentistry solutions, including oral sedation or IV sedation for children in need of extra relaxation. Please speak with us if your child experiences dental anxiety, so we may choose an appropriate solution. In addition to sedation, we will begin an extraction like we do other pediatric treatments – by ensuring your child feels at ease, knowledgeable, and comfortable. Before extracting the tooth, Dr. Marr will numb the tooth and surrounding tissues.

What to Expect

Once your child feels relaxed and the target tooth is numb, Dr. Marr will gently loosen the tooth and then remove it with dental forceps. We will then provide you with aftercare instructions, which will primarily include making sure your child leaves the affected area alone while clots form. Clots act as the body’s natural healing process – a dislodged clot may lead to an uncomfortable disorder called dry socket that will require additional treatment. Your child will need to rest and eat soft foods while his or her mouth heals.

Reasons For Extractions

Baby Tooth Removal

In some cases, a baby tooth may not develop in the ideal position or may not fall out at the appropriate time. To inhibit the need for additional treatment down the road, we may remove the baby tooth to permit the permanent tooth below to erupt successfully.

Unhealthy Tooth Removal

Restorative treatments like fillings and root canals may not be able to rescue a tooth suffering from severe decay or infection. An extraction may provide an immediate source of relief, though depending on the specific circumstances, the tooth may need to be replaced.

Preparation for Orthodontic Care

Particularly in smiles suffering from overcrowding, the strategic removal of teeth may make room to accommodate orthodontic treatment.