REOPENING AFTER COVID
We’ve missed seeing our patients’ beautiful smiles! That’s why we’re thrilled to announce we can begin seeing you in our office again starting on June 1!
Although we’re always focused on the health of our patients, we want you to know that we’ve taken enhanced measures to protect your well-being while you’re in our office.
When you come in for your next appointment, you will notice the following new procedures:
- Patients must remain in your car and text us when you arrive for your appointment. We will come out & get you when we’re ready to see you. We have signage in the parking lot with specific instructions
- We ask that all patients wear a face mask in the office
- Increased sanitation & sterilization
- Sneeze guards installed
- Staff wearing face masks & gloves
- Social distancing patients in the clinic
We can also offer you the same level of personalized care you’re accustomed to through a FREE virtual consultation in the comfort of your home if that is your preference.
We feel these increased safety measures will further protect the health of our patients and staff. If you have any questions, please call us at 973-887-8780. We look forward to seeing your smiling faces again!
P.S. Don’t forget, we have MOVED! New address:
272 Parsippany Road
Parsippany, NJ 07054
COVID-19 FAQ’s
What happened to Caggiano Orthodontics? Are you open? What about my treatment?
Let’s start by saying we hope you and your family are all staying healthy and we want you to know we are still here for you (except when Dr. Caggiano is wrestling for some toilet paper and Spam at the local grocery store). We understand there may be some confusion with the rapidly changing circumstances so here are some common questions and answers to help you thru this difficult time.
Why is Caggiano Orthodontics Closed?
Following the recommendations of health and government officials, we made the difficult decision to suspend all elective treatment until further notice. All orthodontists in New Jersey should be closed. It’s not just us. While we pride ourselves in providing safe care for patients and following strict sterilization protocols, we understand the importance of working together to do our part to help “flatten the curve” and keep you, our staff, and your community safe. We will be closed at least until the end of April. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep our patients informed when we are ready to get back to work.
How Long Will Your Office Be Closed?
Our physical offices currently have no set date to reopen. We are hoping sometime in May but it all depends on what’s happening with the corona virus. We are frequently assessing the situation and will be very transparent with next steps once we know. Our team will be available to assist patients by phone, email, text, and virtual checkups. If you are an existing patient with a clinical question we suggest taking some pictures with your cell phone and texting it to 973-887-8780 and we will get back to you quickly during normal business hours. If it’s the evening, we will still respond, it might just take a little longer 😉
What Is Elective Treatment And What Is Non-Elective Treatment?
Wow, this here can be a fine line. Some people will argue that all orthodontic treatment is elective. While I know that orthodontic care is a life-changing treatment that enhances each patient’s life immensely and should be non-elective, in the grand scheme of things is it elective. The American Dental Association, the New Jersey Dental Association, and the American Association of Orthodontics have recommended that only non-elective treatment be performed at this time to slow the progression of the Coronavirus.
What does that mean? The American Association of Orthodontists has recently released their guidelines on what procedures are considered non-elective, and which are not. Non-Elective Procedures, including those considered to be orthodontic emergencies, are defined as remedying one or more of the following:
• Significant oral pain
• Infection
• Limited function
• Physically traumatic event yielding the above
Problems like loose brackets, pokey wires, and lost or broken retainers/aligners are considered to be elective. We realize that these may be a nuisance, but they aren’t worth the ultimate risk of what can happen with the corona virus.
What Does This Mean For Me?
Please brush and floss thoroughly and maintain your dental health as normally instructed. Use common sense in avoiding foods that could damage your braces, and please always remember to wash your hands before placing and removing your aligners or elastics.
If You Are Wearing Braces Or An Appliance:
• Keep good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing three times a day.
• Now is an especially good time to avoid forbidden foods to avoid any breakage!
• Your braces will continue to straighten your teeth all day and night throughout this time.
• If you wear elastics, continue to do so as directed. If you are unsure of your bite, please text us pictures to 973-887-8780 and we can double check your progress.
• Properly wearing your elastics is important because it will continue to correct your bite.
• Remember to wash your hands before inserting or removing your elastics.
• When our office reopens, we will be happy continue your treatment.
• Please note that your teeth are most likely still getting straighter during this time. This is because the technology in the braces and wires that we use. These wires can be active for longer than the 12 week appointment intervals we schedule.
If You Are Wearing Aligners:
• Please make sure to keep wearing your current aligners as instructed, 22 hours per day.
• If you no longer have aligners to wear, please call or text us and let us know and we will see what we can do for you. In some cases, we can have you drop by and pick up more aligners. In other cases, we can order you some clean ones to help hold your teeth in place.
• Keep your aligners clean and avoid all drinks other than water while wearing them.
• Remember to wash your hands prior to removing or inserting your aligners.
• When our office reopens, we will continue from where you left off. If you don’t wear them 22 hrs per day, your teeth may shift, losing some of our gains, and adding more treatment time.
I Was Scheduled and So Excited To Have My Braces Removed– Now What?
Although orthodontic treatment such as removing braces is very safe for both patients and providers with standard universal precautions and proper sterilization protocols, removing the glue and cleaning the teeth produces aerosols that can possibly contain the coronavirus. Postponing appointments to remove braces is a good precaution at a time like this. We realize you may be disappointed and that this is an inconvenience, but we thank you in advance for your understanding that this is out of our control, like many things are at this time.
I Had an Appointment Cancelled or I have one Coming Up– Now What?
We apologize that this situation may have caused us to cancel your appointment or that we will need to cancel and reschedule. Once we are able to see patients again, Dr. Caggiano can’t wait to get back to work and will work very hard day and night to see all of you in a timely manner. We anticipate a HUGE number of patients that will need to be seen. We ask you to be flexible with us as we prioritize and schedule things maybe slightly different than you are use to. For instance, we may schedule a couple of days where we do nothing but take braces off. Another day of just placing braces. And several days of just adjustments and Invisalign. By doing so, we can see more patients more efficiently. Stay tuned!
What Should I Do If I Am Scheduled to Start Treatment Soon?
We are excited for all our patients to take begin on this life changing journey. We are hopeful that we will be back to work sometime in May. As soon as we are back, we will be ready to get you in and get you started.
I Lost or Broke My Retainer/Aligner. What Should I Do Now?
Please call or text us at 973-887-8780 and we’ll discuss what to do. There are several possibilities and each one depends on the situation.
I Have a Pokey Wire Or Other Irritation That Is Bothering Me. What Do I Do?
Call us! We are here to help. We will instruct you on the best resolution to the problem and try to help you with an easy fix at home. If you can take a picture with your cell phone and text it to 973-887-8780 that would be helpful. Keep in mind, many common orthodontic problems can be managed at home with a pair of cuticle cutters/nail clippers. In the event of a true emergency situation involving severe pain or discomfort, this could involve a quick trip to the office for a fix in a private setting where you would be the only patient in the office (we request parents stay in their car).
Questions? Contact Us!
Thank you for your understanding and patience. We are truly grateful that you have chosen us for your orthodontic treatment. We are still here for you, but temporarily in a different way. If you ever have any questions, comments or concerns, we want to answer those for you!
We Look forward to seeing you very soon!
Be sure to follow us on Facebook for any updates at:
www.facebook.com/MorrisCountyBraces
Get your FREE report from Dr. Caggiano –
The Consumers Guide to Orthodontics
In this free report, you will discover how orthodontic treatment can improve not just your smile, but your way of life. You will also learn that all Orthodontists are not equal, and choosing the right one can help your confidence and overall health.
