Orthodontic fun facts with Dr. Ehrmantrout!

Everyone loves fun facts. Fun, fun, fun. The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has come up with some fun facts about orthodontics that Dr. Ehrmantrout and our team at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics thought you might enjoy.

• There are nearly 4 million people in orthodontic treatment throughout the United States. Three out of four are younger than 18.

• The first mechanical treatment for correcting irregular teeth was suggested by Gaius Plinius Secundus (A.D 23-79).The American Association of Orthodontists is comprised of more than 12,000 members in the United States, Canada and abroad.

• The time required to complete orthodontic treatment ranges from 12 to 36 months depending on the nature and severity of the problem.

• Of the 160,000 dentists in the United States and Canada, 8,000 are practicing orthodontists.

• The cement that attaches the braces to the teeth is now made with a special fluoride-releasing substance.

• Wires activated by body heat used in today's braces originally were developed by NASA for use in the space program.

• Famous orthodontic patients include: Dr. Joyce Brothers, Hale Irwin, Cher, Diana Ross, Phyllis Diller, Chelsea Clinton, Whoopi Goldberg, Daisy Fuentes and Brandi.

Tackling sports injuries with Dr. Ehrmantrout

At Hawks Prairie Orthodontics, we know how important it is to protect your face. The spring months bring an increase in outdoor activities and a greater chance of damaging your mouth and pearly whites. Dr. Ehrmantrout and our team also know sports-related injuries are common among children. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, 70 percent of parents said their biggest worry is that their child will get hurt while playing sports. That’s why the team at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics are doing our part to spread the word that facial sports injuries can be avoided simply by reminding your kids to wear mouth guards. Ask us—Dr. Ehrmantrout may recommend the best mouth guard for you.

In addition, the AAO has provided the following tips for keeping your kids safe on the field. Please remind them to:

• Wear mouth guards during contact sports
• Wear a helmet
• Stretch before and after a game or practice
• Wear protective eye wear
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
• Be observant—even as a spectator

All of these can reduce injuries. Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Be sure to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements Dr. Ehrmantrout is trying to achieve. Lastly, please give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics.

Ask Dr. Ehrmantrout: When should my child come in for a check-up?

Many parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to come in and see the team and Dr. Ehrmantrout, only to find that treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Did you know the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven.

Ok, so what’s so great about age seven, you ask? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Dr. Ehrmantrout to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites and open bites can be detected.

Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and detrimental to good oral hygiene. So if your child is nearing age seven, please give us a call at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics to schedule an appointment.

A few helpful videos about orthodontics, from Hawks Prairie Orthodontics

Dr. Ehrmantrout and his team at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics would like to point you to a few interesting webisodes about orthodontics, located on the YouTube page of the American Association of Orthodontics, or AAO. There, they post some very pertinent videos about orthodontic treatment, and the new technology in orthodontia. These include "Orthodontic Treatment Basics," "Common Bite Problems Seen in Children" and "Does My Child Need Braces?"

We think you may find these webisodes interesting, as well as enlightening.

If you have any questions about the videos, or your treatment here at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics, please give us a call.

Happy New Year from the entire Hawks Prairie Orthodontics team!!