Ask Dr. Ehrmantrout: What's the deal with Halloween candy?

We hope everyone is off to a great week! To follow-up on last week's post about October being National Orthodontic Health Month, we thought we'd discuss the negative effects Halloween candy (and candy in general) has on your teeth, especially while you're undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Even soft candy is bad when it comes to braces! Not only do the chewy, crunchy and messy candy's create issues but all candy. Sugar sits in your teeth and above, in between and under brackets and wires. The best thing is sugar free candies, but make sure they are not chewy. If they are hard, suck on them - don't chew whatever you do do not chew! But all in all we know there is no such thing as sugar free candy on Halloween, so best advice is, "Just be careful, and have fun!" :)

PS, instead of all that candy Halloween, we encourage you to check out these braces-friendly Halloween recipes, provided by our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists.

Braces & Photoshop

This is an awesome way to get rid of your braces in your pictures! Adobe Photoshop is amazing and you can get a free trial! Anyone out there getting photos professionally done, you can request them do this to your pics instead of getting braces removed!

What's your New Year's resolution?

2010 has come and gone, so Dr. Ehrmantrout and our team thought we’d ask: what was memorable about 2010 for you, and what are you most looking forward to in 2011? Do you have a new year's resolution, or any exciting plans for the coming year?

Have a safe and happy New Year, to all our patients, friends, family, and all our dental and medical colleagues in Lacey, Olympia, University Place and surrounding communities.

Also, for those patients who have appointments we will be open in the Hawks Prairie office today (Monday) and Tuesday, the 27th and 28th of December from 8:30 am- 4 pm. The West Olympia Office will be CLOSED until Monday January 10th. If you have any questions please feel free to call us at (360) 491-4884.

Otherwise, see you in 2011!

What's going on at Dr. Ehrmantrout's office lately?

We are newly located in West Olympia, conveniently by Starbucks, a popular hangout, as well as Westfield Mall! There are some really good restaurants around, like Red Robin. Our Hawks Prairie Location is also by some good food, like the Sushi Go Round and The Ram. Walgreens is right next door as well, which is a huge convenience. There are some cool events that go on this time of the year - a favorite spot of our patients is the Rutledge Corn Maze, which we are also incorporating into our current office contest!

Lastly, our entire staff will be attending the next Damon Forum in Florida this upcoming January! The whole staff will be attending various continuing education classes, including how to make the most out of your visits to our convenient offices in Lacey and Olympia.

Hawks Prairie Orthodontics present: 7 tips for traveling with teens

Perhaps you're busy planning that perfect family vacation for the whole family? At Hawks Prairie Orthodontics, we know that summer is the season when many families choose to hit the open road—or catch a flight—to make those memories together.

That’s why we want to share a few tips for summer travel from our friends at Yahoo! Shine.

1) Have your teens set the pace—and even the itinerary. No teen wants to be dragged around a city that they have no interest in, by allowing everyone a voice in the trip itinerary, children and parents alike become more invested in the vacation.

2) Everyone offers up a playlist. A trip soundtrack isn’t complete without a hodgepodge of every family member’s favorite tracks!

3) Set a limit on phones/electronics use. This decision has to be specific to your family, but a good rule of thumb is that if you’re setting the rules for minute limits or check-ins that all family members should stick to them—not just teens and tweens.

4) Keep food & drinks on hand. Sometimes a snack is all you need to stay cheery- hunger can oftentimes create unnecessary arguments and tension between families.

5) Don’t make them clean the hotel room. While on vacation, the same rules that apply at home for cleaning don’t necessarily apply while staying in a hotel.

6) Set a gift shop budget. These costs can add up quickly, so be sure to set limits ahead of time!

7) Give them a little freedom. When traveling with tweens and teens, it is important that they are able to have some areas, maybe a five-block radius or even the hotel lobby, where they are able to wander without the whole family.

We hope that these tips are useful for helping plan those family vacations! For more articles on parenting and for the parenting pick of the day, check out Shine. Also, if you have any great family vacation photos, feel free to share them on our Facebook page!

Happy travels everyone!

Dr. Ehrmantrout, reminding you to get those checkups

Dr. Zach Ehrmantrout wants to know: are you brushing twice a day during your orthodontic treatment? If the answer is yes, that's phenomenal! But, it’s also important for your child to visit the dentist every six months in addition to brushing their teeth a couple times a day, flossing (and visiting Hawks Prairie Orthodontics as recommended by Dr. Ehrmantrout during your treatment). Our staff will tell you regular dental checkups are vital for maintaining good oral health. Your dentist can:

• Check for problems that might not be seen or felt
• Detect cavities and signs of tooth decay
• Treat oral health problems early
• Show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth, even during your treatment

During an exam, your dentist usually will check the health of your child’s mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups also typically include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If your child has not been to the dentist in the past six months, it’s time for you to schedule an appointment!

If you don't have a general dentist in Lacey, Olympia or nearby communities, please ask us and our staff will be happy to provide a few names for you!

Happy Friday and enjoy your weekend!

What are people saying about Dr. Ehrmantrout and Hawks Prairie Orthodontics?

Dr. Zach Ehrmantrout loves getting patient reviews. And lately, our team at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics, serving Olympia, Lacey and surrounding communities, have been getting some pretty great patient testimonials from current and former patients! We thought we'd share some with you today! Happy Monday!

"The whole office was nice, and Dr. Ehrmantrout is really easy going, and patient." ~ Stephanie M.

"It is a nice, comfortable, friendly atmosphere. Staff seem to be very happy and enjoy their jobs." ~ Terra H.

"I am very impressed! The office is very nice. Kelli was not only extremely friendly, but also didn't mind conversing about unrelated things!! She is truly wonderful and full of great ideas! Anyone that takes this much time to "DO IT RIGHT" and has an amazing staff as he does...MUST BE ON TOP OF HIS GAME!"
~ Ramona P.

"The kindness and patience of everyone. Dr. Zach knew my name which made me feel like I was important. I was able to carry on a conversation with my "helper" and they answered any questions I had. There have been a couple of occasions where I did something to my brackets or wire and they were able to fix it right away without any hesitance." ~ Erica M.

Tell Dr. Ehrmantrout: What are you up to this summer?

As the school year comes to a close for a lot of Dr. Ehrmantrout's patients, the days get longer and the temperatures climb in the Northwest, there’s no better way to beat the heat than jump into a pool and cool off. For a lot of people here in Lacey and Olympia, summer brings a chance to get away from it all and escape every-day life, if only for a week or two. For others, it means a season of relaxation and relief from homework and other duties.

What about you?

What are your plans for summer? Do you have any interesting plans for a summer vacation? Does your family have a vacation or family reunion planned that has become a tradition? Please feel free to share your summer plans and experiences with us on our Facebook page as the summer rolls along!

Play it safe this spring, from Hawks Prairie Orthodontics

April, also known as National Facial Protection Month, is upon us, and for Dr. Ehrmantrout and our staff at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics that only means one thing: it’s once again time to remind our dear patients to protect their faces and pearly whites. According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, children, high-school athletes and adults will have more than 5,000,000 teeth knocked out in sporting events this year.

For Dr. Ehrmantrout and our staff, that’s simply unacceptable.

Above is a helpful video from our friends at the AAO about staying safe on the ball field this spring. We hope the above video helps. If you have any further questions about any of the tips offered in the video, please contact our staff by calling 360-352-6376, and we’ll try to answer any question you may have. And remember to have fun and stay safe!

At Hawks Prairie Orthodontics, 24/7 access to your account

At Hawks Prairie Orthodontics, Dr. Ehrmantrout and our team embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative orthodontic treatments that we offer, our high-tech web site and social networks, or our modern offices conveniently located in Lacey and Olympia.

Did you know that patients at our office have access to their account, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on our web site? You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages! Just see what a few of our patients are saying about this service!

"I like being able to confirm appointments using email. I also like being able to see progress with the pictures." ~ David J.

"Love the reminders by email and am able to share the appointment info and pictures with spouse that cannot attend appointment." ~ Ramona P.

"It helps to be able to look at my appointments and financial information." ~ Lisa K.

"I can double check when our appointments are and I like that I can check the balance on our account whenever I want." ~ George S.

You can sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please call the team at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics if you have any questions!

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!!

Dr. Ehrmantrout and team wish you happy holidays!

The holiday season is upon us, and as Dr. Ehrmantrout and his team at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics reflect on the past, we’d like to ask you: What do you love about the holidays? Being with your loved ones? Opening presents by the fireplace? All the delicious food? Also, what gift are you most looking forward to getting this year?

We’d love if you shared with us all the things you love about the holidays. Stay warm, and don’t forget to stay away from those sweets!

--Dr. Ehrmantrout and the team at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics

Updated staff bios and photographs!

Have you recently wondered what Dr. Ehrmantrout's team looks like? With the addition of the new "Meet the Staff" page on our web site, you can view our happy faces and even read short bios about us.

While you're cruising through our site, you may stop by and learn why choosing Dr. Ehrmantrout as your orthodontist is a good call. Or you can read a few testimonials posted by our loyal patients.

Call us if you have any questions! Happy Tuesday!

Patient reviews for Dr. Ehrmantrout!

Dr. Ehrmantrout and his team love getting patient reviews. And lately, Hawks Prairie Orthodontics, serving Lacey, Olympia and surrounding areas of Washington, has been getting some pretty great reviews! We thought we'd share some with you today! Happy Tuesday!

"The employees are very welcoming and patient. I love the technology as well." ~ Sarah W.

"Dr. Ehrmantrout is gentle with our daughter and he takes his time with her. He also is willing to explain things that we dont understand. The staff is great too...." ~ Marc T.

"Max likes your staff and we feel comfortable taking him to a state of the art facility! It's a very comfortable setting!" ~ Janice P.

"He took time to get to know us and was very helpful on explaining what the process for a better smile would be like." ~ George S.

Dr. Ehrmantrout and team want to know: What did you do in November?

Believe it or not, we’re almost in December – and in full holiday mode! But before you go celebrating, Dr. Ehrmantrout and team want to know: Did you do anything exciting this month? Do you have plans for Thanksgiving? If so, we'd love to hear all about it!

You may share your stories with us here, on our social networks or by giving us a call!
--The team at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics

A great fall braces-friendly recipe! From Hawks Prairie Orthodontics

Fall is here, and sometimes we here at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics just feel like a hot delicious meal is in order. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) made an appetizing (and braces-friendly!) fall dish that is sure to delight. Dr. Ehrmantrout would like to remind you that a healthy diet provides essential nutrients and helps you achieve the best possible result from your orthodontic treatment.

Pasta Pomodorini
Ingredients:
•¾ pound spaghetti or spaghetti
•¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
•¼ cup sliced garlic
•½ teaspoon finely minced Calabrian chilies, or 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
•1 pint small cherry tomatoes, stems removed, crushed between your thumb and forefinger
•Sea salt, preferably gray salt
•½ cup fresh basil leaves, each torn into 2 or 3 pieces
•Wedge of Parmesan cheese

Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta. While the pasta cooks, heat the 1/4 cup olive oil in a large skillet over moderate heat. Add the garlic and cook until the slivers are golden brown and crisp, then add the chilies and cook for about 30 seconds. Raise the heat to high and add the tomatoes. Simmer briskly to soften the tomatoes and thicken the juices, about 3 minutes. Season with salt. When the pasta is al dente, scoop out about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta. Return the pasta to the warm pot off the heat. Add the sauce and the basil and mix well. Add some of the reserved cooking water if the pasta seems dry. Transfer to a warmed serving bowl and grate Parmesan over the top to taste. Drizzle with a little more olive oil. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.

Enjoy this great fall dish and have a great rest of the week!
--From the team at Hawks Prairie Ortho

Oral Piercing: Is It Worth It? Dr. Ehrmantrout Has the Answer

Piercing, like tattooing, is one of today’s popular forms of “body art” and self-expression. If you’re thinking about getting a piercing – or if you already have one or more – there are some health risks you should know about.

Your mouth contains millions of bacteria, and infection is a common complication of oral piercing. Just touching your mouth jewelry (tongue barbells and lip and cheek labrettes) can lead to infection. Many people who have piercings tend to regularly touch them – which is a perfect opportunity for bacteria from hands to enter piercing sites. Also, food particles that collect around piercing sites can lead to infection.

Pain and swelling are other possible side effects of piercing. Your tongue – the most popular piercing site in the mouth – could swell large enough to close off your airway! Piercing also can cause uncontrollable bleeding or nerve damage. Damage to the tongue’s blood vessels can cause serious blood loss.

The hoop, ring, stud, and barbell-shaped jewelry can hinder your ability to talk and eat. Some people also develop a habit of biting or playing with their piercings – which can lead to cracked, scratched teeth; gum damage and recession; and sensitive teeth. There may also be a need for restorations, such as crowns or fillings, and additional dental treatment due to piercings.

Consider the potential pitfalls of piercing carefully before getting one. Keep in mind that it will be an added responsibility to your life, and will need regular upkeep. Make sure that you’re committed to the task of taking care of it for the full healing period and beyond.

If you have an oral piercing, pay special attention to it. Clean the piercing with antiseptic mouthwash after eating, and brush the jewelry when you brush your teeth. Of course, let us know if you have any questions.

--Dr. Ehrmantrout and the team at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics

Keeping you safe this cold & flu season, from Dr. Ehrmantrout and team

Traditionally cold and flu season starts in Fall, but this year it seems to have started much earlier and with the number of patients canceling appointments because of flu and H1N1 symptoms our office is taking additional precautions to help prevent the spread of germs.

To promote a healthy and clean environment, we give a great deal of attention to sanitation and sterilization in our office at all times as well as following all requirements for sterilizing instruments and work surfaces.

For the protection of our doctor, other patients and staff, we always ask that patients reschedule their appointments if they have any type of cold or illness that can infect others.

Maintaining and protecting oral hygiene equipment is also important this flu season. To protect your toothbrush from bacteria follow these steps:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing
• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen
• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster
• Replace toothbrush after every cold or flu or every 3-4 months when bristles appear worn

Hope this helps! Stay healthy!

--The staff at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics

Continuing Education At Hawks Prairie Orthodontics

When not working with patients at our Lacey and new Olympia offices, Dr. Ehrmantrout and staff are working to continue their education in the field of orthodontics through forums, study groups, and seminars.

Quarterly Invisalign Study Clubs

Every quarter, Hawks Prairie Orthodontics hosts an Invisalign study club for dental hygienists in the community. The next study club will be held at our new Olympia office on July 29th. Our hope with these events is to educate the dental and orthodontic community on the best practices of one of the most talked about treatments in the field, Invisalign. Dr. Ehrmantrout has treated many Invisalign cases the community, and will soon be receiving his Invisalign Premier Provider certification.

Annual Damon Forum

Each year, the entire team attends the Damon Forum, a yearly educational gathering for orthodontists offering the Damon System. We learn about new technologies and treatments to serve our patients better.

Levin Group Practice Management Seminar

Hawks Prairie Orthodontics is not just about Dr. Ehrmantrout and the clinical assistants. Our front office staff help our day to day operations, and help make your experience at our office enjoyable and worry-free. Therefore we are participating in a practice management seminar this week to find new and better ways to run both of our orthodontic offices.

All of these educational opportunities mean when you visit us at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics, you can rest assured that we are keeping up with the cutting edge of orthodontic technologies and practice, and providing you the highest level of service.