Love your smile? Tell the world about it!

Hilgers Orthodontics is always family friendly! We treat adults, teens, and children - no matter what your age, we believe you deserve a great smile. Our warm, welcoming staff is touted for their skill and hospitality.

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation with Dr. Mike Hilgers or your family has been visiting our Goodyear office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback. You can write a review on our Facebook page or on our Google listing!

Ask Dr. Hilgers: “I’m 29 – am I too old for braces?”

Thanks for the question, and of course not!

Recently, we came across an article that reported adults getting braces has jumped 24 percent from just 15 years ago! In fact, did you know one of every five patients in orthodontic treatment is over the age of 21?

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 that promotion, adults are choosing to invest—rather wisely—in orthodontics. While orthodontics are often associated with teenagers, adult orthodontics and braces at our Goodyear office can achieve amazing results for adult patients. Orthodontic treatment at Hilgers Orthodontics can be successful at any age, and our dedicated staff knows that adults especially appreciate the benefits of a gorgeous smile.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Dr. Mike Hilgers would love to have you visit for a consultation. Please give us a call to set one up!

Ask Dr. Hilgers: What's the deal with retainers?

If you recently completed treatment at Hilgers Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Michael Hilgers will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, however, always 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 by Dr. Mike is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.

To learn more about the advantages of wearing retainers after your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Mike, please read this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth or give us a call!

How important is your smile?

Dr. Mike and our entire team at Hilgers Orthodontics are family-friendly! We proudly treat adults, teens, and children - no matter what your age, we believe you deserve a great smile.

And speaking of smiles, in a new poll conducted by Glamour Magazine, people were asked, “If you had to pick between having perfect teeth, eyesight or hair, which would you choose?

Well, 44 percent of folks out there are choosing teeth! In addition, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, or AACD, conducted a study and found that 99.7 percent of those polled believed a smile is an important social asset. Respondents said straightness, whiteness, cleanliness, as well as the sincerity and sparkle of a person’s smile were all important factors not only socially, but career-wise as well.

Call us to schedule your orthodontic consultation! (623) 935-3908

Get to know your braces! From Hilgers Orthodontics

Should you need to call Hilgers Orthodontics in case you sustain any damage to your braces, we can help you more effectively if you can tell us exactly which piece is in trouble! Here’s a handy diagram and corresponding list of all the parts that make up your braces.



Elastic Tie: Tiny rubber band that fits around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Archwire: The main wire that acts as a track to guide the teeth along. It's changed periodically throughout treatment, as teeth move to their new positions.

Loop in Archwire: Frequently used for closing space left by an extraction. Many archwires don't have a loop.

Bracket: Small attachment that holds the archwire in place. Most often, a bracket is cemented directly onto the tooth's surface, eliminating the need for a band.

Headgear Tube: Round, hollow attachment on the back bands. The inner bow of the headgear fits into it.

Coil Spring: Fits between brackets and over archwire to open space between teeth.

Tie Wire: Fine wire that is twisted around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Band: A thin ring of metal fitted around a tooth and cemented in place. The band provides a way to attach the brackets to the tooth.

Hook: Welded or removable arm to which elastics (rubber bands) are attached.

Elastic (Rubber Band): Small rubber band that is hooked between different points on the appliance to provide pressure to move the teeth.

Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions!

--Dr. Hilgers and team.

When should you call Hilgers Orthodontics?

Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have put together a helpful list that outlines when you should call Dr. Hilgers. 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!

Children and Mouthguards

Pat Smith, wife of Emmitt, encourages use of mouth guards

According to a recent survey by the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), 67 percent of parents admitted that their child does NOT wear a mouth guard during organized sports such as football, baseball, basketball, soccer and lacrosse. The statistic validates an unsettling trend: Orthodontists and dentists are seeing young patients suffer oral and facial trauma as a result of sports injuries.

Sadly, many of these injuries could have been minimized, or even prevented, if the child had been wearing a mouth guard. To help spread the word that mouth guards save smiles, Pat Smith, wife of Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Emmitt Smith and mother of four, has teamed up with the AAO to encourage mothers across North America to take the Moms For Mouth Guards Pledge. In taking the pledge, moms promise that their children will consistently wear mouth guards and other protective gear during competitions and practices.

As part of the AAO Sport Safety Program, the Moms For Mouth Guards Pledge is being launched in conjunction with National Facial Protection Month, in April. By taking the Moms For Mouth Guards Pledge online, parents and coaches can help to make sports play safer for kids while making a difference in the lives of other young athletes as well. Each time someone takes the Moms For Mouth Guards Pledge, the AAO will make a donation to the National Alliance for Youth Sports to help protect the smile of a child.

“Injuries to the face and mouth can happen in an instant,” said Smith. “That’s why it’s so important for kids, especially those with braces, to wear mouth guards and other protective gear while playing sports. Part of our job as parents is to help protect our children on and off the field and that’s why I’m leading the charge to get moms and coaches to take the Moms for Mouth Guards Pledge.”
One Signature Can Help to Save A Smile

According to the Centers for Disease Control, baseball, soccer, basketball and football account for about 80 percent of all sports-related emergency room visits for children between 5 and 14 years of age. The AAO survey also revealed that one out of every four (27 percent) parents said their child has sustained an injury during an organized sport that resulted in a trip to the emergency room. By taking proactive measures and requiring children to wear facial protection and mouth guards, parents and coaches can help prevent injury and keep young athletes in the game.

“Using a mouth guard is one of the most inexpensive and simple measures parents and coaches can take to help keep their kids safe during sports,” said Robert J. Bray, DDS, MS, president of the AAO. “As experts in helping patients achieve a healthy, beautiful smile, the last thing my colleagues and I want to see is a smile ruined by a preventable injury.”

Orthodontics - New York Business Journal

New York - Orthodontic treatment is the best option if you are looking for beautiful, straight teeth. Solution for Dental MalocclusionsDental inconsistencies when left untreated can cause serious health problems at a later stage. Through utilizing effective orthodontic treatment procedures permanent solutions can be obtained for dental malocclusions including crooked teeth, protruding teeth, overcrowded teeth, extensively spaced teeth, underbites, crossbites, overbites, and openbites. Elimination of these dental imperfections definitely provides you with a beautiful smile and enhanced facial charm. Moreover, perfectly aligned teeth guarantees excellent physical health, effectively eliminating gum diseases, tooth loss, irregular wear of tooth surface, speech impairments, and chewing and digestion disorders. Treatment Involves Two PhasesOrthodontic treatment procedures are mainly performed in two phases, the active phase and the retention phase. In the active phase procedures with dental braces are carried out to straighten your misaligned teeth. In the retention phase, procedures with retainers are performed to fix the teeth in their new positions. Orthodontists first make a thorough evaluation of your teeth, jaws and facial structure through x-rays, photographs and bite impressions. Based on the findings, procedures with ceramic braces, metal braces or advanced Invisalign invisible braces are planned. Orthodontic Braces – Available TypesConventional metal braces are fixed dental aligners that work with metal wires and brackets and are less expensive. Ceramic braces or tooth colored braces are extremely smooth, translucent and less visible. These braces will not get stained or discolored quickly, so they can be used for a long term. Treatment with Invisalign, the custom-designed aligners ensure exceptional results within a minimum time span. Compared to other aligners they are removable, enabling the patients to eat, drink, brush and floss normally. Besides, the invisible property of these braces would help you to keep the treatment details hidden from others. In most cases orthodontic treatment procedures can be completed within one to three years. However, depending on the complexity of your tooth anomalies and individual conditions this period might vary. The orthodontists recommend a review every four to eight weeks, to assess the progress of the treatment.In brief, advanced orthodontic treatment helps one obtain a beautiful smile and improved facial charm rather comfortably. Improved facial looks and superior overall health helps you to remain dynamic in life.

Cold & Flu Season

It’s that time of year again…cold and flu season! To promote healthy and clean environment in our office, we give a great deal of attention to sanitation and sterilization at all times.
For the protection of other patients and Dr. Hilgers and his staff, we always ask that patients reschedule their appointments if they have ANY type of cold or illness that can infect others.
Maintaining and protecting your toothbrush is also important to stay healthy during this flu season. To protect your toothbrush from harmful bacteria follow these simple steps:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing
• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen
• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain so your toothbrush will dry faster
• Replace your toothbrush after every cold or flu or every 3-4 months when bristles appear worn
Hope this helps all of our patients or potential patients to stay healthy!!

Conventional Braces vs. Invisalign

Invisalign is one way to straighten teeth. The orthodontic correction is achieved through a series of clear, removable aligners or trays which are worn all the time except when eating, brushing or flossing. Each set of aligners are worn for about 3 weeks. As each aligner is replaced with the next set of aligner trays, the teeth are re-aligned little by little until the desired alignment is achieved. Of course the length of treatment and the number of aligners needed differ with each individual as everyone is different. COOPERATION WITH ALL THE TIME WEAR CAN NOT BE STRESSED ENOUGH!!! Before the aligners can be made, special models are made of the patient’s teeth and sent to an Invisalign lab where they are made. This involves additional costs.

When patients come into our office to learn about Invisalign treatment and if it is a right option for them, we try to educate them on the differences. We have found Invisalign treatment to be an option for those patients who have had orthodontic treatment in the past and did not wear their retainers as they should have and their teeth have relapsed some. What we have found to be true is, although patients have the best of intentions of wearing the aligner trays all the time, they don’t!! Anytime the teeth are moved or re-aligned, the teeth get sore. When the trays are removed for eating, brushing or flossing, and the teeth are sore, the patient does not want to put the aligners back in!! For the proper movement to be achieved the aligners must be worn 22 out of the 24 hours of each and every day or the next set of aligners will not fit as they should. Cooperation with full time wear is the biggest problem we have seen with Invisalign treatment.

We have found that most patients who come to see us regarding orthodontic treatment are most often best served with traditional braces instead of Invisalign treatment. When the braces are bonded or fixed to the teeth, the patient CAN NOT remove them, thus cooperation is not a factor! Dr. Hilgers can control the movement of each tooth with the wires and adjustments he makes to the wires. Also, the total cost of traditional braces is considerably less than Invisalign treatment as the lab costs to fabricate the aligners are eliminated. For those patients where esthetics is a concern, ceramic brackets are an option. These brackets are tooth colored, so they blend in with the color of the teeth, thus making them less noticeable.

If you are interested in speaking with Dr. Hilgers to see what we can do to re-align your smile, please give our office a call and we’ll schedule a NO CHARGE exam to answer all of your questions.

It Is Never Too Late For Braces

As each New Year begins, many people take time to reflect on the year gone by. Some make resolutions to change or improve themselves; others make a list of things they hope to achieve in the coming 12 months. For many people who aren’t happy with their smiles, a new year can also bring new hope as they consider tuning up their smile with orthodontic treatment. 2011 could be just the year for you to improve your smile.
If you have crooked teeth or a “broken smile” from gaps or missing teeth, you don’t have to suffer any longer. There is a reason more and more adults are choosing to wear braces. A straighter, brighter smile can really go a long way in boosting your confidence. No matter what your age may be, you are likely only a few visits away from straight teeth, and a better smile.

The number of adults who are electing to improve their smile with braces is increasing. In fact, one in five orthodontic patients today is an adult. The truth is crooked teeth or spaces from missing teeth can cause real confidence problems. Some people even avoid smiling altogether to hide their smile. If this describes you or someone you know, then you will be happy to know that you can learn more about how Dr. Hilgers can “remodel” your smile by scheduling an appointment to discuss your particular needs. With your initial consultation, Dr. Hilgers will be able to recommend the right treatment for you to get your self-confidence back. 2011 just may be the right time you treat yourself to straight teeth and a smile that really shines! We look forward to working with you!!

Access your account—any day, any time, anywhere!

Access to your account, 24/7. Sounds simple and convenient, doesn’t it?

Patients at Hilgers Orthodontics enjoy access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our website. You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, all from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

You, too, may sign up for this convenient service on our website by clicking on the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please give us a call at our Goodyear, AZ office if you have any questions about getting started!

Presidents' Day Fun Facts!

Today marks Presidents’ Day, a day known for celebrating both George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s combined February birthdays. Presidents’ Day was created in 1971, when President Richard Nixon combined the birthdays of two of our most well-known presidents into one single federal holiday. Presidents’ Day also marks a hard-earned day off from work and school for a lot of our patients at Hilgers Orthodontics.

Here are a few fun facts about our nation’s presidents we thought you might enjoy:

*Ulysses S. Grant, our 18th president, got a speeding ticket ... on a horse. Grant was given a $20 speeding ticket for riding his horse too fast down a Washington street.

*George Washington is the first president to be featured on a postage stamp.

*President Obama collects "Spiderman" and "Conan The Barbarian" comic books, and has even read every "Harry Potter" book.

*Ronald Reagan, our 40th president, broke the so-called “20-year curse,” in which every president elected in a year ending in 0 died in office.

*Harry S. Truman was the first president to have his Inauguration and speeches televised.

*Not only was James A. Garfield the first president to be ambidextrous, but it was said he could write a sentence in Latin with one hand and write it in Greek with the other hand.

*Fourteen presidents served as vice presidents: J. Adams, Jefferson, Van Buren, Tyler, Fillmore, A. Johnson, Arthur, T. Roosevelt, Coolidge, Truman, Nixon, L. Johnson, Ford, and George H.W. Bush.

*Abraham Lincoln was the tallest of the U.S. presidents measuring 6’ 4” tall.

*Virginia is the birthplace of more United States presidents than any other state, followed by Ohio and Massachusetts.

Your turn! From Hilgers Orthodontics

By now, you’re probably familiar with our blog process: Each week, Dr. Mike Hilgers and our team write about important orthodontic topics and your well-being, including innovative orthodontic treatments Dr. Mike offers. This week, we thought we’d step back and ask you, our wonderful patients: what’s on your mind? What would you like to know about the always-changing and exciting field of orthodontics? What would you like us to focus on our blog? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask Dr. Mike for a while now? Here’s your chance! Let us know by posting here or on our Facebook fan page!

Give us your best shot, and Dr. Mike will try to answer any question you may have!

Dr. Mike & team want to know: What are you up to in February?

It may still be a bit chilly out there, but the fact remains: we’re only a month away from spring! Dr. Mike Hilgers and our team at Hilgers Orthodontics want to know: What are you doing in February? What have you accomplished so far this year? Are you keeping up with your New Year’s Resolution? Got any exciting spring break plans?

If you have any photos or videos that you would like to share with us, please send them our way, post them on Facebook or call our Goodyear office and ask how! Have a great week!

February Marks National Children's Dental Health Month

February is National Children's Dental Health Month, as well as National Dental Health Month, and Dr. Mike Hilgers and team thought we’d promote good oral hygiene among our patients with a few tips and tricks, courtesy of the American Dental Association.

• Teeth brushing techniques: It takes only two minutes to properly brush using short, gentle strokes and devoting extra attention to the gumline, areas around fillings and hard-to-reach areas such as the back teeth.

• Flossing: hold the floss snugly between thumbs and index finger and insert it between each of the teeth, making sure to go beneath the gumline and curving the floss around the base of each tooth.

• Snack wisely: choose healthy snacks such as cheese, fruits and vegetables and avoid crunchy, sticky, chewy candies that can stick to the teeth. If you eat these snacks, be sure to brush after doing so.

• Carbonated or sugary drinks: these drinks create acids that can damage the teeth when mixed with saliva, so they should be avoided altogether. If you’re going to drink one of these beverages, don’t sip on it throughout the day. Rather, drink it and then brush your teeth.

• Regular dental visits: in addition to seeing our team at Hilgers Orthodontics during your orthodontic treatment, you should visit your dentist for professional check-ups and teeth cleaning appointments about every six months.

National Dental Health Month aims to increase awareness about the importance of our patients' oral health. If you have any questions about keeping your mouth healthy, or about your treatment with Hilgers Orthodontics, please feel free to give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

Invisalign Tips, from Hilgers Orthodontics

Many people know that Invisalign is a great solution to braces if you don't want to experience the look and feel of traditional metal braces. What few people know, though, is that just like traditional braces, Invisalign requires proper care to work effectively. Good oral hygiene is highly important, even when you are wearing something in your mouth that you can take out to eat with. It's still likely that your aligners can build up plaque if not treated properly. When wearing your Invialign aligners, ask yourself the following questions:

1.) Am I eating with my aligners on? - These aligners are removable and should be taken out when you eat.
2.) Am I drinking anything other than water with my aligners on? - Though it's not a necessity for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky a soda is. If you take out your aligners when drinking a soda, you have a better chance of keeping your aligners clean.
3.) Am I brushing before putting the trays on? - The aligners have both an inside and outside. Keeping the outside clean is easy. Keeping the inside clean is also easy: just make sure you've brushed your teeth before putting the trays on.

These are all very simple steps, and ultimately, they help to keep you building good oral habits. Give us a call if you have any questions.

More than just a day off from school, from Dr. Hilgers

Today, our country celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was a thinker, leader and civil rights champion. In the 1950s and ’60s, Dr. King recognized the need to bring about social justice, and worked tirelessly to instill tolerance in our nation, strengthen America’s communities and move the nation forward. This weekend, tens of thousands of people of all ages and races in Arizona and across the United States spent their time building, giving and renovating our communities to help celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. Do you have the day off on Monday? If so, what do you plan to do to help your local community?

We’d love to know about your activities and events this MLK Jr. Day. If you have any video or pictures you’d like to share, please pass them along! If you’re not sure how, give us a call!

Dr. Mike and our entire team at Hilgers Orthodontics are proud of all our patients, families and colleagues who continue to make a difference in our community!

Gummy Tummy? From Dr. Mike & Hilgers Orthodontics

Here at Hilgers Orthodontics, Dr. Mike and our staff knowall too well the rumors going around – mostly among kids – that once you swallow a piece of chewing gum it will stake a claim and take up residency in your stomach for at least seven years! We really hate to take all the fun out of the mystery, but the truth is that chewing gum, when swallowed, will enter the stomach and move through the digestive system just like any other piece of food and leave the body long before seven years! So, if you ever have accidentally swallowed a piece of gum, there is no need to worry!

This being said, gum does not have any dietary benefits, so while it’s not harmful to swallow, you still want to avoid swallowing it. If you are a gum-chewer, make sure you chew sugarless gum, because gum with sugar can lead to cavities. Sugarless gum still has the same amount of flavor, but with less cavity causing ingredients. You see, when the bacterium in your mouth breaks down sugar, what’s left behind is acid. This acid eats away at the enamel coating of your teeth, causing holes that we call cavities. Cavities can lead to other long term mouth problems if they are not treated in time, so it is best to try and avoid overexposing your teeth to too many harmful substances!

Happy (sugar-free) gum chewing! From Dr. Mike & team

All about cavities, from Dr. Hilgers

At Hilgers Orthodontics, we know one word nobody wants to hear when they visit their dentist is Cavity! Yes, the dreaded cavity; but what exactly is a cavity and how do you get one? A cavity is a hole that develops in a tooth when the tooth begins to decay. It’s important to get a cavity filled as soon as it’s detected so that it does not grow bigger.

So, what causes a cavity? Well, a cavity is caused by plaque, a sticky substance that forms on the tooth as a result of germ and bacteria build-up. Plaque is acidic and as it clings to your teeth the acids eat away the outside of the tooth (also called the enamel) and a hole is formed.

Yes, cavities can be repaired by your general dentist, but here are a few simple steps you can take to prevent cavities while you’re wearing braces:

· Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily

· Gently brush your gums to keep them healthy (when choosing a toothbrush it is recommended to use soft bristles)

· Floss your teeth at least once a day to remove plaque and food that may be caught between the teeth and braces where your toothbrush can’t reach

· Limit the amount of soda and sugary treats you eat or drink

· Be sure to visit your dentist every six months for a teeth cleaning and check-up during your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Michael Hilgers

We hope that helps! Give us a call to learn more about keeping your braces and oral health in tip-top shape! Happy New Year!