Patient testimonial: Ernesto

Ernesto, who is one of our many adult patients at Otay Lakes Orthodontics, shares his experience at Dr. Poggio's Chula Vista, CA office. These days, Ernesto smiles more and feels more confident and can't wait to get his braces off! Your smile is going to be great, Ernesto!

President's Day Fun Facts

Tomorrow marks Presidents’ Day, a day known for celebrating of both George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s combined Birthdays. Presidents’ Day was created in 1971, when President Richard Nixon combined the birthdays of two of our most well-known presidents into one single federal holiday. Presidents' Day also marks a hard-earned day off from work and school for a lot of our patients at Otay Lakes Orthodontics.

Here are a few fun facts about our nation’s presidents:

*Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, carried letters, bills and notes in his tall stovepipe hat.

*George Washington is the first president to be featured on a postage stamp.

*Ronald Reagan, our 40th president, broke the so-called "20-year curse," in which every president elected in a year ending in 0 died in office.

*Abraham Lincoln was the tallest of the U.S. presidents measuring 6’ 4” tall.

*Virginia is the birthplace of more United States presidents than any other state, followed by Ohio and Massachusetts.

*Harry S. Truman was the first president to have his Inauguration and speeches televised.

Maliana gets her braces off!

Maliana, who recently had her braces removed by Dr. Poggio, talks about how happy she is with her new smile and her overall treatment at Otay Lakes Orthodontics. Maliana sings and acts, so we know having her braces off will make it that much more special for her!

We look forward to working with you to make your treatment a relaxing and meaningful experience; call us today to make an appointment with our conveniently-located Chula Vista, CA orthodontic office!

Dr. Poggio & team, supporting National Children's Dental Health Month

At Otay Lakes Orthodontics, February marks National Children's Dental Health Month, as well as National Dental Health Month, and Dr. Valeria Poggio and team thought we’d promote good oral hygiene among our patients with a few tips and tricks, courtesy of the American Dental Association.

• Teeth brushing techniques: It takes only two minutes to properly brush using short, gentle strokes and devoting extra attention to the gumline, areas around fillings and hard-to-reach areas such as the back teeth.

• Flossing: hold the floss snugly between thumbs and index finger and insert it between each of the teeth, making sure to go beneath the gumline and curving the floss around the base of each tooth.

• Snack wisely: choose healthy snacks such as cheese, fruits and vegetables and avoid crunchy, sticky, chewy candies that can stick to the teeth. If you eat these snacks, be sure to brush after doing so.

• Carbonated or sugary drinks: these drinks create acids that can damage the teeth when mixed with saliva, so they should be avoided altogether. If you’re going to drink one of these beverages, don’t sip on it throughout the day. Rather, drink it and then brush your teeth.

• Regular dental visits: in addition to seeing our team at Dr. Poggio's Chula Vista, CA office during your orthodontic treatment, you should visit your dentist for professional check-ups and teeth cleaning appointments about every six months.

National Children's Dental Health Month aims to increase awareness about the importance of our patients' oral health. If you have any questions about keeping your mouth healthy, or about your treatment with Dr. Poggio, please feel free to give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

Ask Dr. Poggio: What is two-phase treatment and when is it necessary?

Great question. Usually patients in orthodontic treatment at our Chula Vista office already have their permanent teeth, but in some cases we have to start treatment earlier, even before the patient’s permanent teeth come in. Dr. Poggio calls this “two-phase treatment.”

When we have patients with clear developmental problems at an early age, it’s best to start work when they are young, before the problems get bigger and more difficult to treat. Examples include an upper or lower jaw that is not growing correctly, or a mouth growing in a way that doesn’t leave enough room for all the permanent teeth to come in.

In these cases we will start early and do one round of treatment – phase one – while the patient still has “baby teeth.” Phase one usually does not involve braces, but can include a different type of appliance that helps the jaw grow into place properly, such as a retainer. We’ll follow up with phase two usually a few years later, when permanent the patient’s permanent teeth have come in.

In order to catch early problems, Dr. Poggio and our team at Otay Lakes Orthodontics recommend that children have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven (and so do our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists). To learn more about two-phase orthodontics, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Poggio, please give us a call or ask us on Facebook.

Dr. Poggio patient testimonial: James

James, who got his braces off at Otay Lakes Orthodontics recently, talks about his newfound smile and confidence now that he's got his beautiful smile. 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 to schedule an appointment!

And, be sure to check out more patient testimonials on Dr. Poggio's YouTube page!

More than a day off from school, from Dr. Poggio

Tomorrow, the nation will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was a thinker, leader and civil rights champion. In the 1950s and ’60s, King recognized the need to bring about social justice, and worked tirelessly to instill tolerance in our nation, strengthen America’s communities and move the nation forward. This weekend, tens of thousands of people of all ages and races in Chula Vista, greater San Diego and across California spent their time building, giving and renovating our communities to help celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. Do you have the day off on Monday? If so, what do you plan to do to help your local community?

We’d love to know about your activities and events this MLK Jr. Day. If you have any video or pictures you’d like to share, please pass them along! If you’re not sure how, give us a call!

Dr. Poggio and our entire team at Otay Lakes Orthodontics are proud of all our patients, families and colleagues who continue to make a difference in our community!