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Greetings, everyone!

In order to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus, the American Association of Orthodontists has recommended that we do everything possible not to see patients in the office from now until the beginning of April.  

We want to comply with this recommendation, and still, make sure each of our patients are well taken care of. 

With this in mind, we will do the following:

• Reschedule the majority of scheduled patients from March 23-March 31.  
• Dr. Erickson will be reviewing each patient individually who is scheduled to see us during this time, and we will be scheduling phone or video calls with Dr. Erickson where he can review treatment progress, and make recommendations.  It will require some flexibility on everyone’s part, but we can make it work.   
• Continue to have appointments available to make patients comfortable from poky wires, loose appliances, etc.  
• Please call the office at 435-673-9661 to schedule these appointments.  Please reserve this for truly urgent needs. 

When visiting the office please do the following:

• • • Come no more than 5 minutes early to your appointment.  The waiting area will be closed. 
    • Have just the patient come to the office.   
      • We will gladly call parents after the appointment so they can stay in their vehicles. Parents of young children are welcome to come to the office if necessary.  Please call the office as you send your child up if you have questions.  
    • Do not come to the office if you or someone you have been exposed to has experienced or is experiencing fever or even mild flu-like symptoms. Please call us before an appointment if this is the case and we can review how to best take care of your needs while reducing the risk to others. 

For visits to the office, we will do the following:

• We will be taking forehead temperatures before patients come into the clinic
• Patients will be asked to wash their hands and possibly voluntarily rinse with Hydrogen Peroxide prior to being seen in the clinic.
• Patients will be spread out in the clinic to stay at least 6 feet from other patients.

We will have elastics, wax, and other supplies available for you to pick up from the office during non-patient hours.    

In order to make this process work smoothly, please do not come to the office if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms or have a fever, or have been exposed to anyone who has experienced these symptoms within the last two weeks.   

We appreciate your flexibility and understanding.  We are grateful for the chance to take care of your orthodontic needs and look forward to returning to a more “normal” state as soon as possible.  As we all follow recommendations from the CDC of social distancing and proper hygiene, we will get there sooner.  

Sincerely, 

Dr. Jeff Erickson

We wanted to keep you updated on our response to the coronavirus.   Here are a few brief takeaways

• We will continue to see patients at our office for their regularly scheduled visits. 
• We will continue to use appropriate precautions, including appropriate sterilization and sanitation procedures. That being said, there will be less handshaking and more fist-bumping.  
• We will be following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and recommendations from state and local government.  The CDC’s updated recommendations are available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• We will continue to keep you updated with any changes to how we normally deliver orthodontic care.  

We would also ask that you please do the following:

• Call and reschedule your orthodontic appointment if you have a fever and flu-like symptoms or you have been exposed to someone who is suffering from those symptoms.  
• Call us if you have any questions
• Practice great hygiene. 

Here is some information from the CDC:

Household members should follow normal preventive actions while at work and home including recommended hand hygiene and avoiding touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

• • Additional key times to clean hands include:
    • After blowing one’s nose, coughing, or sneezing
    • After using the restroom
    • Before eating or preparing food
    • After contact with animals or pets
    • Before and after providing routine care for another person who needs assistance (e.g. a child)
• Household members should clean hands often, including immediately after removing gloves and after contact with an ill person, by washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol may be used. However, if hands are visibly dirty, always wash hands with soap and water.
•  You can find more information at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/index.html

We are also accepting new patients, and are happy to see your friends and family for an initial consultation.

Like you, we look forward to moving past this situation and are grateful for your patience as we work together to Create Confident Smiles.  

Have a great Spring Break!

Dr. Jeff Erickson and the Team and Orthodontic Specialists

Here at Orthodontic Specialists, we understand that Orthodontics is about more than just teeth--it’s about relationships. We are very fortunate to have such an amazing staff in our St. George, Utah office.

Many of you have had the chance to get to know our staff members, like Darrien Maurer, one of our fabulous chairside assistants. We interviewed Darrien so she could share a bit more about herself.

Interview with Darrien Maurer

Tell us about what you do for Orthodontic Specialists:

I have worked for Dr. Erickson for a little over three years. I am a chairside assistant and love every aspect of it. I enjoy getting to know each of our patients and helping them achieve a confident smile! Working for Dr. E has brought me out of my comfort zone and helped me be able to be more outgoing.

I am lucky enough to get the opportunity to work with my mom. She is a lab technician and a chairside assistant.  I am the oldest of four kids.

I have lived in Saint George my whole life and would not have it any other way. I love the beautiful red mountains and the great weather.

What is your favorite thing about the office culture?

My favorite part about our office is how much fun we have with our patients. Not a day goes by where I don't laugh and joke around with someone.

What is your proudest moment at Orthodontic Specialists?

I am proudest when I remove someone's braces and witness them smiling uncontrollably. There is not a greater feeling than knowing you helped someone become happier with the way they look and boost their confidence.

What do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time, I love to hike and camp with my two dogs and my boyfriend. I also enjoy hanging out at the lake in the summer and horseback riding!

What is something most people probably don't know about you?

Most people would probably never guess that I did pageants as a child and was Miss Hawaiian Tropic. I am also obsessed with roller coasters. Six Flags Magic Mountain is my favorite theme park!

Before working at Orthodontic Specialists, what was the most unusual or interesting job you've ever had?

Before I was hired at Orthodontic Specialists I worked as an office assistant for a Custom Home Builder. It was extremely interesting because I was able to see the home building process from start to finish. From the first blueprints to the finished product. It gave me a real understanding of how much hard work is put into a home.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see more of what happens behind the scenes in our office.

Are you thinking about starting orthodontic treatment? Our St. George, Utah orthodontist office works to make your first visit (and every visit after that) as comfortable as possible. There are a few things that you need to know before starting orthodontic treatment. Our staff is happy to answer all of your questions.

Starting orthodontic treatment is exciting, but it can also be a bit intimidating if you do not know what to expect. Dr. Erickson, as an orthodontist in St. George, Utah, wants to help make the process of starting orthodontic treatment as easy as possible.

We asked our staff to share some of the most common questions they get from new patients.

How often will I need to come into the office?

This is an important question, because we know that everyone has a very busy schedule. The frequency that you will need to come into the office will depend on how extensive the treatment that you need is.

You will need to come into the office every 6-8 weeks, depending on your treatment plan.

Starting orthodontic treatment is a commitment, and we are confident you are going to be so happy with the end results. Skipping appointments can prolong your treatment so it is important that you make your orthodontist visits a priority.

We do our best to make your visits convenient by having very short wait times and providing a variety of appointment times for you to choose from.

How will I keep my teeth clean with braces on?

One of the most frequent questions we get from new orthodontic patients is about how to keep teeth clean while you have braces on. Keeping your teeth clean is so important. We recommend continuing to have dental visits every 6 months for cleanings. 

Brushing and flossing daily helps prevent cavities and keeps your gums healthy. With braces on, you will have to change the way you brush and floss. We have tips to help you brush more effectively with braces here.

Many of our patients have had good luck using a powered toothbrush to clean their teeth more effectively.

Food can get stuck in braces so we recommend brushing after each meal, whenever possible.

What can I eat while I have braces on?

Your diet may need to change slightly while you go through orthodontic treatment. Some foods can get stuck on braces or break your braces.

Dr. Erickson says, "Try to avoid anything that is really stick or really hard. That will actually take the braces off. We also want you to avoid chewing on ice. That actually ends up not only breaking your braces, but can break your teeth as well. That way you can keep your braces on and we can shorten your treatment time."

While some foods may need to be avoided while you have braces, you still have a lot of options. We have some great food options here in St. George, Utah, and we want you to be able to enjoy as many of them as you can.

Do braces hurt?

The process of putting braces on is not a painful experience.

You'll get molds done of your teeth so we can make special trays when we put your braces on. The mold feels like mashed potatoes in your mouth, and takes about a minute to complete. This helps us make a perfect replica of how your teeth look.

We use this mold to make special trays to put your braces on. This process is called indirect bonding and makes it very easy to put braces on. You can learn more about the process we use here.

Dr. Erickson says, "When you go home, your teeth and your lips, and your cheeks are not used to braces so you will be sore for a few days. Typically we recommend, if patient's need it, to have a little bit of ibuprofen for the first couple of days. In addition to that, you may have some sore spots. Your lips and your cheeks can get a little bit sore. We give you some wax, and that will help. If you have any problems, all you have to do is call. Most of the time if something is sore we can do something about it and make you comfortable in about 5 minutes."

How much do braces cost?

The cost of braces varies, depending on the treatment that you need, and for how long. Everyone's teeth are different. We offer free consultations, including X-rays, so that Dr. Erickson can create a custom treatment plan for you and then we can let you know exactly what the cost of your individual treatment will be.

To schedule an appointment for a consultation, give us a call at (435) 673-9661.

Watch this video to see Dr. Erickson discuss 5 of the most frequently asked questions he gets.