Frequently Asked Questions | Invisalign Specialists Melbourne | Lavrin And Lawrence Orthodontics
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For patients who have not yet started treatment

  1. I am a new patient to the clinic; can I still be seen by a specialist orthodontist regarding my teeth/bite during this COVID-19 closure period?
    Yes, you can still make contact with one of our experienced orthodontists by submitting photos of your teeth using our free virtual online consultation. Please visit our website at www.lavrinortho.com.au, there is a pop up widget on the bottom left corner of your screen that will step you through how to proceed with your complimentary online consult.
  2. I am a new patient to the clinic, I have now completed a virtual online consultation with the orthodontist at Lavrin and Lawrence Orthodontics, what happens next?
    We are excited for you to get started on your treatment and look forward to seeing your transformed smile! We will remain in close contact with you during this closure period. We will let you know once the COVID-19 government restrictions have lifted and we will schedule an appointment to come to the clinic to obtain X-rays, photos, meet with one of our Specialist Orthodontists and to start your treatment.
  3. I am a known patient at the practice, I have a review appointment to check my child’s bite to determine the appropriate timing to start treatment, what do I do now?
    These examination appointments are important, however unfortunately due to the current restrictions we are unable to see you in the clinic. We would still like to review your teeth/bite using our virtual consultation process. We will contact you closer to the date of your appointment and let you know how to submit photos of your teeth for our specialist orthodontist to then review. There is the opportunity to meet with your orthodontist via a face to face online virtual consult.

For patients who are booked to start treatment soon

  1. I have an appointment booked to start my braces, what happens now?
    We are excited for you to have your braces put on. With the current government restrictions in place, we are unfortunately unable to commence your braces treatment at this time. Once we are able to re-open our practice, we will make contact with you to schedule an appointment to get started with your braces.
  2. I have an appointment booked to start my aligners, can I still start treatment?
    During the first appointment, attachments on your teeth are necessary to allow the aligners to better move your teeth. Your orthodontist will review your aligner treatment and determine if it is a possibility for you to commence your aligners without any attachments. If so, this would allow you to start your aligner treatment during this COVID19 closure period. We will contact you in the coming days to let you know if you are suitable for this. If you are starting your treatment without any attachments, then we ask that you keep all your used aligners and do not discard them. Once our clinic re-opens we will schedule you an appointment to then have your necessary attachments placed on and continue your aligner treatment.
    Alternatively, you may prefer to wait until we re-open before starting your aligner treatment. We can store your aligners in our clinic and schedule you an appointment to place these attachments once we re-open.

For patients who are still in active treatment with braces

  1. One of my braces has broken, what do I do?
    Please email clinic@lavrinortho.com.au so we can discuss with you what needs to be done. It is very useful for you to take a photo of the issue and include this in your email so our clinical team can assess.
  2. I have a wire poking into my cheek/lips
    You can use the orthodontic wax that we have provided you to cover the wire and reduce the discomfort. If an ulcer has formed, then you can use the brace relief gel that we provided to help ease the ulcer. Please also contact the clinic via phone ((03) 9846 3811) or email (clinic@lavrinortho.com.au) so that we can discuss with you what needs to be done. We will then contact you and provide advice to relieve the discomfort whilst you are still at home.

For patients who are still in active treatment with aligners

  1. I am already in my last aligner, what do I do now?
    If you don’t have any more new aligners to use then please continue to wear your last upper and lower aligner at night time. Keep your previous aligner as a backup set to wear. Wearing your aligners at night will help to maintain the position of your teeth. When the clinic re-opens we will then schedule you an appointment to check your teeth/bite and order refinement aligners if required or remove the attachments and order final retainers. Please also contact the clinic via phone ((03) 9846 3811 or email) (clinic@lavrinortho.com.au) to notify us.
  2. Can I receive my next set of refinement aligners?
    Typically, at your next visit we would remove some of your existing attachments, place new attachments and provide your refinement aligners. Your orthodontist will review your refinement aligner plan and determine if your new refinement aligners will fit over your existing attachments. If so, this would allow you to start your refinement aligners during this closure period. We will contact you in the coming days to let you know if you are suitable for this. There will be some attachments that will still need to be placed in order to straighten the teeth. We ask that you continue to keep all your used aligners and do not discard them. Once our clinic re-opens we will schedule you an appointment to then have your remaining new attachments placed.
    If our orthodontist deems that your refinement aligners will not be able to fit over your existing attachments, then we will not be providing you with these aligners. Please wear your current aligner at night time only to hold the current position of your teeth until we open again and can fit your new attachments and aligners.
  3. I am wearing elastics and the button that I use has come off, what do I do?
    If one or more of your buttons have come off, then stop wearing your elastics. You can continue to wear your aligners full time. If you are using Dental Monitoring please continue your scans. Please also contact the clinic via email (clinic@lavrinortho.com.au) to notify us.
  4. One of my attachments have come off
    During this period we will be unable to replace any broken or lost attachments. If you are using the Dental Monitoring app, we will continue to review the fit of your aligners and advise you on when you can move into the next aligner. For our patients that are not using the Dental Monitoring app, then we will review your aligners and attachments at your next scheduled appointment. We will contact you closer to the date of your appointment and let you know how to submit photos of your teeth for our clinical team to review.
  5. I have finished my packet of elastics or chewies
    Please contact the clinic via the Dental Monitoring app, phone (03) 9846 3811) or email (clinic@lavrinortho.com.au) to notify us.
  6. My current aligner has broken or been misplaced
    If you have the next aligner, then you can move into the new one. The new aligner may feel tight and you are likely to need to stay on that aligner for two weeks to ensure good fit. If you have any concerns that this next aligner is not fitting well, then please contact the clinic via phone (03) 9846 3811) or email (clinic@lavrinortho.com.au) to notify us. If you do not have the next aligner then please wear your previous aligner and contact our office.
  7. My LAST aligner has broken or been misplaced and I have no previous aligners to wear
    Please contact the clinic via phone ((03) 9846 3811) or email (clinic@lavrinortho.com.au) to notify us. We will discuss short-term solutions to prevent your teeth from moving out of alignment.
  8. I was scheduled to finish my aligners soon and have all my attachments removed, now what do I do?
    Please continue to wear your last upper and lower aligner at night time. Keep your previous aligner as a backup set to wear. Wearing your aligners at night will help to maintain the position of your teeth. When the clinic re-opens we will then schedule you an appointment to check your teeth/bite and if needed we can obtain a new digital scan and order refinement aligners or if we deem your treatment to be finished remove your attachments. Please also contact the clinic via phone ((03) 9846 3811) or email (clinic@lavrinortho.com.au) to notify us.

Invisalign aligners are a registered medical device, you should always read and follow the label and the instructions of your treating orthodontist.

For patients who have recently completed treatments of braces/aligners and are now wearing retainers

Please continue to wear your upper and lower retainers every night. Unfortunately, we are unable to see you face to face for your scheduled retainer check appointments during this closure period. We look forward to seeing you once we re-open to check on your retainers. If you have any other questions relating to the fit of your retainers, please submit photos of your teeth with the retainers in place as well as without retainers via email (clinic@lavrinortho.com.au).

Other questions

  1. How long will the practice be closed for?
    Due to the government restrictions because of the Corona Virus pandemic, Lavrin & Lawrence Orthodontics have made the difficult decision to close to physical patients. We will be reviewing the re-open date based on updates from Federal and State government guidelines. The safety of our patients and staff is of upmost importance to us. During the enforced closure period, the administrative and clinical team at Lavrin & Lawrence Orthodontics will continue to remain open for online and phone enquiries.
  2. We are told to wash our hands regularly to reduce the spread of COVID-19, what do I do if I need to wear my aligners and/or elastics?
    Please continue to wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before and after placing elastics and when handling your aligners or retainers.
  3. Will any patients still be seen in the clinic? If so, are both clinics open?
    Under the current government restrictions, we can only see patients if it is an urgent clinical emergency including trauma to front teeth, infection or severe pain. If these such emergencies occur to you, please also contact your general dentist for immediate management of your teeth. Orthodontic emergency appointments will be scheduled at our Templestowe office only. If a patient or family member is suspected or confirmed with COVID-19/Coronavirus, then we will be unable to see you for any treatment in our clinic even if you meet the above requirements to ensure the health and safety of our staff until after 14 days post-infection.