Hello from North County Orthodontics!
We hope that you and your families are happy and healthy and that you are finding joy in the time together.
Given the gravity of this health care crisis and national emergency, the California Dental Association implores dental practices to suspend all dental care with the exception of emergency cases that present as life-threatening. The purpose of this recommendation is consistent with the statewide shelter-in-place order — to minimize the risks of virus exposure to patients and the dental team and to preserve critical health care workers’ personal protective equipment (PPE) supply, which is currently in extremely short supply.
If this situation changes, we will adapt the recommendations accordingly. In the meantime please refer to the following instructions.
Oral hygiene: Continue excellent oral hygiene habits (or start!) to prevent decalcification and white spot lesions. If you have braces, take care to brush along the gum line, where plaque tends to build up. Brush your teeth after every meal!
Invisalign patients: Continue progressing through your trays as normal. If you have reached your last tray continue to wear it at a minimum of 8-10 hours per day. This will hold your teeth in their current position. If your next appointment was to deliver additional trays, we will contact you to set up a virtual appointment where we can monitor your progress and possibly mail additional trays to your home.
Running out of elastics/wax: Let us know so we can mail you additional supplies. Dental wax can also be found on Amazon or other stores to be shipped to your home.
Pokey wires or loose brackets/appliances: Email us with your concerns. We will communicate with you directly and send you specific instructions of how to resolve or improve the situation. In the mean time, use wax and rinse with warm salt water.
Broken or lost retainer: If you completed your treatment within the last year, we likely took a digital scan of your teeth. We can use this to make a clear retainer and mail it to you without an additional office visit. This is only an option if you let us know immediately before your teeth shift. Email us to find out if this is an option for you or to let us know you need a new retainer.
Future appointments: With the uncertainty surrounding when we will be able to safely see patients in office, we are working to implement virtual appointments to monitor treatment progress. Fortunately, in most cases, technology allows us to continue with treatment as normal. We use advanced aligners and braces/wires that work routinely between your normally scheduled visits. And now, during this period of social distancing, we can finally fully leverage technology through digital appointments for many of your regularly scheduled visits. Our primary goal is to keep all patients progressing through treatment and maintain a semblance of normal. We will contact you to schedule your virtual appointment!
As soon as we are able to physically see patients and are given instructions to be functioning in full capacity from State and Dental association/Board we will call and make sure you are seen at your earliest convenience.
In the mean time e-mail us at hello@northcoortho.com! We are always here for you.
Best regards,
Laura Pulver DDS MSD
Board Certified Orthodontics