Staying on Track with Your Orthodontic Treatment During COVID-19

The global COVID-19 health crisis has disrupted almost every facet of normal life. No one could foresee that a pandemic would result in temporary clinic closures and restricted in-clinic visits. Level 1 restrictions are now in place. This means that we can continue to deliver ongoing orthodontic services to our patients. If your appointments were deferred, we should have contacted you by now to continue your treatment or will contact you shortly to reschedule. 

However, there are still some patients we can't treat. These are patients who are displaying cold or flu-like symptoms, have tested positive for COVID-19, or have been in close contact with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19.

So, if you can’t be treated, you must continue to follow directions as instructed by your doctor. 
 

Update on our Clinical Procedures (Booragoon and Subiaco)

1. On arrival, please use the hand sanitiser (located at the check-in computer/table)

2. Please check in using the keyboard or report directly to the reception staff.

3. Patients and parents/carers may sit in the waiting room but parents/carers may prefer to remain in the car or immediately outside for ongoing treatment procedures.

4. The number of parents/carers in the reception area will be closely monitored to satisfy social distancing guidelines.

5. Patients/parents/carers will all be temperature tested before entering the consultation rooms or treatment areas.

6. We request that only one parent/carer accompany each patient to the appointment.

7. Treatment procedures will generally be performed in the open clinical area and parents/carers will be invited to the “on-deck” area or an isolated clinical area to deliver updates or new instructions.

8. NOTE: please feel free to discuss any individual requests with the administrative/clinical staff.

Patients With Braces 

Orthodontic wires work in moving teeth over a period of weeks and even months. It’s not uncommon for patients to keep the same wire for several months so don’t be concerned that yours haven’t changed. 
 

Your Diet While Wearing Braces

Keep up with your braces-friendly diet. If you're on the lounge watching way too much Netflix, you might be tempted by a forbidden treat like popcorn but it’s important to keep watching what you eat so you don’t break a wire or bracket. 

Remember that broken brackets or bent wires can delay your treatment significantly and we all want your treatment to be completed in the shortest possible time.

While it’s fine to indulge in sugary foods and drinks every so often, don’t forget to brush your teeth straight after. With dentists offices  you can’t have your teeth professionally cleaned so brushing and flossing is the only way to prevent staining. We know that it's hard but try to brush your teeth immediately after eating or drinking sugary foods.
 

Patients Wearing Elastics/Rubber Bands

Continue to wear elastics as instructed by your orthodontist at your last appointment. If your bite looks or feels overcorrected, you can switch to wearing bands at bedtime only or call the clinic to discuss. If you run out of elastics, please call the clinic so we can mail out more. We may be in contact to organise a virtual appointment. 
 

Invisalign Patients 

Continue wearing your aligners as instructed by your doctor at your last appointment as a new appointment will or should have been scheduled already. Hand hygiene is very important so wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling your aligners. If you’re on your last set of aligners and are due to come into the clinic, please continue wearing this aligner until we can see you next.     
 

Patients with Retainers 

Continue to wear your retainers as instructed at your last appointment. We usually see patients before reducing the frequency of wearing retainers. So, even if you’re overdue for an appointment, please don’t change the time you spend wearing your retainers. If you’ve lost or broken your retainers, please call the office as soon as possible to discuss your options. 
 

Trauma and Orthodontics

Now that we are returning towards normal sporting arrangements, remember to wear your mouthguard for all sports involving physical contact. 

If you experience trauma to your mouth or teeth, please call the clinic immediately to discuss how the issue will be managed. Call 9364-8020 (Booragoon) or 9381 2788 (Subiaco) during normal business hours or the after-hours service on 0438 648 020.
 

Who We Can and Can’t Treat 

To ensure the safety of everyone attending the clinic, there will be some patients we can’t treat. It’s important that patients and visitors DO NOT ATTEND the clinic if:

• You have tested positive for COVID-19

• You haven’t been tested but have symptoms of COVID-19, a cold or flu-like symptoms or a fever.

• You have returned from overseas travel in the last 14 days and are in self-isolation

• You have been in close contact with someone who has a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19.

We will pre-screen for any symptoms and exposure and will take the temperature of every visitor before entering the clinic.  

 

Ongoing Support 

Whatever your orthodontic treatment or stage you’re at, we’re always available to answer any questions you may have. We are back to normal office hours and look forward to welcoming you back! Our clinics can take your call on 9364-8020 (Booragoon) or 9381 2788 (Subiaco).