In compliance with national and local regulations, most orthodontists’ offices are currently closed due to the COVID-19 crisis. While they may still be providing emergency and urgent care, it might be some time yet before things get back to normal. What should you do in the meantime? How will office closures affect your treatment? An orthodontist in Canfield is here to discuss these important questions.
Office Closures and Your Treatment Timeline
Periodic visits to your orthodontist are important for making sure your treatment goes as smoothly as possible from beginning to end. However, if you are currently unable to attend those appointments, do not worry. After your orthodontist reopens, they’ll work hard to get your treatment back on track. In the meantime, you should not experience any big setbacks as long as you continue to take good care of your teeth and your orthodontic appliances.
Preventing Orthodontic Emergencies
For both your personal comfort and because you want to support social distancing regulations, you should do everything in your power to prevent an orthodontic emergency while your orthodontist’s office is closed. Be diligent about sticking to your oral hygiene routine, and resist the temptation to munch on “quarantine snacks” that could damage your braces, like gummy bears, toffee, fudge, and chips.
If you do end up with any concerns about your orthodontic treatment, don’t hesitate to contact your orthodontist. They may be able to walk you through the issue, or they might decide to schedule an emergency appointment for you. For example, issues like significant pain, a broken braces wire, and similar problems might all be grounds for an emergency visit.
Be Ready to Visit Your Orthodontist
Your orthodontist is deeply concerned about preventing the spread of COVID-19, but they have not forgotten how important you are. That means they are likely reevaluating the situation weekly or even daily to determine when it will be safe to reopen for normal operations. When they do reopen, they will begin to reschedule all of their patients’ missed appointments.
Because your orthodontist is likely to be much busier than usual when they reopen, you should be quick to respond to any calls or emails you get about a new appointment. Your prompt reply will help get your appointment on the books as soon as possible, during a time slot that is convenient for you.
COVID-19 has probably affected most aspects of your daily life — including your orthodontic treatment. However, your journey to a straighter smile will get back on track as soon as possible. Your orthodontist is looking forward to seeing you!
About the Author
Dr. Marissa Mikolich is an orthodontist in Canfield with more than 10 years of experience in her field. She earned her dental degree from The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, and then went on to pursue her Master of Science in Oral Biology at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. Her office is currently closed due to COVID-19, but she is available to provide emergency care and answer questions. Contact our team via our website or at 330-967-4110 to learn more about how we can serve you.