Introducing Valeriano Orthodontics' Patient Hygiene Program!

At Valeriano Orthodontics we’re always looking for different ways to reward you - our patient - for your effort during throughout your treatment. Maintaining good oral health is important, and it’s also important to continue visiting your dentist for regular six month checkups even during your orthodontic treatment. We want to reward you for taking care of your teeth, so we’ve started our new oral hygiene program!

Next time you visit our office we will give you an Oral Health (OH) card. Take this card to your dentist the next time you go for your semi-annual checkup and teeth cleaning. Ask your dental hygienist to sign and date your OH card, then bring the signed card back to us at your next appointment and we will enter you into a drawing to win 50 dollars - cash! We will also reward your dentist for doing such a great job with helping to keep your teeth clean during your treatment.

This is a great opportunity to be rewarded for simply keeping your smile in sparkling condition!

Give Kids a Book, and Support a Good Cause with Valeriano Orthodontics

Children love to read; but, unfortunately there are many children out there who don’t know how to read or have never experienced the joy and wonder and imagination that comes with getting lost in a good book. Our practice supports the Charlotte Reads program and we are again collecting new and gently used books. Books that are donated will support the Charlotte Reads and Classroom Central’s annual “Give Kids a Book” book drive.

We are encouraging all of our patients to please bring in any unwanted books to your next office visit. By making a donation you will be entered into a drawing to win a Joseph-Beth’s Booksellers gift card. All of the books that are donated will be given to children and families who are unable to buy books on their own. Any type of book is welcome, from Nursery Rhymes to John Grisham novels as reading is for all ages!

Thank you for your support, and for your willingness to share the gift of words!

Refer a Friend to Valeriano Orthodontics and You Could Win a Limo & Pizza Party!

As many of our patients would probably tell you, we have an awesome patient referral program here at Valeriano Orthodontics!

Every time one of our great patients refers a friend or family member they are entered into a quarterly drawing to win a limo and pizza party! The winning patient gets to choose five of their friends to join them as they are whisked away to Brixx Pizza where they enjoy a day of food and fun!

Check out a couple pictures from our most recent limo and pizza party! The drawings are held every quarter. If your name is not drawn, don’t worry! You still have a chance to win because we do not remove any of the names not drawn! Get out there and start referring everybody you know and you could be our next pizza and limo party winner!

We thank you for your support, and appreciate all of the referrals we have received over the years. Without you we wouldn’t have such a wonderful opportunity to make people smile!

Katherine Heigl Struggles with Crooked Teeth - Dr. Valeriano

Everyone struggles with little imperfections. Making crooked teeth straight, stained teeth sparkling white and chipped teeth smooth is part of what I do as an orthodontist. The sense of renewed self confidence that comes to my patients after having some sort of reconstructive work is what makes my job worthwhile.

Consider Katherine Heigl, award winning actress, and considered by many the Grace Kelly of our day. She describes struggling with crooked teeth her whole life until finally there came a point when she said "enough is enough!" She decided to do something to straighten her teeth.

I think you will enjoy this clip. Please feel free to leave comments, tell me what you think! Have you ever struggled with this same problem? Have you felt the relief of smiling to reveal a straight, bright smile after hiding crooked ones for so long? Contact us so we can hear your story, or help you create a new beautiful smile and a story of your own!

When Are Two Phases of Treatment Necessary? - Valeriano Orthodontics

Usually patients in orthodontic treatment already have their permanent teeth – they are pre-teens, teens and adults. But in some cases we have to start treatment earlier, even before the patient’s permanent teeth come in. We call 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
• A mouth growing in a way that doesn’t leave enough room for all the permanent teeth to come in
• A severe malocclusion, or bad bite, which means the jaw doesn’t fit together correctly

In these cases we will start early and do one round of treatment – phase one – while the patient still has their 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. We’ll follow up with phase two usually a few years later, when permanent teeth are in place. Generally phase two involves standard braces.

In order to catch early problems, we recommend that children have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven (and so does the American Association of Orthodontics). However, if your dentist or pediatrician sees any sign that early treatment might be necessary, he or she may recommend your child visit our office even sooner.