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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.

One of the questions we hear often, is "When should my child see an orthodontist?"

As a parent, we know that you want what is best for your child. Great orthodontic care is part of that. A beautiful smile can help your child feel more confident, and we love seeing that as we work with our young patients through the process of orthodontic treatment.

Dr. Jeff Erickson, likes to see kids at age 7. He says, "That gives us the opportunity to look and see if there is anything really pressing that we need to take care of."

As a St. George, Utah orthodontist, Dr. Erickson has the chance to work with many young patients. He is so passionate about early orthodontic care that he created the Orthodontic Specialists Kids' Club.

What Happens When you Join the Kids' Club?

The Kids' Club is a great opportunity for St. George kids to find out when it is the perfect time for them, individually, to start receiving orthodontic care.

We start doing growth checks at 7 years old. Once kids are old enough to join the Kids' Club, they come for a visit every 6 months. We include a free X-ray on their initial visit so Dr. Erickson can evaluate what their future treatment needs may be.

The vast majority of young kids don’t require orthodontic treatment yet. However, for those that do, if we don’t catch it around age 7, it can be impossible to treat at a later age. In addition, significant, irreparable harm may occur. This is the reason why we do complimentary consultations every 6 months for our Kids Club. We care about your child and we don’t want to miss anything.

Our youngest patients love coming to see us for their Kids' Club visits. Our waiting room has iPads available to keep kids occupied while they wait, although we pride ourselves on having very short wait times.

Kids' Club visits take place in our Growth Check Room, which has books and toys to entertain younger patients during their visit.

As part of the Kids' Club, kids come back for growth checks every 6 months until Dr. Erickson determines that they are ready to begin formal orthodontic treatment.

We love when our youngest patients come to visit. Being a part of the kids' club is a great opportunity for parents make sure their kids get the orthodontic treatment they need at the perfect time.

Click here to see the see Dr. Erickson explain more about the process.

Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog. Please check back often for weekly updates on fun and exciting events happening at our office, important and interesting information about orthodontics and the dental industry, and the latest news about our practice.

Feel free to leave a comment or question for our doctors and staff - we hope this will be a valuable resource for our patients, their families, and friends!