The importance of retainers, from Drs, Erkis and Hickman

If you recently completed orthodontic treatment with Drs. Erkis or Hickman, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Drs. Hickman or Erkis will provide—or have provided you by now—with retainers.

After braces are removed, the teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime. Here are some things to remember when you receive your retainers:

* Wear your retainers full time, until Drs. Erkis or Hickman instruct otherwise.
* Take your retainers out when eating...and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)
* Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and only a small amount of toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water.
* When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case.
* Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, give us a call immediately.
* Remove retainers when swimming or during any sporting activity in which the retainers could fall out and get broken or lost (cheerleading, basketball, etc.) or when you should be wearing a mouth guard (football, soccer, lacrosse etc.).

We hope this helps! You can always contact our team if you have any questions!

Tell Drs. Erkis and Hickman: What's on your mind?

By now, you know the drill: Each week, Drs. Erkis and Hickman blog about important topics pertinent to orthodontic care and your well-being. This week, we thought we’d step back a little and ask: what’s on your mind? What would you like to know about the always-changing field of orthodontics? What would you like us to focus on our blog? Perhaps there’s something you’ve been wanting to ask Drs. Erkis or Hickman for a while? Let us know by posting here or on our Facebook fan page!

So… take it away and we’ll try to answer any questions you may have!

Adult orthodontics with Drs. Erkis and Hickman

Who’s afraid of “metal mouth” and the appearance of braces? Not adults, apparently. Recently, our staff read a fascinating statistic: adults getting braces has jumped 24 percent from just 14 years ago! Yes, braces help make your pearly whites strong, healthy and perfectly-aligned, but perhaps another reason for the spike in adult braces is this: cosmetics. In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing to invest in orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic treatment with Drs. Erkis or Hickman 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, Drs. Hickman and Erkis would love to have you visit for a consultation. Give us a call to set one up!

Ask Drs. Erkis and Hickman: 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 visit Drs. Hickman or Erkis, only to discover treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Did you know the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven?

That’s right—seven.

Ok, so what’s so great about age seven, you ask? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Drs. Erkis and Hickman to make a determination about whether any problems are present. 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 are detrimental to good oral hygiene. So, if your child is nearing his or her seventh birthday, give us a call to schedule an appointment.