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!

Halloween safety tips from Hawks Prairie Orthodontics

Trick-or-treat! In the spirit of today's sweet and spooky holiday, Dr. Ehrmantrout and team would like to remind all of our patients to be safe while celebrating with friends and family tonight. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists were kind enough to provide trick-or-treaters with some tips for a ghoulishly good time.

A few Halloween safety guidelines:
• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
• Carry a flashlight
• Wear a light-colored or reflective costume
• Choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins
• Have an adult inspect all treats before the children dig in

Many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters who are going through orthodontic treatment. If you happen to damage your braces, please give us a call immediately. Typically, small problems can be solved over the phone.

Dr. Ehrmantrout & our entire team wish you all a safe, fun and happy Halloween!

Video Contest at Dr. Ehrmantrout's Office!

ATTN: We have a NEW Contest!!!! Starting November 1st through January 31st our new office contest will be a video contest! Record a video on your phone, camcorder, or computer about our office! make it funny and creative, the best video will be chosen January 31st and the winner will receive a visa gift card! Please send all submissions to dr.evideocontest@gmail.com. Good luck!

Remember to schedule your adjustment visits!

Please be aware that wearing orthodontic appliances or braces without regular supervision can permanently damage teeth and gums with possible loss of teeth

If you have moved and do not plan on returning to our office, your records can be transferred to another orthodontist if we have a written request from you.

We hope to hear from you soon!

Sincerely,

Dr.Ehrmantrout and staff.