COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions

How long will your office be closed?

Our primary goal at Signature Orthodontics is to keep our patients, team members, families and the greater community safe.  The Alberta Dental Association and College along with the Alberta government has suspended all non-emergency dental and orthodontic treatment in Alberta due to the rapidly changing situation.  As such, there is no timeline as to when our office will reopen for regular orthodontic care.  Rest assured that your appointment will be rescheduled as soon as a timeline become apparent.

 

I have an appointment scheduled, how do I know if it is still scheduled or been cancelled?

 If you had an appointment scheduled in the near future, you will notice that it has been cancelled. To avoid rescheduling your visit multiple times, we will not be rescheduling our in-office appointments until we have a set reopening date. It is not necessary to contact us to check the status of your next appointment as we will be reaching out to you to reschedule as soon as possible.

Although the office is closed, we are setting up systems to contact those that would be regularly seen.  This contact will be primarily by phone, or in some cases virtually, to offer care and monitor your treatment.  If you have not already been, we plan to contact you over the next few weeks to complete these phone or virtual visits and we look forward to catching up with all of you.    There will be instructional videos on our website as well as email instructions on how to take and upload your own patient photos to assist in your virtual care if this is required.

 

I have braces, how should I proceed with my treatment?

The good news about orthodontics is that your treatment is likely progressing even if we are not seeing you. If you are in braces, continue to wear your elastics as indicated unless we have already 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.

 

What do I do if I have a broken bracket or pokey wire?

Thankfully, there are usually easy solutions to these problems. Please check out either our website https://www.signatureorthodontics.com/contact-us/emergencies or our Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/sigorthoyeg/) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/signature_orthodontics/). for instructional videos on common orthodontic problems and how to resolve them.  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 call or email us.

 

What constitutes a dental emergency?

Thankfully, most orthodontic treatment is elective and there are few true emergencies encountered.  Our dental licensing body 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 call or email us immediately.

 

I have Invisalign, how should I proceed with my treatment?

 If you are in Invisalign, continue to progress through your aligners however please switch to 12-hour wear and try to wear each aligner for at least 2-3 weeks before switching to the next aligners.    If your aligner breaks, wears excessively, or is lost then please switch to the next aligner.  Continue to wear your elastics as indicated unless we have already contacted you to give you alternate instructions.   Please contact our office if you are in your last aligners.

 

Should I keep turning my child’s expander?

Please only complete the number of turns that were requested at your last visit and then STOP. We will be in touch with you with further instructions.

 

What should I do if I am scheduled to start treatment soon?

 During our COVID-19 closure, we are working on ways to stay connected and support our patients. We are excited to be offering virtual consultations.  This will help get you the information you need to know about starting treatment. If you already had an appointment booked, we will be in contact with you to offer to schedule your virtual consultation. If you did not have an appointment booked but would like to do so, please email info@signatureorthodontics.com and we will help you get your virtual or future in-office appointment set up.

 

What should I do if I have a follow up appointment to check up on my child’s growth and development?

 Great news! We will be calling you in the near future to offer a virtual appointment to monitor your child’s dental development. If you prefer to be seen in person, we will reschedule your in-office appointment at a later date.

 

What should I do if I have a lost or broken my retainer?

As you probably remember when you were in Invisalign or braces, teeth move relatively slowly. Even without a retainer for a few weeks, most people’s teeth don’t move or they move minimally. We will make you a new retainer or help resolve any minor issues upon our return.

 

How do I reach you?

If you have any urgent questions or concerns regarding treatment, please reach out to us by phone at (780) 456-1511 or by email at info@signatureorthodontics.com.  E-mail is being monitored during regular business hours Monday through Friday and one of our team members will be in touch.  If you have an after-hours emergency, please call our emergency courtesy phone at (780) 984-4332 and we will get back to you in a timely manner.

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