Ask Drs. Erkis & Hickman: How can Invisalign® benefit my oral health?

When considering treatment options, patients often ask us how Invisalign treatment is so different than traditional braces. Well, there are more reasons to smile about Invisalign with Drs. Erkis & Hickman than you may know. Invisalign is a series of removable aligners that are nearly invisible, and besides straightening your teeth, can improve your oral health. Here’s how:

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 even 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 Drs. Erkis and Hickman the next time you’re in for an appointment. Or, you may post your question on our Facebook page! You can also read this article for more information on Invisalign and your oral health.

With Drs. Erkis and Hickman, a pursuit of excellence

At Erkis & Hickman Orthodontics we make every effort to provide you with the best orthodontic treatment. For us that means achieving consistently great results. There are many things that help Drs. Erkis and Hickman do that. Some of them are included in our office vision:

1. We will aspire to be the best in our field.

2. We will give more than expected.

3. We will strive to understand others and deliver the highest level of service.

4. We will always be honest and forthright in our dealings.

5. We will always have the highest ethical standards.

If you or a family member has been thinking about orthodontic treatment, please give us a call. We look forward to seeing you.

Summer travel tips for the whole family, from Drs. Erkis & Hickman

Hey, parents! Are you planning that perfect family vacation for the whole family? Here at Dr. Ron Erkis & Dr. Lynnsay Hickman, 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, courtesy of our friends at Yahoo! Shine.

1) Have your teens set the pace—and even the itinerary. Allowing everyone a voice in the trip itinerary, so that both children and parents are 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 music 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 and 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 where they are able to wander without the whole family.

We hope these tips are useful for helping you plan that perfect family vacation this summer! Also, if you have any great family vacation photos, feel free to post them on our Facebook page! Happy travels!

- Your friends at Drs. Erkis & Hickman

Drs. Erkis & Hickman present: A refreshing (and braces-friendly) summer recipe!

Now that the summer heat is finally passing through Reynoldsburg, OH and surrounding areas, our team at Dr. Ron Erkis & Dr. Lynnsay Hickman would like to share with you a great summer recipe. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) made an appetizing (and braces-friendly!) summer chicken wrap that is sure to delight. Remember, a healthy diet provides essential nutrients and helps you achieve the best possible result from your orthodontic treatment.

Soy Simmered Chicken Wraps

Ingredients:

• 3 boneless chicken breast halves
• 2 large onions, chunked
• Small flour tortillas (pkg. of ten) wheat or white
• (optional: 10-16 oz. of cooked chopped broccoli)
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup water
• 2 Tablespoons honey
• 1/8 teaspoon ginger
• 2 Tablespoons peach or apricot jam
• 1 Tablespoon cornstarch

Directions:

In a slow cooker, or a large pan on the stove, layer the onions and the chicken breast. Allow at least three hours in the slow cooker on medium, or at least one hour on the stove—the longer the better, but you don’t have to do anything to it while it cooks. Spoon out the chicken onto a cutting board, and with a knife and fork, shred the chicken as finely as you’d like. In a small saucepan, stir all sauce ingredients together over medium heat until the mixture starts bubbling, then let it simmer for five minutes on low heat to thicken. In a serving bowl, stir sauce and onion into chicken; if you’d like, add cooked chopped broccoli. Makes about six to eight servings.

Have a great weekend!

-Dr. Ron Erkis & Dr. Lynnsay Hickman