Damon system animation - Hawks Prairie Orthodontics

Here is a cool animation about the Damon system that we proudly offer at our Lacey and Olympia office.

Probably the biggest advantage of Damon braces over traditional brackets is the amount of time and effort involved. Dr. Zach Ehrmantrout and our team at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics can often cut months off of the total treatment time for patients using the Damon System, and less visits to our office are necessary to make adjustments.

Dr. Ehrmantrout is a leading specialist in this system! Give us a call to learn more!

Do we have your current contact info?

We are looking at bad winter this year and want to be prepared. At times of power outages and bad weather, we need to be able to get a hold of you. Please contact us at (360) 491-4884 with any updates to phone numbers and addresses, so we may be able to reach you. Thank you and Happy Holidays from Dr. Ehrmantrout and Staff!

What do you enjoy most about fall in Lacey and Olympia?

It’s fall here in the Pacific Northwest, a time when the leaves change colors, the air becomes crisp, and families begin to make plans for Thanksgiving and the holidays.

Today we wanted to ask you, our amazing patients, how are you spending your time this fall? Dr. Ehrmantrout and our team would love to hear about your favorite places for eating, shopping, and entertainment within our Olympia and Lacey communities. We are interested in learning about what makes our unique community “yours.”

Feel free to post your responses on our Facebook page, or give us a call!

At Hawks Prairie Orthodontics, easy and reliable access to your account any day, any time!

Access to your account, 24/7. Sounds simple and convenient, doesn’t it?

Patients at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics enjoy access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our website. You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, all from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

You, too, may sign up for this convenient service on our website by clicking on the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please give us a call at 360-491-4884 if you have any questions about getting started! Or, you may ask us on Facebook!

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.

Love your smile? Then we invite you to review us on Google!

Happy Friday! Whether you've visited Dr. Zach Ehrmantrout for a week, months or even years, we'd love to hear your feedback about how our Olympia or Lacey office has fared during your orthodontic treatment. There are lots of places on the Web where you may share your reviews, but we'd like to direct you to our Google Local Page to write a review of us - it only takes a moment!

You may write your review here.

Thanks in advance and have a joyous and relaxing weekend!

Ask Dr. Ehrmantrout: Why start orthodontic treatment before school begins in September?

With the dog days of summer close to wrapping up, most kids are getting ready – albeit reluctantly – to head back to class for another school year. For many kids and teens, starting orthodontic treatment before school commences in September can give teens (and their parents) a peace of mind.

Starting treatment during the summer or right before school is convenient, and allows patients to come at times of the day where school would interfere. Dr. Zach Ehrmantrout and our team do all of our long bonding appointments in the morning time, so doing so during summer is great for our patients! Also, it allows kids and adults to get used to having appliances in their mouths, therefore dealing with it at school is less of a problem. Summer is a great time to start treatment!

Have you been thinking about straightening your pearly whites? We encourage you to give us a call at 360-491-4884 for a complimentary consultation! Happy Friday!

Play the Trout Dollar Game at our office!

This is exciting.

If you refer five people who start treatment (braces or Invisalign) with Dr. Ehrmantrout, you could win an iPad! There are prizes for each referral who starts along the way! All you have to do is tell your friends to tell us YOU referred them and you could be the lucky owner of an iPad, iPod, a $100 Visa gift card and more!

Make sure you let us know when you refer a friend! Have a great friend!

Invisalign and your oral health

At Hawks Prairie Orthodontics, we see smart patients who often ask Dr. Ehrmantrout how Invisalign treatment is so different than getting traditional braces. Well, there are more reasons to smile about Invisalign than you may know. Invisalign, which is a series of removable aligners that are nearly invisible, manages to straighten your teeth just as effectively as traditional braces, all while improving your oral health. Here’s how Invisalign can help improve your health, while shaping your healthy, beautiful smile:

Healthy gums: Straight teeth allow a close fit for gums. This lessens the gum stress that is caused by crowded or widely spaced teeth, thus also reducing red and swollen gums.

Easy cleaning: Invisalign is removable, therefore brushing and flossing is easier and you are able to maintain a healthy mouth. These habits are vital to avoiding tooth decay, plaque, and gum disease.

Improved speech and chewing: Properly-aligned teeth don’t have the discomfort or compound speech impediments that can be caused by crowded teeth or a deteriorating jawbone.

If you have any questions about Invisalign, just ask Dr. Ehrmantrout the next time you’re in for a visit. Or, you may post your question on our Facebook page!

This summer, will you be a part of the Braces Brigade?

Dr. Ehrmantrout and staff want to know: how would you like to blog about your experience in braces AND come away with a $100 American Express gift card? Thanks to the American Association of Orthodontists' Braces Brigade campaign, you can do just that!

To complete your Braces Brigade application, you'll need to provide your:

* Name
* Age – Must be 14 years of age or older
* E-mail
* Phone number
* Stage of orthodontic treatment
* A photo of your braces/smile
* A sample blog post – picture yourself as a member of Braces Brigade and show off those blogging skills! (100-word minimum)


Here's how it works: In your blog, you'll answer the following questions:

• Why did you decide to get orthodontic treatment at Dr. Ehrmantrout's office?
• What advice would you share with other orthodontic patients?
• What does it feel like to get braces on?
• What foods do you miss the most?
• What new foods have you discovered?
• Do your friends have braces or retainers?
• Where is the first place you’re going to show off your new, beautiful smile?
• How has your new smile changed your life?

If you happen to be under 18, your parents must fill out a consent form along with your official entry, giving you permission to enter the contest.

We strongly encourage you to apply for the Braces Brigade! If you get accepted, let us know during your next visit or post on our Facebook page!

Patient question: What should I avoid doing during my treatment?"

Most times, when our patients get their braces on, they know it's time to part with some unhealthy habits. One of those habits is biting their nails. Fingernail biting and chewing on lips and pencils can be very damaging to the enamel on your teeth also changes how you are biting down on a day to day basis. Nail biting can be harmful to your braces and cause you to break brackets, hence delaying your treatment with Dr. Zach Ehrmantrout. Kicking that habit can be the best thing you can do for yourself.

Also, hard candies and mints can damage your teeth and give you cavities. Especially if you chew those candies. The pure sugar can get crunched into your teeth and linger there for a long time. Avoiding these are the best thing you can do.

If you feel the need to chew mint. Choose sugar free mint gum. Which you can also chew with braces as long as it is sugar free.