We value our patients and their families. You will not have to wait an extended period for a new appointment if you reschedule your appointment due to illness or suspected contact with someone exposed to COVID-19. Our office is currently scheduled to reopen on March 30th, however given the recent "Stay at Home" order put in place by Governor Newsom, it is likely our timeline will be extended. Take care when removing the aligners using good technique to avoid breaking them. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I AM SCHEDULED TO START TREATMENT SOON? Failing that, using a wax covering from hard cheese such as a Babybel, using Blu-Tack or even chewing gum may help. If your elastic modules or power chain come off and you have clear braces, we ask that you contact us by phone or email so that we can assess case by case and seek advice from your treating orthodontist. The dentist uses a special bonding agent or attaches them with orthodontic bands. Should i wear my retainer if i have covid 2. Start by wearing them on alternate nights, but if the retainers feel tighter than usual or you feel that the position of your teeth is changing, then increase the amount of wear. All staff members will wear masks at all times and gloves when necessary. The American Association of Orthodontists has recently released their guidelines on what procedures are considered non-elective, and which are not. It's made 100% in the U. S. A., so you can be sure it's made according to U. regulations and is safe to use. Seaport Smiles takes great pride in providing safe and standardized care for our patients and hospital level sterilization procedures and protocols, we are all working together to "flatten the curve", preserve and donate PPE (masks, gloves and gowns) to local hospitals and keep our community safe. While we all know that orthodontic care is a life-changing journey that impacts each patient's life greatly, we also recognize that isn't at the forefront of anyone's mind currently.
Once the office reopens, we can place your attachments, deliver any elastics and perform any interproximal reduction (IPR) as needed for your individual case. It is always important to wear your retainers after your treatment is complete. Arch wires attach to the brackets and act as tracks to guide the movement of your teeth. Insert the brush down from the top and then up from the bottom between two braces. Dental Braces and Retainers: Types, Care, What to Expect. Orthodontic treatment involves putting your hands in your mouth. The lips and tongue muscles also weaken with age so they can't hold teeth in place like they did in their younger years.
For now, continue to wear aligners as instructed to continue your progress. However, the importance of having a healthy smile goes beyond mere appearances. Sometimes the dentist will cement brackets to the backs of your teeth, in order to hide them from view. We recommend you use a computer screen, instead of your phone, to be able to appreciate better the screen share.
We'll contact you to let you know what to do. If you can't move it out of the way, apply a small amount of orthodontic wax over the protruding end. WILL PATIENTS BE ALLOWED IN THE OFFICE AT ALL? They are your best resource of information on where to go to get help. Tiny elastic rubber bands, called ligatures, hold the arch wires to the brackets. Remember that we will be available to provide an emergency service should we need to. Brands such as Invisalign offer the benefits of straighter teeth with the addition of a discreet appearance to fit any lifestyle. On May 19, 2020, Washington state Governor Jay Inslee issued guidelines for practices that perform elective procedures, such as orthodontic work. They want to do away with it all and do nothing more than brush their teeth. These products are fast-acting and significantly reduce the number of germs on the skin. How to look after your braces while self-isolating. No one is at the office at this time. Since you are home, brush your teeth and floss them more often. We hope that this is only a brief delay, and when we see you again, we will work hard to make up for any lost time. Wearing and looking after your retainers.
If a canker sore develops, your orthodontist or dentist may prescribe a corticosteroid ointment or a prescription or nonprescription solution to ease the pain and irritation and help heal the sore. The only way to guarantee teeth won't move from their desired position is to hold them in place with either fixed or removable retainers for as long as your orthodontist recommends. Nail biting can also contribute to tooth shifting. Should i wear my retainer if i have covid 19. Make sure to wash your hands before and after placing your trays in your mouth, using elastics, putting your retainer in, or any time you touch your mouth. Not wearing the retainer while you're ill could be detrimental to your orthodontic progress, so it's essential that you wear it every day, even when an illness has taken hold. This is one of the main reasons non-emergent dental care has been put on hold.
Many adults are self-conscious about their smiles because they don' More. Do not set your retainers down on any unclean surfaces. If you were scheduled for an adjustment appointment and this appointment was cancelled due to our COVID-19 office closure, Dr. Desh is offering Virtual Visits (click here to see instructions) for all of our patients. Do i need to retest after covid. Alternatively, we are able to order a replacement set of your last aligners and ship them directly to you if your existing aligners are worn out already. Temporary closings and occasional stay-at-home orders have sometimes affected our ability to get patients in quickly for this type of appointment, but Invisalign aligners make it easy to troubleshoot solutions!
It is important to continue to wear your trays, rubber bands, elastics and retainers as instructed. As a user of clear plastic aligners, you care about your teeth, and you want your smile to look great. Our team will still be available to assist patients during the closure period. Always brush and floss thoroughly to maintain your dental health as we await the passing of this situation. These are important appointments, but they are all elective during a time like this. There are several reasons why teeth shifting occurs.
Supplemental Health Questionnaire(EVERY time you have an appointment, until further notice). If you aren't sure whether your teeth are in the correct position, take a portrait picture on your phone and send it to We'll contact you to let you know what to do. Don't use toothpaste as it's abrasive and can scratch the retainer's surface. Fixed retainers do need to be cleaned regularly with cleaning adjuncts like dental floss; otherwise you could experience an increase in plaque and tartar(dental calculus) and gum infections. Add the cleanser to a cup full of warm -- not hot -- water. They're cemented to the back of the teeth similar to braces. For your convenience, we compiled a Q&A to some common questions. Try not to eat foods that may cause a bracket to break. Once you receive your aligners, change them every two weeks. Please join at least 5 minutes before your appointment time to make sure your camera/microphone are running and you are all set. Properly wearing your elastics is important because it will continue to correct your bite. Some people need headgear, a wire gadget that moves your upper molars farther back in the mouth to correct bite problems or make more room for crowded teeth.
WE ARE TOLD TO WASH OUR HANDS FREQUENTLY; HOW SHOULD WE HANDLE WEARING ALIGNERS, RETAINERS, ELASTICS, ETC? Call or text Dr "K" at 267-408-9873! Some people may argue that no orthodontic treatment is ever essential since straight teeth aren't required to eat, speak, or smile. Invisalign treatment is easy to troubleshoot. Most minor orthodontic irritations from braces can be managed at home.
We will be treating emergency orthodontic patients only until the Department of Health deem it safe for us to return to our normal operations. We are here to support you and will continue to explore new ways to provide you with the best orthodontic care during this time. Below is a guide to assist you in taking these photographs. Interdental Brushes. You don't want your teeth or aligners taking up valuable thought More. How long will our clinic be operating on an emergency only basis? Please be aware we may need to go into complete closure and if so, we'll be unable to send you more aligners, but we'll arrange delivery as soon as possible.
Wishing you health and safety! During the process of cleaning teeth and removing orthodontic bonding materials, aerosols are produced that can possibly contain biological matter, which may contaminate the air or surfaces with COVID-19. What if I run out of aligners? Why does the orthodontic office need to close? This is not an allergic reaction but is still something to watch for. Our food and teeth health information is also located on the blog page of our site.
On the surface, aligners and retainers seem pretty similar. Our email address is. Invisalign is one such common appliance that is removable and requires extra attention these days in terms of hygiene. You will need to provide a little care for your removable retainer.