All over the world, communities are being dramatically affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Everyone has been affected by the pandemic and the ever-increasing CDC recommendations to say home in an effort to keep our communities healthy. As many parts of normal life are disrupted and postponed, you’re probably wondering what this means for your smile. If you’ve been hoping to start your journey towards a new smile, or you’re in the middle of your treatment, you may even be concerned about what this all means for your progress. The great news is that the team at Westfall Orthodontics is looking out for you! We’re offering Virtual Consultations for new patients, and Virtual Visits for existing patients. This means nothing has to keep you from your best smile or extend the process of getting the smile you’ve been working so hard to achieve.
Keep Your Smile On Track with Virtual Visits
If you’re currently undergoing treatment and are worried that you’ll lose some of the progress you’ve worked so hard to make; well, worry no more! We’re now offering virtual visits to make sure Dr. Westfall is still able to keep an eye on your teeth and catch any potential problems. You’ll take pictures of every angle of your teeth and provide some information about yourself and your treatment. Dr. Westfall will determine any adjustments you need to make to continue your treatment process.
How it Works
It’s pretty simple: first, you’ll take some pictures of your smile, following the instructions on our virtual visits page. Second, you’ll give us some basic information about your treatment along with photos showing every angle of your mouth.
Here are some tips to help you take a great photo:
- Have a friend or family member take the photos, or use the self-timer on your camera
- Be sure flash is turned on
- ONLY photograph your teeth and mouth area
- Try your best to stay relaxed and avoid tensing up your cheek muscles
- Keep your teeth together and bite down, hard, so the pictures are accurate. This is very important!
Taking Care of Your Teeth and Appliances
Here are some things to keep in mind while you’re at home. Even though the rest of your routine may have changed, it’s important to maintain all of your great oral hygiene habits and keep taking care of your appliances.
Invisalign:
- Wear aligners as directed by Dr. Westfall.
- If you don’t have the next aligner in the series, continue to wear the previous aligner for 15-18 hours a day until our office reopens.
- If you lose or break an aligner, use the previous one in the series.
- Continue to use any other equipment (such as elastics) as instructed by Dr. Westfall.
- If you run out of aligners, don’t stop wearing them! Visit our virtual visits page and provide the necessary information so we can determine your next steps.
Braces:
- Wear elastics, as directed by Dr. Westfall. If you run out, let us know, and we’ll mail you more.
- If you have any wires sticking out, apply orthodontic wax until you can come into the office. You may also try trimming the wire with a pair of nail clippers or small scissors.
- If you have a loose bracket, let us know, and we’ll fix it at your next in-office appointment. We can also send you a video about how to remove the bracket from the wire using tweezers.
- Avoid any and all foods that can damage your braces. This means sticky and crunchy foods, as well as anything else you would consider to be too hard for braces to handle. This will help prevent any emergencies, and keep us all safe at home!
- And of course, keep your braces clean and free of food debris or plaque!
Expander:
- Continue to do turns, as instructed by Dr. Westfall and stop when instructed.
- Schedule a virtual appointment to talk to us about the next steps!
Retainers:
- If you’ve lost or broken a retainer, contact the team at Westfall Orthodontics and we’ll discuss our next steps.
- If your bonded retainer has come loose, continue to wear your removable retainer full time until we are able to see you and either remove the broken portion or repair the area.
We’re Open For Emergencies
If something happens to your appliances while we’re only open for emergency treatment, we’re still here for you! We are able to talk you through options to address the problem area or we can see you in the office for treatment. If you do experience a real emergency and are experiencing pain, contact us and we’ll be able to take care of you. To ensure your health and safety, we’ll make sure that you’re the only patient in the office and we’ll follow hygiene precautions as recommended by the authorities. And just like we always do, we’ll adhere to the highest sanitation and disinfection practices. You have no reason to worry about any part of your treatment while we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic together.
New Patients: Get Started with A Virtual Consultation
First, take some pictures of your smile following the instructions on our virtual consultation page and the tips above. Then, give us some information about your smile goals.
Once we get your photos, Dr. Westfall will assess your teeth and determine what kind of treatment is best for your smile based on your goals for treatment and needs. We offer traditional metal braces, clear braces, and Invisalign treatment to patients of any age.
Our team will then work with you to determine the cost of your treatment and how it will fit your budget. We accept most major insurance plans and offer payment plans. We’ll help you determine a financial plan that fits your lifestyle. Finally, we’ll create a plan for your next steps once we are able to see you in the office. Since the situation is changing rapidly, we appreciate your understanding and cooperation as plans may potentially change.
Socially Distanced, Virtually Connected
As more cities and states put “Safer At Home” orders in place, our goal at Westfall Orthodontics is to stay connected and provide support for our future and current patients. By offering virtual consultations and appointments, we can prioritize both your smile and your safety as we do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. The virtual options link you, Dr. Westfall, and our team so we can continue to work on your smile as a team.