Ask Dr. Poggio: What's the deal with Halloween candy?

Trick-or-treat! In the spirit of today's sweet and spooky holiday, Dr. Valeria Poggio and our team at Otay Lakes Orthodontics would like to remind all of our patients to be safe while celebrating with friends and family tonight. Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists were kind enough to provide trick-or-treaters with some tips for a ghoulishly good time.

• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
• Carry a flashlight
• Wear a light-colored or reflective costume
• Choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins
• Have an adult inspect all treats before the children dig in

Dr. Poggio and team suggest looking for foods that are soft, such as soft chocolate that can melt in one’s mouth or peanut butter cups. Otherwise, candies that aren’t sticky, chewy, hard or crunchy are generally acceptable.

Emergency care with Dr. Poggio & Otay Lakes Orthodontics

At Otay Lakes Orthodontics, we know true orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur we are available to you. As a general rule, you should call our Chula Vista orthodontic office when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you can't take care of yourself. We'll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you schedule an appointment with Dr. Poggio or our team. When working with your appliances, you need to know the names of the parts of your appliances so you are able to identify what part is broken or out of place. After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions in your treatment plan. Click here for instructions or give us a call to learn more! We hope you're off to a great Halloween season!

"Dentists, Orthodontists ... What's the Difference?"

"Dentists, Orthodontists, they're all the same right?" We hear our patients asking this question as they wonder about the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist. Before becoming an orthodontist Dr. Poggio started out in dental school and earned a DDS (dental degree), just like your dentist. After dental school however, Dr. Poggio decided she wanted to learn more about orthodontics, which is one of nine specialties within the dental field. So she stayed in school for a few more years and became an expert in orthodontics, which focuses on tooth and jaw alignment and bite problems like overbites and under bites.

Other dental specialties you may have heard of include endodontic (focusing on the soft tissue inside your teeth), periodontic (focusing on the gums and other tissues surrounding your teeth) and prosthodontic (focusing on restoring and replacing damaged teeth).

Isn't it nice to know there's a dental expert here at Otay Lakes Orthodontics to help you through any type of treatment your teeth, jaw and gums might need?

In love with your smile? Tell Dr. Poggio & team about it!

Serving the Eastlake area of Chula Vista, orthodontist Dr. Valeria Poggio and our team are dedicated to excellence in child and adult orthodontics. Our goal is to provide our patients and their families with personalized care, exceptional service, and amazing results.

Whether you have visited our office for a week or for years, we'd love to hear your feedback about Dr. Poggio and Otay Lakes Orthodontics! Now with the Internet, it’s even easier to write your thoughts and share them with the world. We'd want to encourage you to write a review of us on our Google page. It only takes a moment!

You may share your story here.

Thank you and have a great rest of the week!

At Otay Lakes Orthodontics, October marks National Orthodontic Health Month!

Would you believe we're already in October? Dr. Poggio and our staff know October is National Orthodontic Health Month, and our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists - or AAO- have provided a helpful website that provides important information on protecting your braces, including tips for trick-or-treaters, braces-friendly Halloween recipes, facts about braces and treats you should avoid while wearing braces.

Dr. Poggio and our staff definitely recommend you check out the AAO's website for information about keeping your braces in tip-top shape. Also please feel free to give us a call at (619) 482-2412, ask us on Facebook or ask Dr. Poggio during your visit!

Have a wonderful week and stay safe this Halloween season!