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!

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!

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!

Staying connected with Dr. Mike and Hilgers Orthodontics

At Hilgers Orthodontics, we embrace technology, whether it’s through the innovative orthodontic treatments we offer, our high-tech web site or our Facebook fan page. We love connecting with our patients online, whether it’s by sharing news on our blog or communicating ideas on our fan page. For social media to work, however, conversation is vital, and that’s why we invite you to join in and tell us what’s on your mind. Although social networks hugely popular these days, we know they're unpredictable and ever-changing.

While Dr. Mike Hilgers and our dedicated staff take a little time to research how to best use social media, we thought we’d ask you, our loyal patients: How would you like us to use our social networks? What would you like us to share on our blog? Send us your thoughts or give us a call! Enjoy your weekend!

Happy Veteran's Day from Dr. Michael Hilgers and team!

We hope most of you got the day off and are taking good advantage of it! We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the veterans and those currently on active duty who have put their lives on the line for the freedoms we all enjoy.

In celebration of Veteran’s Day, Dr. Michael Hilgers and our team at Goodyear's Hilgers Orthodontics would like to share a few fun facts about our flag, our national holiday, and our country’s history!

-Veteran's Day, a day that was originally called Armistice Day, is a time to thank and honor the men and women who have served in our military.

- President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the official legislation for Veteran's Day on June 1, 1954, changing the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veteran's Day

-There are 23.2 million veterans in the U.S.

-The flag was first approved by Congress on June 14, 1777

-Each of the flag’s colors signify different American values - red is for valor and zeal, white is for hope, purity, and cleanliness of life, and blue is for heaven, loyalty, sincerity, justice, and truth

-Veteran's Day is often confused with Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a time for remembering and honoring the men and women who died while serving our country, or as a result of injuries that incurred in battle. Veteran's Day honors and gives thanks to all veterans who served in our military.

-There are five states with over 1 million veterans in their population – California, Florida, Texas, New York and Pennsylvania.

Thanks again to our veterans! We are so thankful for all who have and are currently serving in the U.S. and abroad.

Thank you for supporting Officer Murphy's family on Saturday!

Dr. Mike Hilgers and our entire staff at Hilgers Orthodontics would like to thank everyone for coming out and supporting Travis Murphy's family on Saturday morning. We lost one of Arizona's finest and we need to continue to support his family! Saturday's event was a wonderful representation of our community's support!

Officer Travis P. Murphy was shot and killed when he confronted a suspect who had fled the scene of a shots fired call on May 26th. Officer Murphy had served with the Phoenix Police Department for four and a half years. He is survived by his wife, 2-year-old daughter, and 2-week-old son.

Like Dr. Mike? Then share your reviews on Google!

Hilgers Orthodontics is always family friendly! We treat adults, teens, and children - no matter what your age, Dr. Michael Hilgers and our team believe you deserve a great smile! Whether you've visited our office once for a cleaning, or have been coming here for years, we encourage you to recommend us on our Google Local page!

After all, your generous reviews help Dr. Hilgers create more beautiful smiles in Goodyear and surrounding areas. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to reading your reviews! Happy Friday!

Back to school with Hilgers Orthodontics

It's late August, which means most kids around Goodyear and Phoenix have started classes (or will soon). Dr. Michael Hilgers and our staff thought this might be a good time to remind all of our patients about the importance of scheduling your appointments in advance this fall. With school, clubs, sports and family/social functions to consider, we know that it can be challenging to find time to visit Dr. Mike's office this fall. In order to accommodate all of our patients' busy schedules, it is important that you plan ahead for your appointments so that we are able to provide you with an appointment time that is convenient for you.

As always, please remember to give us advanced notice if you're unable to make your regularly-scheduled appointment. If we receive enough notice, we might be able to schedule another patient for that time. Feel free to give us a call at (623) 935-3908 if you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule your fall appointment with Dr. Mike.

Have a great weekend everybody - we look forward to seeing you this fall!

Traveling with the family this summer? Check out these 10 great tips!

Most of us take a vacation during the summer, and often forget to pack the most important of things. Sometimes, trips fall apart because they are not properly organized. Let's face it, a trip can turn bad from one minor setback.

Until now.

This morning, our friends at Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry posted a few summer travel tips for you parents. We strongly encourage you to give this article a read if you’re heading out with the family this summer. Here are even more tips you can use to ensure your vacation packing—and the traveling itself—goes as smooth as possible!

Happy traveling! Be sure to share your summer photos on our Facebook page!

At the movies with Hilgers Orthodontics on July16th!

Our teams at Hilgers Orthodontics and Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry hope to see you at our next "Movie Night at the Ballpark" on Friday, July 16th! We will be at Goodyear Ballpark for a screening of "Planet 51," starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Here's a quick synopsis: When Chuck the astronaut (Johnson) lands on a distant planet filled with little green people, he is surprised to discover that we are not alone in the galaxy. But he gets the shock of his life when the residents of Planet 51 mistakenly believe that his presence is the start of an alien invasion of the human kind! Luckily, Lem (Justin Long) quickly realizes that Chuck is friendly and makes it his personal mission to help him return safely to his ship.

Remember to bring chairs, pillows & blankets for lawn seating. Concessions will be open as well. Gates open at 7 p.m. There is no price for admission.

For more information, please call our staff at Hilgers Orthodontics!

We look forward to seeing you!

Get those regular checkups! From Dr. Mike and Hilgers Orthodontics

Dr. Mike Hilgers wants to know: is your child brushing his or her teeth twice a day as recommended during their treatment? If yes, he thinks that's fantastic! But, it’s also important for your child to visit the dentist every six months in addition to brushing their teeth a couple times a day (and visiting Hilgers Orthodontics as recommended by Dr. Hilgers during your treatment). Our staff will tell you regular dental checkups are vital for maintaining good oral health. Your dentist can:

• Check for problems that might not be seen or felt
• Detect cavities and signs of tooth decay
• Treat oral health problems early
• Show your child how to properly brush and floss their teeth, even during their orthodontic treatment

During an oral exam, your dentist will check the health of your child’s mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups also typically include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If your child has not been to the dentist in the past six months, it’s time for you to schedule an appointment!

If you don't have a general dentist in Goodyear or nearby communities, please ask and we'll be happy to provide one!

Write a Review of Hilgers Orthodontics!

Whether you have visited Hilgers Orthodontics for a week or for years, we'd love to hear your feedback about your experience with Dr. Mike and team. Because Hilgers Orthodontics has plenty of online listings where you write your thoughts and share them with the world, we'd want to encourage you to write a review of us. It only takes a moment of your time!

You may write a review here, and we hope to post some soon!

Thank you and have a great weekend. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

"Hey, Dr. Mike! What, exactly, is malocclusion?"

Malocclusion, or what Dr. Mike Hilgers and our staff call “bad bite,” is the improper alignment of teeth and/or jaws. You see, when your teeth and jaws are not properly aligned, it may impact your bite, the ability to properly care for your teeth, your gum tissue health and, yes folks, even your appearance.

Dr. Mike will tell you that untreated malocclusion can - and does - lead undesirable mouth problems, including tooth decay, gum disease, or even chipped and cracked teeth. The most common solution for malocclusion, of course, is orthodontic treatment. The actual course of treatment, including the length of time you will require braces, will be determined by the severity of your malocclusion. The goal of your treatment at Hilgers Orthodontics is to move your teeth into the proper position and correct any misalignment in the jaw.

You can be sure that Dr. Mike uses the most advanced technology in the field in order to ensure that you receive the best possible results from your treatment. If you have any questions about malocclusion, please give us a call and we’ll try to answer any questions you may have! Dr. Hilgers is Goodyear's trusted, experienced orthodontist, who genuinely cares about his patients!

Happy May Day!

Dr. Mike wants to know: Do you know where your retainers are?

If you've recently completed your treatment at Hilgers Orthodontics, our staff would like to take this time to congratulate you (if we haven't already)! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Mike will provide—or has provided you—with retainers.

Retainers are important because after braces are removed, teeth may shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers provide that stabilization and are designed to hold your pearly whites in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Here are some things to remember when you receive your retainers:

* Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise. Wearing your retainers at night ensures that your pearly whites won’t relapse.
* 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, etc.).

Give us a call if you have any questions and again, congratulations on being braces-free!

Dr. Mike is on Twitter!

You probably already knew Hilgers Orthodontics has an interactive Facebook fan page, but did you know Dr. Mike Hilgers is now on Twitter?

He'll be tweeting as often as possible (@DrMikeHilgers) and would love if you'd "follow" him!

Yelp reviews for Dr. Mike and Hilgers Orthodontics

Last week, Dr. Mike and our team shared a few generous reviews written by our patients. This morning, we noticed a new patient review on our Yelp listing. Here's what the patient - Ken W. - had to say:

As an ER physician, I expect a lot from other healthcare providers (especially when it comes to my children), and I have the highest respect for Hilgers Orthodontics. I recently moved from Arizona to Chicago, but I expect that when my next kid needs braces, I'll be returning to Arizona to visit Dr. Mike again.

The office is a fun environment, the staff is friendly, and Dr. Mike is one of the most highly trained orthodontists (he trained at Yale). I have great confidence that he yields the best results, and that going out to Goodyear for treatment by Dr. Mike would be totally worth it.

If you have any reviews of Hilgers Orthodontics you'd like to share with the world, please take some time and review us on Yelp. Or, you could always write up a review on our Google Local page. Either way, Dr. Mike and our team appreciate our patients and their testimonials! Happy Monday!

Getting social with Hilgers Ortho

At Hilgers Orthodontics, we embrace technology, whether it’s through the innovative orthodontic treatments we offer, our high-tech web site or our Facebook fan page. We love connecting with our patients online, whether it’s by sharing news on our blog or communicating ideas on our fan page. For social media to work, however, conversation is vital, and that’s why we invite you to join in and tell us what’s on your mind. Although social networks hugely popular these days, we know they're unpredictable and ever-changing.

While Dr. Mike Hilgers and our dedicated staff take a little time to research how to best use social media, we thought we’d ask you, our loyal patients: How would you like us to use our social networks? What would you like us to share on our blog? Send us your thoughts or give us a call!