24001 Newhall Ranch Rd #220, Santa Clarita, CA 91355

FAQ for our patients during the COVID 19 shutdown

In order to comply with state and federal mandates and for the safety of our patients, their families, as well as our staff we are temporary closing our office starting March 18th until further notice. Please know that we will continue to monitor our phones and all calls will be returned promptly. We’re also available to see patients on an emergency basis. We understand that these are difficult times and we would like you to know that Dr. Salmassian and the entire team of Salmassian Orthodontics is committed to providing whatever assistance possible. We miss you and we are all looking forward to seeing you very soon.

We realize you may have a lot of questions during this health crisis so we have compiled a list of commonly asked questions to assist you and resolve simple issues until we can get back to the office:

Why does the office need to close?

Given the gravity of this health care crisis and a notional emergency, the California Dental Association has requested all dental practices to suspend care with the exception of emergency cases that present as life threatening. The purpose of this recommendation, consistent with the statewide shelter-in-place order, is to minimize the risks of virus exposure to patients and the dental team and to preserve critical health care workers’ personal protective equipment which are currently in extremely short supply. We agree with the recommendations and will comply with the closure request for the health of our patients and our staff and to limit the spread and escalation of this pandemic.

How long will our office be closed?

The State of California has placed a shelter in place order until April 19th which may be extended even further depending on the escalation of the pandemic. We are closely monitoring the current situation and will be ready to resume normal business operations as soon as we deem it safe for our patients and our staff. This health crisis is rapidly increasing with more cases diagnosed daily. We will continue to update you on any new developments and here to assist during the shutdown. 

How Can I contact the office during the closure?

Our phone lines are open and we can be reached by calling our main line at 661-222-7444 Monday thru Friday from 9am to 5pm. If you are a current patient of the office you may also text us via the Curogram app. You can email us anytime at info@salmassianortho.com. We have a dedicated emergency line, 661-731-3839 that is reserved for patients who are in extreme pain, have severe discomfort, or develop a dental infection. We check all these communication channels routinely and will provide a prompt response. Dr. Salmassian is also monitoring the emails and emergency lines 24/7. 

Are you accepting new patients? Can I schedule a consultation?

We are always accepting new patients! During the closure we can set up a virtual consultation with Dr. Salmassian. Please visit our website at www.salmassianortho.com to find a link for “Virtual Consultation”. There you will find detailed instructions and steps to schedule your Virtual Exam. You can also call our office for further assistance at 661-222-7444

What should I do if I have braces or an appliance?

Your braces are still working and you do not need to do anything different than what you have been doing up to now. Just make sure to stay away from hard and crunchy foods as to avoid breaking brackets. Please make sure to also keep up excellent oral hygiene by brushing at last twice a day and preferably between meals. Don’t forget to floss!

I you have an expander please stop any turning of the appliance until further notice. 

What should I do if I have rubber bands or elastics?

Please continue wearing your elastics. If you need more please let us know and we can mail you some or you can stop by the office for a quick pick up. If you chose to pick them up directly we please ask that you do so only if you are not having any symptoms of coughing, fever, or shortness of breath. Please contact us at 661-222-7444 for further instructions.

Always remember to wash your hands before placing and removing your elastics!

How should I do if I am wearing Invisalign?

Please make sure to keep wearing your aligners as instructed and with the same schedule as you have been doing up to now. 

If you finished your last aligner and need the next set please call our office and we will be glad to mail them to you. You can also stop by the office to pick them up as long as you do not have any symptoms of coughing, fever, or shortness of breath. Please contact us at 661-222-7444 for further instructions.

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

What if I’m in my last set of aligners and they are starting to discolor. What should I do?

If your current aligner is the final one and your next appointment is to finish your case or order more aligners then we recommend wearing your current last set mainly at night time just as you would with retainers. This will hold the alignment until we are able to see you again.

You can use any denture cleaners such as “Efferdent” or simple soap and water to keep them clean for the time being.

What if I lost one or more of my Aligners?

Please call the office right away so that we can have some remade for you. Please note that it will take a few weeks for these to arrive and we will ship them to you as soon as we receive them. Please note that there is replacement fee for any lost aligner so make sure to be extra careful not to loose them and to always keep them in the case we provided when they are not in your mouth.

What if my aligners don’t fit anymore?

That is usually a sign that you have not been too compliant with wearing them. Please go back to the last best fitting aligner stage and wear them for a week and move up aligners once again. If they still do not fit with this process then new aligners may need to be made (refinement) and we will need to get you back in the office for a new scan. Please call our office right away so that Dr. Salmassian can discuss the next step. We may set up a virtual consult to check the fit and discuss the right course of action.

I was scheduled to start my Invislign and pick up my first set of aligners. Can I pick up my trays? Can you ship my trays?

In most cases the first delivery appointment consists of placing “buttons” or “attachments” on your teeth therefore we would not be able to give you the aligners without the attachments.  You may need to wait until the office is ready for normal operations to come for that appointment. If your case does not require any attachments then we will be able to mail them to you and give you instructions on how to wear them. 

Please reach out to our office at 661-222-7444 and we will be happy to assist you further

I was supposed to finish my treatment and remove my attachments. What should I do?

We understand your frustration and wish we could see you to remove the attachments. Unfortunately, we are prevented from performing any non-emergency (non-life-threatening) care until the California Dental Association advises us otherwise. We are anxiously awaiting the day we can open our office again and we will get you in as soon as that happens. Thank you for your patience during this time.

What should I do if I am scheduled to have braces placed?

We are excited as much as you are to get started on your treatment however since that is not a dental emergency we will need to postpone that appointment until we are allowed to see patients.  We hope to get you back in the office as soon as possible. We please ask for some patience until this health crisis is resolved and when it is safe to resume normal operations.

What should I do if I was scheduled to get my braces removed?

The timing of this health crisis couldn’t be any worst and we understand your frustration and wanting to have the braces removed. We please ask that you remain patient until we are allowed to see patients once again. You are our top priority and we will try to accommodate you as soon as possible. Thank you for being patient.

I have a retainer check/ Recall appointment. What should I do? 

These appointments are very important however not considered a dental emergency at the moment so we will need to reschedule you for the time being. Our office will make sure to contact you and give further instructions.

What should I do if I broke or lost my retainers?

Retainers are extremely important and without them your teeth can shift. So we please ask that you contact us right away at 661-222-7444 if you break or loose your retainers. In some cases we may be able to order you a new set of retainers based on the last scan that was taken of your teeth. A replacement fee will apply for any lost or broken retainers.  

I have a poking wire that is bothering me. What should I do?

In most cases wax is the best solution. Please apply some to temporarily hold you off. If you need us to mail you some please contact our office. You can also find dental wax in your common pharmacies such as Walgreens, CVS or Rite Aid in the toothpaste section. 

In some cases you may be able to cut the wire if you feel skilled enough and have nail clippers or a small fine cutter. 

Here is a great Youtube video From Dr. Paulson on how to handle common orthodontic emergencies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCRFXj2v1RE

In the event you are still having difficulty and in severe pain or discomfort, then we can schedule you to come in the office as an emergency patient.

If your are not sure please call us at 661-222-7444 and we will instruct you on the best course of action.

How are these postponed appointments going to impact the progress of my braces?

Your braces and wires are in a stable position currently. We use top of the line brackets and heat activated wires to enable you to go months between visits. This temporary setback will not affect your overall treatment results however your anticipated finish date may get postponed slightly. Rest assured that there will not be any additional fees added to your account because of any extensions resulting from the mandated shutdown.

We will get through this as one big orthodontic family. We ask that you follow our recommendations, that you practice the necessary physical distancing guidelines and stay home, that you wash your hands at least for 20 seconds on a regular basis, but most importantly that you stay positive and enjoy every free minute of your day. Spend quality time with your loved ones, exercise, read, listen or play music, watch movies, and always always smile! We miss you and hope to see you again very soon.

Stay safe everyone!

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