COVID-19 Updates from Aura Orthodontics

OUR OFFICES ARE RE-OPENING THIS TUES, JUNE 2ND – COVID-19 UPDATE FOR MAY 28TH, 2020

 

Dear Patients,

We are excited to announce that our offices will be reopening this Tuesday, June 2nd!

We hope you all have been keeping well during this time of physical distancing. We want to personally reach out and provide an update on the actions that Aura Orthodontics is taking to help keep our offices safe and healthy for your treatment.

In response to the ever-changing landscape, and to support the health and well-being of our patients and team, we have implemented new protocols. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate through this time together. We will continue to provide you with the latest information via email, our social media (IG: @auraortho), and our website. In addition, we thought it would be worthwhile to share exactly what we are doing to help make our clinic as safe as can be for you and our staff, so you know just what to expect when you arrive.

Please remember, though we may have to do things a little differently, we are the same caring team that you have come to know and love. 😊

How are we making our offices safe?

• We will be operating our offices at less than 50% of normal capacity; reducing the potential for any type of cross-contamination. Please note: we have many patients to reschedule for appointments and we will do our best to do so in a timely fashion. Please be patient. 😊
• We will be practicing physical distancing for all patients, of 6 feet or more. All patient traffic will be guided by a staff member.
• All common areas will be closed: seating areas, washrooms, and brushing areas, for the foreseeable future. Please note: all patient restrooms and waiting areas will remain closed.
• We will accept credit and debit card payments only. No cash transactions please.
• For every single person entering the office (including staff and patients), forehead temperature and pulse oximeter readings will be taken, prior to their entering the office. Please note: office entry will be denied to those showing high temperatures and low blood oxygen levels.
• We will be completing the necessary pre-screening of any individuals entering the office, according to the BCDA, CDSBC and WCB guidelines.
• Hand sanitizer will be available for patients upon arrival and departure.
• Plexiglass protection barriers are installed around our reception areas. In addition, we have custom-made plexiglass dental barrier boxes to protect both, the patient and our staff during orthodontic procedures.
• All staff will be wearing appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) as per evidence-based infection control guidelines.
• We will be regularly disinfecting and sterilizing all common surfaces.
• We have purchased Medical-Grade HEPA Air Purifiers that significantly reduce 99.97% of unwanted particles as small as 0.3 microns and 95% of unwanted particles 0.1 microns and smaller. This includes pet dander, pollen, mold spores, dust mites, bacteria and airborne viruses (including Covid-19).
• We have purchased a disinfectant fogger machine to continuously sterilize the entire clinic.
• We are asking patients not to “walk-in” to the office unless you have an appointment.
  • We have created an Online Check-In platform which current patients can use to submit their questions or emergency requests.
  • New patients now have the option to complete a Virtual Consultation with us digitally from the comfort of your home.
• As always, we will adhere to the highest levels of sterilization protocols.

Important Information:

Please do not come to the office and reschedule your appointment immediately if you are experiencing the following symptoms: fever, cough, sneezing, difficulty breathing or stomach pains OR have been in close contact with a confirmed or probable case of Coronavirus OR have travelled within the last 14 days.

Upon Arrival:

General Note: please be patient as we do our very best to maintain a high standard of physical distancing and sterilization protocols.

• Please arrive to the office 5 minutes before your scheduled appointment time.
• Please remain in your car and call us upon arrival.
• Do not come to the front door until requested to do so by a staff member.
• We will call you once the clinical chair has been disinfected appropriately and we are ready to see you.
• Parents, family, and friends will be asked to wait outside the office or in their vehicles and will not be permitted in the clinic.
• Before entering the clinic:
  • We will be taking forehead temperature and pulse oximeter readings. Any abnormal readings will not be permitted in the office and will have to reschedule their appointment. Please respect this parameter as we are trying to protect the safety of our patients and staff.
  • We will be completing the Patient Acknowledgement Form provided by the BCDA.
    • Patients 19 and under will be required to have a parent/guardian sign the form. After the form is signed, the parent/guardian will be asked to wait in their vehicle or outside.
• After entering the clinic, you will be instructed to use hand sanitizer and then guided to the clinical area to be seen by a clinician for your scheduled appointment.

Upon Departure:

• Treatment Update for Parents/Family:
  • If parents would like an update on treatment progress; please have your child notify a staff member as they enter.
  • We will video call you at the end of their appointment, before they leave and answer your questions!
• Call reception to book your next appointment. Options will be given to either email a copy of your appointment reminder or to make note in your calendar.
• Use hand sanitizer upon exiting.

Thank you for your help and cooperation. We are excited to be back and to help you with your treatment! 😊

With best wishes,

The Aura Family

COVID-19 UPDATE FOR MAY 4TH, 2020

Dear Patients,

*** Office hours may differ due to COVID-19***

Effective, May 4th, our hours for each office are as follows:

• Scottsdale: 9am-5pm, M-F
• Guildford: 9am-5pm, M-F
• Langley: CLOSED

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Thank you!

Aura Orthodontics

COVID-19 UPDATE FOR APRIL 2, 2020

 

Dear Patients,

We hope you are all keeping well during this time of physical distancing. We want to personally reach out to you and provide an update on the actions that Aura Orthodontics is taking to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). In response to the ever-changing landscape and to support the health and well-being of our patients and team, we have decided to keep our offices closed until further notice.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate through this time together and we will continue to provide you with the latest information via email, social media, and our website.

FAQ GUIDE FOR PATIENTS DURING COVID-19 – MARCH 24, 2020

 

Dear Patients,

Due to these unprecedented and rapidly changing circumstances, we know you might have some questions about the COVID-19 pandemic and how it may affect your orthodontic care. Our team has put together this FAQ to help you gain some amount of clarity in this part of your life. We are here to support you and will continue to find new ways to provide you with world-class orthodontic care.

How long will our offices be closed?

Our offices are currently scheduled to reopen on April 1st. We are frequently assessing the situation and will be very transparent with next steps if that changes. Our team will be available to assist patients by phone and email from 9am-3pm Monday – Friday. To help keep our outgoing lines open for our team to handle patient concerns, we ask that you email our team at info@auraortho.com, for the fastest response.

Why do the orthodontic offices need to close?

Due to nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and the sweeping recommendations of numerous health and government officials, we must close our doors to all elective procedures for the safety of our community. Elective procedures are defined as any procedure that does not involve treating a medical emergency to preserve life.

How should I proceed if I am wearing braces or an appliance?

Please make sure you keep good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing three times a day. Also remember, DO NOT eat forbidden foods to avoid any breakage. If wearing any elastic continue to do so as directed. Your braces will continue to straighten your teeth all day and night. Proper elastic wear will continue to correct your bite. We will be able to advance your treatment once we reopen.

How should I proceed if I am wearing Invisalign aligners?

Please make sure to keep wearing your active aligners as instructed to continue progressing your treatment. Make sure to use your chewies and bite and hold to seat the aligners in areas where you may see visible space between your tooth and the aligner. For best use, bite into your chewie for 10 seconds and work it around your teeth lightly biting holding for a 10-minute session.

If you no longer have aligners to continue to your next week, it is perfectly fine to reduce your last aligner wear to a retainer phase of 10-12 hours per day to ensure that your teeth stay in position and make your aligner last longer. Keep your aligners clean and avoid all drinks other than water while wearing them. When our offices reopen, we will make a new digital scan for new aligners.

Always remember to wash your hands before placing and removing your aligners or elastics.

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

We are excited for all our patients to take this big step, and look forward to seeing your new smile when it is finished. We are hopeful that this schedule alteration will be short. When this situation has stabilized, we are going be ready for you!

What about getting my braces off?

Although dental care is very safe for patients and providers with standard universal precautions and hospital level sterilization protocols, cleaning teeth and the removal of orthodontic bonding materials produces aerosols that can possibly contain biological material. A deferral of removing braces is a good practice at a time like this. Always brush and floss thoroughly to maintain your dental health as we await the passing of this situation. We will resume removal of braces when we are advised that it is safe to do so.

I have a routine monitoring appointment upcoming (retainer check, growth monitoring, recall examination, or new patient consultation).

These appointments are very important, but by their nature become elective at a time like this. We will maintain all appointment records within our computer system, and will reschedule them appropriately when the community situation returns to normal.

We are told to wash our hands frequently; how should we handle wearing aligners, retainers, elastics, etc?

It is important to continue wearing your aligners and your rubber bands to maintain your treatment progress, or your treatment result if currently wearing retainers. Follow recommendations by washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after removing or placing your aligners, retainers, or elastics. These items can also be washed or cleaned in a diluted soap and water solution. An old toothbrush is ideal for this purpose. After cleaning the appliance, rinse thoroughly in cold water to minimize the soapy taste, just like when doing the dishes.

I lost or broke my retainer or aligner. What should I do?

It is always important to wear your retainers after your treatment is complete. Call the office and leave us a voicemail or write us a email, someone will be contact you to see how we can proceed.

Will patients be allowed in the offices at all? Is there anyone there?

Not at this time. The offices will open on April 1st, however our team is available to answer all your concerns via phone or email.

I have a poking wire or other irritation that is bothering me. What do I do?

Call us! We will instruct you on the best resolution to the problem. We will try to help you with an easy fix at home. In the event of a true emergency situation involving severe pain or discomfort, this could involve a quick VIP trip to the office for a fix in a private setting where you would be the only patient in the office.

To stay updated on how our office is responding and to maintain a centralized place for resources such as this, we will be updating our website regularly at www.auraortho.com. Social media will be the fastest place to learn new information from us. Follow us on Instagram @auraortho and at facebook.com/auraorthodontics for updates. If Dr. Sharma gets stir crazy enough, you may be lucky enough to see him dance on TikTok @auraorthodontics as well. 😊

Thank you for your understanding, and we are truly grateful that you have chosen to support our small business. We wish you all good health, and we can’t wait to see you again in person real soon!

Your Friends at Aura Orthodontics

COVID-19 UPDATE FOR MARCH 19, 2020

 

Dear Patients,

At Aura Orthodontics, our primary concern has and will always be the safety and well-being of our patients, staff, and the community. That is why, amidst all of the health concerns over the COVID-19 Pandemic, we have decided to close all of our offices with tentative plans to reopen on April 1st.

Please note that we can be reached via telephone and email if you have any questions or concerns whatsoever. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at:

Phone: 604-585-1304 (Guildford Office)
Phone: 604-593-5225 (Scottsdale Office)
Phone: 604-427-3001 (Langley Office)
Phone: 604-381-3000 (Abbotsford Office)
Email: info@auraortho.com

We will update you regularly as the situation becomes more clear over the next couple of weeks.

Make sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for timely updates.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auraortho
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auraortho

Please remember to take care of yourselves and loved ones during this uncertain time.

Stay safe and keep smiling!

Your Friends at Aura Orthodontics