COVID-19 Dental Advice for Patients

22 May 2020

As per recent government advice, the UK public has been advised to remain at home, where possible. This, in turn, has led to many people not being able to receive dental assistance. Instead, Etwall Dental Practice has been offering direct communication via telephone, in the hope that dental experts can talk you through your problems remotely.

Nevertheless, Etwall Dental Practice appreciates that it may be difficult to properly diagnose any issues over the phone. With that said, below you’ll find some tips on how best to help both yourself and your dentist, when it comes to maintaining oral health at home.

Taking Photos/Videos

With many issues difficult to diagnose over the phone, patients have been encouraged to provide photos/videos of their teeth and/or gums, better demonstrating the problem at large. If you feel like this is necessary for your situation, follow the steps below, to ensure all safety measures have been adhered to.

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap
• With a camera in position, retract your lips so that your teeth are visible
• Hold that position for five seconds and then rotate your head to the left/right, to give the best view of your teeth
• Afterwards, tilt your head back and open your mouth as wide as possible, allowing the camera to see the roof of your mouth
• Finally, move your head downwards and open your mouth once more, allowing the camera to see all of your bottom teeth

Following the above steps will help our dental experts with scheduling any emergency appointments, so please ensure as many of your teeth as possible are visible. If you’re looking to send over any photos or videos to Etwall Dental Practice, please email them to info@etwalldentalpractice.co.uk.

Advice for those with Clear Aligners

Those with clear aligners will need to take preventative measures to ensure that teeth do not go back to their original position before once again visiting the orthodontist. It’s imperative that patients continue to use their aligners, so that the position of teeth is stabilised. Patients may still encounter one of a few problems, the solutions to which can be found below.

What should I do if my aligners don’t fit properly?

If patients find that their aligners are proving uncomfortable, they should temporarily revert to their previous aligner, before once again trying to re-fit the new aligner.

What should I do if my aligner is rubbing?

If you find that your aligner is digging in, try filing down its edge using an emery board or nail file, allowing for more comfort. Alternatively, using orthodontic wax will help protect your lip from any edges that are sticking out.

What should I do if an aligner attachment has fallen off?

It’s important that you keep treatment progressing as normal, if any aligner attachments fall off. Be sure to contact Etwall Dental Practice at the earliest convenience, so our orthodontists can find a solution for you. It’s important to monitor the tooth which has lost its attachment; if it no longer fits your new aligner, use the old one as a temporary retainer.

Should you require any further information on how to maintain your teeth and treatments during self-isolation, don’t hesitate to visit our Contact Us page, for all the details you’ll need to get in touch. With the COIVD-19 situation changing daily, remember to keep on top of the latest news and guidance from the UK Government.