You’ve got the call and today’s the day your custom clear aligners come in! It’s super exciting to finally begin your Invisalign or Spark clear aligner treatment and you can’t wait to start seeing your dream smile emerge before your eyes.
Once you’ve arrived to pick up your clear aligners, one of our experienced orthodontists (Dr. Nease, Dr. Thomas, Dr. Higginbotham, or Dr. Horvath) will walk you through clear aligner care and answer any questions you may have. We’ll also gauge your interest in utilizing virtual orthodontic appointments!
Our team respects your time and loves to offer alternative, flexible scheduling options so you can receive high-quality orthodontic care in the way that works best for your busy schedule. One of the ways we do this is with our Dental Monitoring App!
Sounds like something you’re interested in? Let’s chat all about our virtual orthodontic appointment process and get you ready for your first check-in on the dental monitoring app.
First of all…what is the dental monitoring app?
Dental Monitoring (DM) is a downloadable app that allows our orthodontists to remotely monitor your clear aligner treatment through pictures and videos. We can also send you secure messages about your progress and let you know when it may be time to come see us in-person.
So how does it work? Instead of driving to one of our orthodontist offices in West Spartanburg, East Spartanburg, Duncan, Union or Gaffney, you’ll receive an alert on your mobile phone that it’s time to take some selfies that are all teeth!
Just simply pop your phone into your handy-dandy scan box and follow the on-screen prompts.
Then voila! your orthodontist appointment is complete – in less than 5 minutes! No commute and no short specific time frame.
Already signed up for virtual visits with us on the dental monitoring app? Here’s 3 tips to prepare for your next check-in!
Tip #1 – Get familiar with the dental monitoring app!
Once you’ve downloaded the app from the Play Store or Apple store and signed in, take some time to explore! While the DM app has 3 different screen options, it’s very intuitive! You have the option of “Home”, where you’ll see a snapshot of your treatment – when your next scan is due and some metrics on your treatment progress. Once you’ve got a few scans into your treatment, you’ll be able to see and share a time lapse of your smile journey so far!
Another important aspect of the app is the “Messages” portion. This is where you’ll receive secure messages from your orthodontist on your treatment. A member of our clinical team can also use this app to respond to any questions or concerns you may have about your Invisalign or Spark clear aligners – such as bouncy trays or other fitting issues.
The last part of the app is your “Profile”. We encourage you to take the time to complete your profile. Just like with any app, your profile will build a concise presentation of you! And it doesn’t take long – simply fill in all requested information and upload a recent picture of yourself.
Tip #2 – Try out the scanbox a few times
Ok so we’ve mentioned this scan box a few times, but what exactly is it? Your DM scanbox is a light-weight box that holds your phone at the perfect angle with the help of your cheek retractors. These two work together smoothly so you have the free hands to quickly complete a scan of your smile-in-progress.
Just simply bend one side of your cheek retractors out away from you and insert into your cheek and do the same with the corresponding side. Next, you’ll click your scan box into the cheek retractors. Then turn your head side to side to help you get familiar with the weight. (These are the steps you’ll take every time a scan is requested from your orthodontist!)
Tip #3 – Take excellent care of your budding new smile!
The best way to prepare for your virtual check-ins with your orthodontist is to make sure you’re caring properly for your smile and aligners! This is not only going to ensure a comfortable treatment for you, but also make check-ins incredibly easy.
- Brush and floss at least twice a day.
- Rinse your aligners before popping them back in
- Clean your aligners daily
- Choose healthy foods
Have more questions on your virtual check-ins on the dental monitoring app?
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions! We’re happy to discuss any of our treatments or technologies with you.
If you’re looking for a top orthodontist in Gaffney, Union, Duncan, West Spartanburg or East Spartanburg, we’d love to meet you! Request a complimentary exam for you or your child today.
