COVID-19 Response and Related Updates
UPDATE June 10, 2020
We are very excited to now be welcoming our existing and new patients into the office. May was a very busy month, having seen most of our active patients to help ensure they are on track towards our treatment goals.
You will notice a few changes in the office, from the health screening process when you first come in, social-distancing practices, to renovations throughout to isolate aerosol generating procedures.
UPDATE May 15, 2020
The team at Simply Orthodontics has had a very safe and successful first phase of re-opening. We were so happy to see so many of you again! We are now contacting our next wave of patients who are most delayed or have most urgent needs. Some key points to note: We are ensuring our standards are above those set by our governance, and we are doing some renovations to allow us to keep Aerosol Generating Procedures in separate areas. Thus, we will commence the long awaited “taking braces off” process for those of you who are due for this by June 8 (sooner if the site adjustments are ready!). We also will have to await this time frame for appointments for some of our Invisalign patients if we have attachments to change. Other than those procedures, the majority of our patients who are in active treatment (wearing braces, Invisalign or active appliances), should receive appointment invitations by May 16, for appointments available on May 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29 and June 2 and 3.
Our team has your safety at the forefront of our thoughts in all that we do. We have sourced PPE, updated policies and procedures, re-trained all team members and had many practice runs. Our Infection Control Procedures have always been top, now we are next level. To assist us in keeping our environment safe for all of our visitors please take a moment to review the instructions and updates provided in your appointment invitation. You might forget what this team looks like now that we will be wearing masks much more, so be sure to connect with us on Facebook and Instagram to continue to see our smiling faces. We are “smiling with our eyes”
UPDATE May 7, 2020
Our team is providing care to our most urgent and delayed patients this week and next week! We will know more after May 14 when we receive our next announcements and updates from the government, Alberta Health and the Alberta Dental Association and College. We anticipate another round of urgent care offerings prior to resuming a regular schedule. If you are an active patient at Simply Orthodontics and have not yet received your email invitation to schedule your next appointment, please wait for future invites to comes after May 15, 2020. If you have a new and urgent issue to share with our team please submit your concerns using our Virtual Appointment Link.
UPDATE May 4, 2020
Phones are OFF at Simply Ortho so our team can focus on processes to prepare to begin to serve you better. If you do not have a new and urgent need to share, please do not leave a message nor send an email. Our first wave of urgent patients will receive appointment booking instructions by email by Tuesday morning, appointments will be available in this first wave from May 7 to 13th.
We have many weeks of patients who were delayed due to COVID restrictions. This means that if you have an appointment upcoming in May, consider it cancelled. We have to service our patients in order of their due appointments and triaged based on urgency of each individual’s situation, within the guidelines
We will get to all of you #ASSAP (As Soon and Safely As Possible). The re-opening and rescheduling process is a huge endeavor. Please give our team the space to do this efficiently so we may serve all of you!
FAQ - “I am holding in an old Invisalign Aligner and waiting for my new aligners, will I be seen in the first wave?”. Answer: Most likely NO as we cannot yet use the instruments that remove old attachments so we can place your new attachments. Please sit tight and continuing wearing your last aligners nightly. We will be in touch ASSAP.
FAQ - “I had an upcoming appointment scheduled before all of this happened, can I attend my next appointment (in May or June) as previously scheduled?”. Answer: Please consider all future appointments cancelled. Our team must provide care to those who missed March and April appointments first. We will be working diligently to get all patients back on track. If you have an urgent need or update, please submit your information on our Virtual Appointment system (you received a link with the appointment cancellation notification).
FAQ - “I was supposed to get my braces off next visit, will you take them off now?”. Answer: Removal of braces will have to wait for wave 2 or 3 depending on regulatory updates and PPE availability, due to the nature of the process required for braces removal (Aerosol Generating Procedure). If something is loose or broken and we are aware of this we will be asking for you to come in for that repair so that you can move to braces removal ASSAP.
FAQ - “Is it safe for me to come in for orthodontic care?”. Answer: We are taking heavy precautions as we re-enter. Please help us keep you and our team safe by heading all instructions. The in-office experience will be a bit different in the short-term, but know that our warm and caring team has your best interests at heart.
UPDATE May 3, 2020
Thanks to the excellent work of Albertans, dentistry is now included in the re-entry plan. Urgent care is now permitted, and this includes many aspects of active orthodontics! Or team is in the process of resuming care for our active orthodontic patients and are so excited to see you soon. We do have a list of patients who are overdue for appointments and who have urgent needs, so unless you have something new, please DO NOT contact the office at this time – this will further slow our ability to respond to all patients in need.
Watch your email for a screening form which we will need to have returned to us prior to scheduling your next appointment. Appointments will be provided in waves. The first wave, between May 7 and 13, will be restricted in the nature of care that can be provided. If you do not receive this screening email by May 6, you will receive it for future waves of care.
We request your trust and patience as we work diligently to get all of our patients’ care back on track in an appropriate and orderly fashion! We will be in touch by email as soon as we are able to provide an update on your next appointment. Check back here regularly for further updates.
#ASSAP (As Soon and Safely As Possible!) - our new motto. We got this!
UPDATE May 1, 2020
The Alberta Dental Association and College (ADAC) is the governing body for dentistry in Alberta. Late Thursday evening (April 30, 2020), dentists received their update from the ADAC. At this time, the mandatory suspension of all non-emergency dental treatment remains in place. Dentists have been promised a finalized re-opening strategy and guidelines will become available on Monday May 4.
Once the guidelines and dental care resumption date is known, our team is well-positioned to meet those guidelines. Site modifications are already in progress, PPE orders are already in, the team is getting ready for you! We anticipate being able to resume in-office care sometime between May 11 and 19, depending on the ADAC updates, limitations and requirements.
Please trust your Simply Ortho Team to be methodical, safe and fair as we resume care.
Priority #1 is safety of our team and patients
Priority #2 is re-training of our team and finalizing all processes to allow us to work efficiently in this COVID area and within all guidelines and mandates
Priority #3 is to return to patient care within the above parameters, triaging all patients who have experienced delays. Our focus will be on the patients who have the most significant treatment needs and who are most overdue for their care.
There will be changes to your experience in the office. Our Cafe, treats and waiting room is packed- up. Patients will be asked to attend appointments unaccompanied, and can expect to be asked to complete COVID screening prior to attending an appointment. Infection control procedures will be rigorous. Our team will be wearing more gear and less purple!
Our team continues to watch the situation closely and is already well underway with preparations to confidently face our new reality of living and working in the era of COVID-19. We request your trust and patience as we gear up to the long-awaited day of seeing you again!
Please bookmark https://simplyorthodontics.ca/covid-19 for updates and await our call or email to schedule your next appointment.
COVID-19 Response
The safety of our patients continues to be our #1 priority. In light of the mandatory suspension of all non-emergency dental treatment and services, our team will be limiting in-person appointments to Emergency visits; we are offering Virtual Appointments to best support our patients whose treatment can safely progress remotely.
We will be responding to your emails and phone calls, weekdays 9AM-3PM.
Virtual Appointments
Our team will notify you if your scheduled appointment has been replaced by a Virtual Appointment, allowing you to enter your photos and any concerns; our team will follow up with you to let you know once reviewed.
In-Office Emergency Appointments
Simply Orthodontics will continue to see Emergency appointments as needed, modifying our approach to clinical appointments as appropriate. In addition to continuing to maintain the highest level of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Standards; we have introduced sanitization protocols to all office touchpoints including, but not limited to, door handles, desks, fixtures and faucets. The office common area has been reduced to seating only: snacks, beverages, games, books, toothbrushes and floss are temporarily put aside.
If you are in active treatment, consult prior emails regarding after hours contact information.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long are you suspending in-person appointments?
March 17th’s Dental Association mandate did not indicate when we can again welcome patients to the office; it will depend upon the progression of the COVID-19 situation.
When is my next appointment?
As soon as the Alberta Dental Association approves us to provide service to all patients, we will call you to reschedule your next in-office appointment.
Are my payments affected?
All monthly payments are applied towards your treatment fee, and reduces the outstanding balance. This extension in treatment time does NOT extend your payments.
Contact our team via phone or email if you have further questions or concerns.
Take care of each other,
Dr. Duncan and the Team at Simply Orthodontics
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