Office Updates & COVID19-related FAQs
posted: April 23, 2020
CLICK HERE FOR MOST RECENT NEWS | posted May.20.2020 |
Hello from the Lo Elliott Team!
We are glad you found us here! We all miss you! We wanted to let you know that the team is still here working hard to ensure you are all well looked after … from a distance. We cannot see you physically yet, but we continue to call, email, text, and video with virtual check-ins. Thank you for your strength and patience as we navigate all this together.
Rest assured, we will do everything we can for you now, and continue to work hard so that we can get back to the office, keeping us all safe and sound and most importantly…SMILING!
How long will your office be closed?
Our primary goal at Lo Elliott Orthodontics is to keep our patients, team members, families, and the greater community safe.
The College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia has required the suspension of all non-emergency orthodontic treatment in our province and due to the rapidly changing situation, there is no timeline as to when our office will reopen for regular orthodontic care, but we are hopeful we will be back soon.
What constitutes a dental emergency?
Most of our orthodontic treatment is non-emergent in nature, so typically there are very few emergencies requiring treatment encountered.
The College of Dental Surgeons of BC defines an emergency as anything that includes oral-facial trauma, significant infection, prolonged bleeding, or pain that cannot be managed by over-the-counter medications. If you are experiencing any of these emergencies, please contact us.
I have an appointment scheduled, how do I know if it is still in the books or has been cancelled?
Our scheduling coordinators will be contacting each of our patients individually to cancel appointments and organize next steps. We typically cancel one week in advance.
To avoid rescheduling your visit multiple times, and considering the unknown timeline, we will not be rescheduling our in-office appointments until we have a set reopening date. There is no need to contact us to check the status of your next appointment, we promise to reach out to reschedule as soon as possible.
You will also be contacted by our orthodontic assistants so that we can check in on your treatment. We will be requesting pictures of your teeth, braces, and appliances to give us a good glimpse as we will give you direction if anything you are doing needs to change. (eg. Elastic wear, appliance activation, etc) We look forward to catching up with you all.
I have braces, how should I proceed with my treatment?
The good news about orthodontics is that your treatment is progressing even if we are not seeing you because of the nature of our modern and long activating tooth-moving wires. If you are in braces and have elastics, continue to wear them as indicated unless we have contacted you to give you alternate instructions. Please remember to avoid any hard or sticky foods that may cause breakages and to keep your teeth clean during this time.
I have Invisalign, how should I proceed with my treatment?
If you are in Invisalign, continue to progress through your aligners, wearing elastics where requested. If you are on your last aligner, after one week of full time wear, continue to wear them 12 hours a day until we are able to see you in the clinic.
Should I keep turning my child’s expander?
Please only complete the number of turns that were requested then STOP. We will be in touch with you with further instructions.
What do I do if I have a broken bracket or pokey wire?
Do whatever you need to do to make yourself comfortable with what you have in your home during this time. Nail clippers and cuticle trimmers are great tools for clipping wires. Use wax from your home care kit to cover any rough or poking areas you are unable to remove. Warm saltwater rinses are great for any sores in your mouth – mix 1 teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water and swish throughout your mouth several times a day. Tylenol and Advil at regular intervals work well for discomfort related to tooth movement. If you are not able to resolve the issue or have any questions, please contact us.
What if I run out of elastics or need wax?
Please call us or email us and we will help arrange to get you more.
What should I do if I am scheduled to start treatment soon?
During this temporary inability to physically see you, we are continuing to stay connected and support our patients. We have been busy calling, emailing, and video-visiting our patients every day. If you have not received our call, please know that we will very soon. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out to us by phone or email at anytime. If you are a new patient requesting information about treatment, we are here to answer any questions you may have (info@perfectsmile.ca).
During our COVID-19 closure, we are working on ways to stay connected and support our patients. If you already had an appointment booked, we will be in contact with you soon to schedule your virtual consultation. If you did not have an appointment booked, but would like to do so, please email us.
What should I do if my child is due for a growth and development check up in Kids Club?
For our families who have children in our Club CRU recall program, we will be calling you in the near future to check in with a possible video to monitor your child’s dental development. If you prefer to be seen in person, we will reschedule your appointment at a later date when the office reopens.
What should I do if I have a lost or broken my retainer?
As you probably remember when you were in braces, teeth move relatively slowly. We will make you a new retainer or help resolve any minor issues upon our return to our regular clinic operations. Please wear any removable retainers you still have, or consider purchasing a moldable mouthguard at a sports store to help hold the teeth until we can see you.
I have questions for the financial coordinator.
Please reach out to us with any financial questions you may have. We are here to help you navigate these uncertain times.
How do I reach you?
If you need anything at all, please reach out to us by phone (250.562.2113 or 1.800.665.4054) or by email at info@perfectsmile.ca. Our team is available by phone and email to help you Monday through Friday, and on weekends or after hours for any emergencies.
We also encourage you to follow us for the latest updates on:
Facebook (Lo Elliott Orthodontics)
Instagram (@loelliottorthodontics)
Blog (Lo Elliott Orthodontics)
