Season's Greetings from Dr. Ehrmantrout & team!

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

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 Holidays from all of us at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics!

Share your winter break plans with us!

Dr. Zach Ehrmantrout and our team at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics want to know: what do your winter plans look like? Do you have any plans for an exciting family vacation? Are you hanging out around town? Catching up on sleep? Spending time with friends? Let us know!

Please feel free to share your exciting winter plans and experiences with us here or on our Facebook page! We would like to wish all of our patients and their families a safe and fun holiday season!

How important is your smile? From Dr. Ehrmantrout

We hope you had a great Thanksgiving! With our Hawks Prairie Orthodontics office in Lacey, Washington and our Olympia Orthodontics office in Olympia, our expert orthodontist and talented staff are committed to excellent in orthodontics and we aim to provide patient-oriented care with your best interests in mind.

Dr. Ehrmantrout and team know having a beautiful smile is important to you. And it's important to us, too.

And speaking of smiling, in a poll conducted by Glamour Magazine earlier this year, people were asked, “If you had to pick between having perfect teeth, eyesight or hair, which would you choose?”

Well, 44 percent of folks out there chose teeth! In addition, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, or AACD, conducted a study and found that 99.7 percent of those polled believed a smile is an important social asset. Respondents said straightness, whiteness, cleanliness, as well as the sincerity and sparkle of one’s smile were all important factors not only socially, but career-wise as well.

As a native of Olympia, Washington, Dr. Ehrmantrout is an orthodontist dedicated to providing beautiful smiles in a comfortable, caring, and convenient environment. Give us a call to schedule your free initial consultation today! See you soon!

A season of thanks

With Thanksgiving almost upon us, it’s a great time to ask ourselves what we’re thankful for. With our friends and family around us.

We here in the office are thankful to each other, always a positive, fun environment, Dr. Ehrmantrout and all of our patients! :)

We hope that this Thanksgiving and holiday season brings fond memories. Thank you for being part of our family.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ask Dr. Ehrmantrout: “I got my braces. Now what?

We love when patients ask us that question! Now that you’re wearing braces, it’s just as important to maintain a good oral hygiene regimen as you did before before orthodontic treatment began.

Braces are known to trap food particles and make it difficult to brush or remove plaque, which is why Dr. Zach Ehrmantrout and our team recommend that you brush and floss after every meal. We also encourage you to use a proxabrush to help with the smaller areas where your toothbrush doesn’t reach. We encourage the use of fluoride rinse as well; ask Dr. Ehrmantrout for a recommendation.

When your braces are initially placed, your teeth are likely to be very sensitive. You may experience discomfort for up to 3 or 5 days, which is why we encourage you to eat soft foods during that time. Remember, the less pressure you put on your teeth, the less discomfort you will have.

You may also be thinking, “Okay, so what can I eat?” We would encourage you to avoid eating sticky, hard, crunchy or chewy snacks that can stick to your teeth.

Our team at Hawks Prairie Orthodontics will tell you it’s crucial to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. In the event of a loose/broken wire or bracket, please call our Lacey or Olympia office immediately to schedule an appointment for repair.

Ask Dr. Ehrmantrout: “I’m 30 – am I too old for orthodontic treatment?”

Thanks for the question - at our Lacey and Olympia office, NOBODY is "too old" for braces!

In fact, our staff read a fascinating statistic recently: the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed 24 percent since 1996! Yes, braces help make your pearly whites strong, healthy and perfectly-aligned, but perhaps another reason for the spike in adult braces is this: people want to look and feel great. In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned and sparkling teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing—wisely, we might add—to invest in orthodontics. Orthodontic treatment with Dr. Zach Ehrmantrout can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Dr. Ehrmantrout would love to have you visit for a free initial consultation. Please give us a call to set one up!