Information on Managing Braces During the Coronavirus Quarantine
In this unusual time of Coronavirus quarantine, all aspects of life have been significantly affected by the necessity of minimizing the spread of novel Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19). Orthodontics is no exception to the disruption of all other aspects of life. In this blog, we’ll share how we at McDonald Orthodontics in Salem, OR are managing this extraordinary time.
First, it’s important to know that Governor Brown made an executive order that closed all dental and orthodontic offices until June 15. There are exceptions, of course, for emergencies and special circumstances, but in general, we can’t proceed as we normally would until the middle of June.
So, Here’s What Patients Should Know About What We Plan to Do Moving Forward.
- Virtual appointments.
We are in the process of setting up a system of virtual orthodontic visits to be able to check in with our patients, view their teeth, monitor their progress, and make any changes necessary in their rubber band wear or the wearing of other appliances. This will also allow us to answer any questions and delay any concerns parents and patients may be feeling.
Dr. John McDonald is on call and available by phone 24 hours a day to deal with emergencies and answer any questions that may arise. In order to get hold of Dr. McDonald, please call our regular phone number (503-585-5400) and follow the prompt to talk to the person on-call. Dr. McDonald should return your call within 15 minutes.
- Orthodontic supplies.
What should you do if you need more rubber bands, orthodontic wax, or other adjuncts to your treatment? In the case of rubber bands, we will put some in the mail and send them to you. We can also leave some items outside in a pick-up box near our back door for you to be able to swing by and pick them up while still maintaining social distance.
In most cases, for patients who are undergoing clear aligner treatment (such as Invisalign® and Clarity™ aligners), we can arrange for you to come by the office and pick up additional aligners which we can deliver to you while you wait in your car in the parking lot. We will also be checking in with you when we get our virtual appointment system up and running.
Contact Our McDonald Orthodontics For Your Ortho Consultation at (503) 585-5400
During this time, Salem Orthodontist Dr. McDonald and our staff remain committed to continuing to provide our Salem, OR patients with the individual, personalized care that is the hallmark of our patient-care philosophy. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call and either leave a message or follow the prompts to have Dr. McDonald return your call immediately.
Some day this pandemic will be over and we will be able to get back to life as usual. Until then, keep yourselves and your family safe, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us if necessary.
