SUMMER FUN PATIENT APPRECIATION "Patient of the Day"

    Who will be our next winner? Are you in the drawing for "Patient Of The Day"? It's easy......schedule an appointment and you are entered for that day!!!!!

    "Patient Of The Day" is Dr. Poggio's patient appreciation event for the summer!!! Each morning we randomly select a patient from our daily schedule to be our "Patient Of The Day". The selected patient receives a fit card, and that gift card is to a different place each day!!!!!

     Check out our Facebook Wall for more details and see our pictures that we post daily with our winners!!!!

     GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving from Otay Lakes Orthodontics!

Dr. Poggio and our entire orthodontic staff at Otay Lakes Orthodontics extend our best wishes to you, our patients and referring doctors here in Chula Vista, for a wonderful Thanksgiving.

We appreciate the opportunity to work together with you in the creation of your or your child's ideal smile, and would like to know: what are you most thankful for this year? Leave us a comment, or if you have any photos or stories to share with us, we encourage you to post them on our Facebook page.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody.

Ask Dr. Poggio: “I got my braces. Now what?”

We love when patients ask us that question! Now that you’re wearing braces, it’s just as important to maintain a good oral hygiene regimen as you did before before orthodontic treatment began.

Braces are known to trap food particles and make it difficult to brush or remove plaque, which is why Dr. Poggio and our team at Otay Lakes Orthodontics recommend that you brush and floss after every meal. We also encourage you to use a proxabrush to help with the smaller areas where your toothbrush doesn’t reach. We encourage the use of fluoride rinse is recommended as well; ask us for a recommendation.

When your braces are initially placed, your teeth are likely to be very sensitive. You may experience discomfort for up to 3 or 5 days, which is why we encourage you to eat soft foods during that time. Remember, the less pressure you put on your teeth, the less discomfort you will have.

You may also be thinking, “Okay, so what can I eat?” We would encourage you to avoid eating sticky, hard, crunchy or chewy snacks that can stick to your teeth.

Dr. Poggio and team will tell you it’s crucial to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. In the event of a loose/broken wire or bracket, please call our Chula Vista orthodontic office immediately to schedule an appointment for repair.

Lastly, in addition to visiting Otay Lakes Orthodontics during your orthodontic treatment for adjustments, you should visit your dentist for professional check-ups and teeth cleaning appointments about every six months, or as recommended by your dentist.

Questions? Please let us know below, on our Facebook page or by giving us a call!

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!

"I'm 37 - I'm too old for braces, right?"

Nope - absolutely not! At Otay Lakes Orthodontics, no one is "too old" for braces. Orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile. In fact, one of every five patients in orthodontic treatment is over 21 and - not only that - but Dr. Poggio and our staff recently read a statistic that the number of adults getting orthodontic treatment has actually jumped 24 percent since 1996!

Yes, braces help make your pearly whites strong, healthy and perfectly-aligned, but perhaps another reason for the spike in adult braces is this: folks in Chula Vista and everywhere else want to look and feel great. In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing—wisely—to invest in orthodontics.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Dr. Poggio would love to have you visit for a consultation. Please give us a call at (619) 482-2412 to set one up!

Back to school with Dr. Poggio

Now that many of the schools are back in session, Dr. Poggio would like to remind all of our patients about the importance of scheduling appointments in advance. With school, clubs, sports and family duties to consider, we know that it can be challenging to find time to visit Otay Lakes Orthodontics this fall. In order to accommodate all of our patients’ busy schedules, it is important that you plan ahead for your appointments so that we are able to provide you with an appointment time that is convenient for you.

As always, please remember to give us advanced notice if you’re unable to make your regularly-scheduled appointment. If we receive enough notice, we might be able to schedule another patient for that time. Feel free to give us a call if you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule your fall appointment.

We’ll see you soon and hope summer is winding down nicely for all our patients!

Dr. Poggio patient testimonial: Isabella

Isabella, who got her braces just 6 weeks ago, talks about her experience with orthodontic treatment at Dr. Poggio's office. She's already getting compliments about her smile and is already seeing improvement! We think that's great, Isabella, and can't wait to see your beautiful smile!

Smile Week at Otay Lakes Orthodontics

It’s National Smile Week, and a GREAT time to remind our patients at Otay Lakes Orthodontics to practice good oral hygiene to keep those teeth shining during your orthodontic treatment!

Here are a few simple steps you can take to improve your oral health so that you may celebrate National Smile Week for many, many years to come:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth and braces.
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks during your orthodontic treatment
* Visit your dentist regularly (every 6 months or as recommended by your dentist)!

And remember to smile at people you come across throughout the week, whether you know them or not. Smiles are contagious, and are a good thing to give and to get. We hope you’re all having a relaxing summer!

- Dr. Poggio and team

Happy patients at Otay Lakes Orthodontics

Dr. Poggio and our team at Otay Lakes Orthodontics love showing our work and creating beautiful smiles! Lately, we've been posting a lot of patient testimonials to our YouTube page, and encourage you to check out some of the clips!

Please feel free to visit us at our family-friendly Chula Vista orthodontic office for a complimentary evaluation in order to determine the most appropriate orthodontic treatment for you or your children. We look forward to working with you to make your treatment a relaxing and meaningful experience; call today to make an appointment with our conveniently located Chula Vista

The importance of visiting your dentist during orthodontic treatment

Dr. Poggio wants to know: Are you brushing and flossing daily properly during your orthodontic treatment? If your answer is yes, that’s wonderful! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for you to visit your general dentist every 3-to-6 months in addition to brushing your teeth and flossing (and visiting our office, of course).

Summer is a great time for a checkup, which can help you maintain good oral health, especially during your orthodontic treatment at Otay Lakes Orthodontics. Your general dentist can check for problems that might not be seen or felt, detect cavities and early signs of decay, treat oral health problems early and show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth.

During an oral exam your dentist can check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If you have not visited the dentist in the last six months, let us know during your next visit with Dr. Poggio and we will provide a few great references in Chula Vista or nearby communities!

Does Dr. Poggio have your current contact info?

We hope you’re having a great week and a great summer so far! If you are planning on traveling with family this summer or think you might not be able to make it to your scheduled adjustment appointment with Dr. Valeria Poggio, please let us know ahead of time so that we may be able to accommodate you, as well as schedule another patient at that appointment time.

Also, we ask that you give us a call and and let us know if you have any new phone numbers or if your contact information has changed! Please call us with any updates to phone numbers and addresses, so we may be able to reach you. Thank you! Enjoy your weekend!

Dr. Poggio and team proudly offer complimentary consultations!

Serving the Eastlake area of Chula Vista, Dr. Valeria Poggio and our team at Otay Lakes Orthodontics 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.

One of our commitments is meeting with you to help you explore all or the options available to you or your child. We offer complimentary consultations for those interested in orthodontic treatment. During this time, you'll have time reserved with Dr. Poggio, who will assess your particular needs as well as discuss treatment options available and answer any questions you may have. We place a high value on making sure you have complete information before beginning treatment.

Please feel free to visit us at our family-friendly Chula Vista office for a complimentary evaluation in order to determine the most appropriate orthodontic treatment for you or your child. We look forward to working with you to make your treatment a relaxing and meaningful experience; call us to schedule an appointment soon! We hope you're having a relaxing summer.

Smile! June marks National Smile Month!

Now that June is here, our team at Otay Lakes Orthodontics thought we’d tell you June is National Smile Month, and a good time to remind all our patients to practice good oral hygiene between your visits to our convenient Chula Vista office, as well as your general dentist to avoid cavities and gum disease, among other dental health issues.

That means you too, parents! After all, there's more and more evidence that suggests folks with gum disease are more at risk for serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and strokes.

Below are a few simple steps you can take to improve your oral health so that you may celebrate National Smile Month for many, many years to come:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth and braces.
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks during your orthodontic treatment
* Visit your dentist regularly (every 6 months or as recommended by your dentist)!

If you have questions about any of these tips, we encourage you to give us a call, ask Dr. Poggio during your next visit or ask us on Facebook!

You're Never Too Old to Treat Yourself to a New Smile!

Did you know one in every five orthodontic patients is an adult? We’re living longer and technology is improving, making orthodontic treatment an appealing and safe option for patients of all ages. As the trend toward treatment later in life grows, we’re seeing braces on parents as well as children – and even adult celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Gwen Stefani and Nicholas Cage have shown off their braces. It’s never too late to look and feel your best with Otay Lakes Orthodontics!

Can Braces Work for Adults?

People of all ages can benefit from orthodontic treatment with Dr. Valeria Poggio. The physical process for moving teeth is the same, young or old, which means it’s never too late to address issues such as an overbite or underbite, crooked or crowded teeth, or jaw disorders.

How Do I Get Started?

If you’re considering orthodontic treatment, we’ll make a consultation appointment with you. During this meeting we will perform a general assessment of your oral health, discuss options for treatment, and answer any questions you may have. We will also discuss matters of cost and insurance. The next step is an orthodontic records appointment in which we take x-rays, photos, and an impression of your teeth. This information drives your unique treatment plan.

What Are the Benefits?

Straightening your teeth can improve your smile, your self-esteem, and your dental health. Technologically advanced new treatments make it easier to identify the option that best fits your lifestyle. Modern techniques and materials have made braces and aligners more effective, comfortable and unobtrusive than ever.

If you think you might benefit from orthodontic treatment, give Otay Lakes Orthodontics a call, so we may set up a consultation to determine what type of treatment best meets your needs.

Straight talk with Dr. Poggio

Some people wonder why Chula Vista orthodontist Dr. Poggio and our team work tirelessly to give our patients straight teeth. Of course it’s nice to have a smile full of evenly aligned teeth, but did you know that straightening your teeth can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime!

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque—the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and they are easier to keep clean!

If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, please give us a call to set up a consultation. Dr. Poggio can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.

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

If you've recently completed treatment at Otay Lakes Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, we will provide—or have provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime. Here are some things to remember when you receive your retainers:

* Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise. Wearing your retainers at night ensures that your pearly whites won’t relapse.

* Take your retainers out when eating...and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)

* Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and only a small amount of toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water.

* When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case.

* Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, give us a call immediately.

* Remove retainers when swimming or during any sporting activity in which the retainers could fall out and get broken or lost (cheerleading, basketball, etc.) or when you should be wearing a mouth guard (football, soccer, etc.).

We hope this helps! You can always contact our team if you have any questions!