12 Early Signs of Orthodontic Problems in Children

Because orthodontists can spot subtle problems with jaw growth or teeth while a child still has primary or “baby” teeth present, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends all children get a check-up with an orthodontic specialist no later than age seven.



Some problems are not so subtle, and you may notice them early on. If you see any of the following signs in your child, please make an appointment with Dr. Ehrmantrout immediately. (If your child is younger than seven, it is not necessary to wait till his or her seventh birthday to visit our office.) We want to identify any problems as early as possible so that we can implement the appropriate treatment at the appropriate time for your child’s individual needs.

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth
2. Difficulty in chewing or biting
3. Mouth breathing
4. Finger sucking or other oral habits
5. Crowding, misplaced, or blocked-out teeth
6. Speech difficulty
7. Jaws that shift or make sounds
8. Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
9. Teeth that stick out too far
10. Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don't meet at all
11. Upper and lower jaws that don’t line up
12. Grinding or clenching of teeth

If your child is displaying any of these signs, contact us and set up an appointment!

Nifty "Eggs"periment from Dr. Ehrmantrout and Hawks Prairie Orthodontics

Summer is drawing near. If the little ones aren’t going to camp, you may run out of ideas to keep them occupied. Why not use a fun and simple science experiment to focus their attention for a while? At Hawks Prairie Orthodontics, we found one that includes a lesson about why it’s important to brush teeth to make plaque go away.

Gather the items you will need for this experiment:

--1 hard-boiled egg with the shell on
--12 ounces of Coke, Pepsi or other dark-colored cola
--1 container large enough to hold the cola and egg
--1 plastic bowl
--1 toothbrush
--1 drop of fluoride toothpaste
--Clean-up supplies

Explain to your child that plaque is a sticky layer of germs that collects on her teeth. If she doesn’t brush, plaque can cause serious problems for her teeth, for example holes in the teeth (cavities) or swollen gums (gingivitis). Tell her that you are going to do an experiment to see how plaque coats her teeth, and why brushing twice a day is important for healthy teeth and gums.

Conduct the experiment:

1. Make the comparison between the white color of the egg and the white color of your child's teeth.

2. Place the egg into the container and pour the cola over it, so that it completely covers the egg.

3. Let the egg sit in the cola for 24 hours.

4. Remove the egg from the cola. The egg will be stained and yellowish.
5. Explain to your child that the colored layer that has appeared on top of the eggshell is just like the layer of plaque that occurs on her teeth.

6. Place the egg in the plastic bowl and give your child the toothbrush with the drop of toothpaste on it.

7. Let her brush the "plaque" off of the egg. The yellowish film will disappear, exposing the white eggshell. Explain that the same thing happens when she brushes her teeth.

Enjoy from Hawks Prairie Orthodontics!

Baby Teeth and Gums Need Special Care

One question we hear all the time at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics is “When should I start brushing my baby’s teeth?”

You should begin regular cleanings even before your baby has teeth. After each breast feeding – or bottle-feeding – use a clean, damp washcloth to gently rub your baby’s gum tissue. You can wrap the material around one finger to make it easier to remove any food bits from your baby’s mouth.

When your baby’s first tooth comes in switch to a baby toothbrush. Look for special baby toothbrushes in your drugstore – they have just a few bristles and are very soft. There are even brushes shaped like finger puppets that fit over the tip of your pointer finger! All you need at this point is water – no toothpaste yet.

After a few more teeth appear, you can start using toothpaste, but you only need a tiny bit, and make sure it doesn’t contain fluoride for the first three years. From the beginning, have your little one practice spitting the toothpaste out after brushing. That way, he or she will already have the good habit of spitting when you switch to fluoride toothpaste, which should never be swallowed.

If you have any questions about caring for your baby’s teeth, please contact Dr. Ehrmantrout.

Patient of the Month Contest at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics

At Hawks Prairie Orthodontics, we know how important it is to have a fun time with your orthodontic treatment. That is why we like to have frequent contests and prizes. One of the contests that we have is a Patient of the Month Contest
Once a month, Dr. Ehrmantrout draws one name from our raffle basket of fantastic patients. In order to be entered into the drawing, you have to earn a raffle ticket by following these rules:

1. No broken or failed appointments
2. No loose, broken, or missing brackets, bands, wires, appliances.
3. Have exceptionally clean teeth and gums
4. Wear rubber bands as instructed

Every patient should have the opportunity to enter the raffle several times throughout treatment, and there is no limitation to the number of times you can win.

The patient of the month will receive a prize which is different each month.

So come in now, maybe you could be April's lucky winner at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics.

((In the photo is our February winner Jazz with our staff member, Laurie. Congratulations Jazz!))

Everybody's Brushing with Dr. Ehrmantrout!

Everybody's brushing with Hawks Prairie Orthodontics! Watch this fun video and show your kids to get them excited about oral hygiene!

Setting the Stage: Orthodontic Treatment in Two Stages -- Hawks Prairie Orthodontics

When most people hear the phrase "orthodontic treatment" they picture a pre-teen in braces. At Hawks Prairie Orthodontics, we tailor your treatment plan to your individual needs and in some special cases, we may recommend starting earlier, sometimes even when a child still has his baby teeth?

In certain circumstances, diagnostic records make it evident very early on that developmental problems are in the works. Some examples include an upper or lower jaw that is growing incorrectly, or a situation in which there is not enough room in the mouth for all the teeth to erupt, or a severe malocclusion (the orthodontic word for "bad bite" which means the jaws don't come together properly).

Some patients with these special conditions will benefit from "two-phase treatment" which consists of two distinct periods of orthodontic treatment, the first occurring prior to the eruption of permanent teeth, and the second taking place some time later, after permanent teeth have come in.

Orthodontic work is best performed during stages of rapid growth. Should your child be a candidate for two-phase treatment, we will schedule the two phases based on typical patterns of dental development for your child's age group.

Phase One treatment generally does not involve braces, though in particular cases it may. More common is the use of other appliances, such as a palatal expander, which helps direct the growth of the jaw. In most cases, Phase One treatment serves to prevent or intercept a problem that could otherwise cause trouble in a child's future development. If the child's teeth are in an extreme state, this phase can also improve self-esteem. The ultimate objective of Phase One treatment is to provide a well-aligned, healthy environment within the jaw and mouth, into which the permanent teeth can erupt.

Phase Two treatment most often takes place quite a bit later than Phase One, after permanent teeth have erupted. This phase usually consists of more conventional treatment with braces, and serves to align the teeth properly in the mouth, building upon the foundation that was established during Phase One.

Remember that every patient is unique, and thus every treatment plan is unique. At Hawks Prairie Orthodontics, we carefully examine x-rays, photographs, and diagnostic records to determine the optimum treatment for your child's individual needs. Give us a call today to come in for an orthodontic consultation.

Age Seven 7 is the Magic Number for an Orthodontic Check-up

Many parents assume they must wait until a child has all of his or her permanent teeth, only to find that treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Some orthodontic problems are easier to correct while the jaw is still growing. Consequently, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven.

What’s so great about age seven? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for an orthodontist 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. Contact us today at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics to schedule a consultation.