Congratulations to Lydia, our contest winner!

Here is Lydia, a recent contest winner at our office. She won a limousine ride from school to the mall in west Olympia, as well as shopping and dining out at the mall with her friends. Olympic Limousine provided the services.

Here is the criteria for entering the drawing:
1. Excellent oral hygiene
2. No broken brackets, appliances, or wires
3. On time for the appointment
4. Excellent elastic wear if wearing elastics

We also have daily points awarded, called "Trout Dollars" based on the same criteria, in which the patient can accumulate dollars to purchase prizes from our "Trout Store," such as gift cards to restaurants. Remember, every quarter we have a drawing for a prize. You could be our next winner. Call us and ask about upcoming contests!

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.

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.

The Damon System at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics: What's the advantage?

We've blogged about The Damon System in the past, and today thought we'd remind you about this revolutionary new braces system that can give you better results in less time! We did this partly because a lot of our patients, (especially you parents!) come to Dr. Ehrmantrout thinking traditional braces are the only answer to straight teeth.

Are you a candidate for the Damon System? Dr. Ehrmantrout will evaluate your eligibility for the Damon System, and the procedure can be performed for children and adults alike!

What makes Damon braces better? Probably the biggest advantage of Damon braces over traditional brackets is the amount of time and effort involved. Dr. 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.

In addition, the Damon System brackets are:

• Cleaner- Damon brackets don’t have the elastic of traditional brackets, and are less prone to all the plaque buildup that your dentist warns you about!
• Discreet- Damon braces are smaller and have fewer parts than traditional brackets, making them less noticeable and more comfortable.
• No tightening- With the Damon system, Dr. Ehrmantrout can position your teeth and avoid frequent adjustments. This also reduces the need for complicated tooth extractions or surgery.

If you have been thinking about an orthodontic procedure, come see us in our Olympia or Lacey locations for an assessment to see if the Damon System is right for you!

Hawks Prairie Ortho wants to know: What puts you at ease?

Dr. Ehrmantrout understands not everyone is thrilled to see their orthodontist. But, the team at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics strive to bring you the best and most comforting experience at every visit. Tell us: What is it about our office that makes you comfortable or puts you at ease? Is it something about our amiable environment or our friendly staff? Dr. Ehrmantrout himself?

Let us know by posting here or by giving us a call! Have a great week everyone!

Ask Dr. Ehrmantrout: What is the benefit of Invisalign® Teen?

Dr. Ehrmantrout knows image is everything. At an age when image is so important, the thought of having metal brackets and wires constantly attached to teeth may intensify the already-delicate confidence of today's teens. But... not to worry! There is a clear alternative to traditional braces! The team at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics thought we'd remind you that Invisalign Teen gives you a whole new way to wear braces for a "clearly" amazing smile!

For many teens, Invisalign Teen offers a trouble-free, clear alternative to traditional braces; and not only that, but it offers them the chance to have straight teeth without losing self-confidence!

So how does Invisalign Teen work? Invisalign Teen works in the same way as Invisalign, but with a few added characteristics tailored specifically to teenagers’ lifestyles. For instance, Invisalign Teen is designed with “compliance indicators” that fade from dark to light during the two week period that particular tray is used and once it has faded teens know to change trays. Each aligner comes with up to six free individual replacement aligners in case the original aligner ends up lost or broken. Another big benefit for the patient!

The treatment period for Invisalign Teen varies from nine to 18 months. If your teen is considering orthodontic treatment, please contact us and we’ll answer any questions you may have about Invisalign Teen.

Happy Tuesday!