Notice to patients to prepare for virtual appointments

In light of the current health climate and the opportunity to do what we can to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Halgren Orthodontics has made the decision to do certain appointments virtually.  This way we can fulfill our commitment to you while keeping your health and safety in mind.  We would like to cancel your upcoming in-person appointment and instead have you take a set of pictures and text them back to us.  Dr. Halgren will evaluate your photographs and let you know what the next steps of your treatment will be.  We will send you a link that will explain how to take the pictures.  Thank you so much for your flexibility and understanding. We appreciate you.

Braces Patients:

During our temporary closure non-elective procedures are defined as remedying one or more of the following:

• Significant oral pain (many orthodontic emergencies can be managed by wax covering the area, or sectioning an archwire with cuticle cutters/nail clippers).
• Limited Function.
• Physically Traumatic event yielding the above.

Unless any of the above is true, loose brackets and bands, as well as lost or broken retainers, should be considered elective.  Discretion should be use should a long period of time pass.  Please refer to the patient photos guidelines and email us at [email protected].

Invisalign Patients:

During our temporary office closure you may find that you are running out of trays before you can see us next.  If you see this coming, please start wearing your existing aligners for 2-3 weeks at a time to continue your progress, but not run out of trays.  If you reach your final tray, then begin wearing the final tray for 12 hours nightly to prevent too much breakdown of the trays before we can order you new ones.  Please refer to the instructions on taking and submitting photos to [email protected] for additional help.

Progress Photos Instructions

Why should I submit photos?

During this time we are asking all patients wearing elastics(rubber bands), Invisalign aligners, or in a phase 1 appliance (protraction facemask, headgear, expander, space maintainer) to send photos. This will allow Dr. Halgren to monitor your treatment progress and keep your treatment on track.

How do I submit photos?

All you need to do is email the photos to [email protected] when we ask. Also include your name and the date you took the photos.

What photos do I need to take?

We need 4 photos from you and they are easy to take! Take all the photos as close as possible without cutting any teeth out of the photos (you will need a friend’s, parent’s, or spouse’s help). If you are in Invisalign please take the photos with your aligners in your mouth and let me know what tray number you are currently wearing. For those in braces please have your rubber bands in place as prescribed (even if you are only wearing them at night, I want them in place for the photos). For these photos I used my iPhone and two plastic spoons to help with the photos. Tips: turn on the flash for your phone camera (Do not just have auto-flash, we need all the light we can get), sit in front of a window for natural light.