The results are in for our Summer Recipe Contest!

Our staff at Erkis & Hickman Orthodontics has voted and the results are in for our Summer Recipe Contest! Congratulations to the following winners.

Appetizer: Sausage Balls, Natalie, Tiffany, and Trisha Reed

Main Dish: BBQ Ribs, Lynn Weaver

Side Dish/Salad: Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Pecans and Spiced Maple Sauce, Andy Price

Dessert: Homemade apple sauce, Maddy Katz.

The winners each received an AMC Movie gift card. Thank you so much to all of our patients and families who participated in the contest. --- All of the recipes were delicious! Stay tuned for our next contest!

A few helpful webisodes about orthodontics

Dr. Ron Erkis, Dr. Lynnsay Hickman, and our team at Erkis & Hickman Orthodontics would like to point you to a few interesting webisodes about orthodontics, located on the YouTube page of the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

There, they tend to post some very pertinent videos about orthodontic treatment, as well as state-of-the-art technology in orthodontia. These include "Orthodontic Treatment Basics," "Common Bite Problems Seen in Children" and "Does My Child Need Braces?"

We think you may find these webisodes interesting, as well as enlightening. If you have any questions about the videos, or your treatment here at Erkis & Hickman Orthodontics, please give us a call.

What was your favorite part of Summer 2011?

The end of Summer and then subsequently the beginning of Fall are just around the corner. Soon the temperatures will cool down, the leaves will start to change, and we’re sure that you’ll be thinking about Halloween costumes and Thanksgiving plans.

But wait! First, we want to know: What were your favorite parts of the Summer of 2011? Did you go on a wonderful family trip? Did you pick up a new hobby? Did you try to spend as much time outside and in the sun as possible?

Share your favorite memories, stories, or photos with us by leaving a comment below or on our Facebook page.

-Dr. Ron Erkis, Dr. Lynnsay Hickman, and team

When should you call Erkis & Hickman Orthodontics?

Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have put together a helpful list that outlines when you should call Drs. Ron Erkis and Lynnsay Hickman.

Here are some early warning signs indicating it’s time to check in with us:

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth
2. Difficulty of chewing or biting
3. Mouth breathing
4. Finger sucking or other oral habits
5. Crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
6. Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude
7. Speech difficulty
8. Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
9. Protruding teeth
10. Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
11. Facial imbalance or asymmetry
12. Grinding or clenching of teeth

Do any of these warning signs fit you? If so, give us a call as soon as possible!

Hope this helps,

-Drs. Erkis, Hickman, and our team

20 things that can ruin your smile

At Erkis & Hickman Orthodontics, we know your smile is important. And we know you want to keep it sparkling and looking its very best. Recently, we came across an article that suggests at least 20 things can ruin that perfect smile you have.

These include:

- Sports drinks
- Bottled water
- Tobacco
- Wine
- Soft drinks
- Citrus and acidic foods

Drs. Ron Erkis and Lynnsay Hickman encourage you to read the rest of the article and ask us here on our blog or during your next visit to our convenient Reynoldsburg office. For more tips or for general questions about your ongoing dental treatment, we invite you to ask Dr. Erkis or Dr. Hickman during your next visit! We also invite you to ask us on Facebook!