Valeriano Orthodontics Support The Charlotte Reads Program

At Valeriano Orthodontics, we know that children love to read.

But unfortunately, there are many children and adults out there who don’t know how to read or have never experienced the joy and wonder that comes with getting lost in a good book.

That is why we at Valeriano Orthodontics support the Charlotte Reads program and we are again collecting new
and gently used books...which can be anything from a nursery rhyme to a John Grisham novel!

Guess How Many? David Did at Valeriano Orthodontics

Remember back a couple of months when we had that delicious jar full of treats at the front desk? It was Halloween time and we asked you to guess how many pieces of candy were in the jar? Well someone guessed it right, the winner? David M!

Congrats, David! From Valeriano Orthodontics

Valeriano Orthodontics Patient Reviews

At Valeriano Orthodontics, we provide superior orthodontic services to meet the individual needs of each of our patients. Just see what our patients are saying!Everyone is so friendly. Dr V. is great and really knows what he is doing. I like seeing the same person every time I go. They understand you and your situation. My manager Leslie is so sweet and takes her time to get to know you. It’s great customer service.
-Carrie B.

What I like best about Dr. V. is that he is soooo nice to kids and he makes a scary braces visit turn into a visit that I enjoy going to.
-Brian G.

Valeriano Orthodontics is high tech, with lots of nice people, and fun all over the place. It is animated, not just a typical orthodontics office. I love it!
-Carol G.

Dr. V. is patient and explains treatment plans clearly. The front office staff is warm and great!!! They have quick and convenient appointment hours, a game room for kids, and a variety of magazines.
-Nwamaka E.

Dr. Valeriano is very informative and straight to the point. He is very gentle and made the braces transition easy.
-Janice M.

Dr. V. is very considerate of my daughters. He treats them with respect and kindness - he's easy for them to talk to. They are comfortable asking him questions. He explains procedures so that they understand without making them feel like they asked a stupid question. He doesn't compare my daughters to each other. They are individuals (one is more sensitive to pain then the other, one never seems to have problems, the other always has something going on. Thanks Dr. V!
-Karen E.

Friendly, technologically advanced office and prompt is what you find at Valeriano Orthodontics. We love them!
-Willow R.

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.

Keep Your Teeth Clean and Healthy!

If you are looking for a great way to keep your teeth clean and healthy in addition to brushing and flossing, we recommend using new MI Paste. This product has the ability to deliver calcium phosphate and fluoride directly to the teeth, helps prevent tooth decalcification, can repair any permanent stains, and can also reduce tooth sensitivity.

So how do you use MI Paste?

• Apply the paste at bed time after a thorough brushing

• Place a pea sized amount on your finger and rub onto teeth at the gum line and areas of decalcification (permanent staining). Repeat for other arch

• Leave the paste in place for 3 minutes and then rub the teeth with your tongue

• Do NOT eat, drink or rinse after use for at least 8 hours

This product is not recommended for anyone with an allergy to milk protein or hydroxybenzoates.

Lactose intolerant patients CAN use MI Paste.

MI Paste is not to be used in place of your regular toothpaste. This is a wonderful product that can give great results if used regularly. This product is available for all of our patients to purchase in our office, and makes a wonderful stocking stuffer!

Calendar of Events for Valeriano Orthodontics

At Valeriano orthodontics we’re always looking for new ways to make our office a fun, inviting place for all of our patients. To keep things interesting, we have several different contests taking place right now!

Here is a list of our current contests:

• Second Harvest Food Drive – this is a great opportunity for everybody involved! Bring in non-perishable food items to our office now through December 31st and help support those in our community who are in need this holiday season. Your donation will automatically enter you to win a Target gift card.

• How many? – if you’ve been to our practice lately you will have noticed a giant jar of candy sitting on our front counter! All of our patients are invited to guess how many pieces of candy are in the jar. The patient with the closest guess will win the entire jar!

Ongoing Contests:

• Limo Party – we want to reward to your referring your friends and family members. Every time one of our patients refers a new patient to our practice, they are entered into a drawing for a pizza and limo party at Brixx Pizza. The winner gets to choose five friends for their personal limo party; so get out there and start spreading the word!

• V-Bucks – orthodontic treatment can be difficult; there are so many restrictions on what you can and can’t eat, how to brush your teeth, when to wear your appliances, and so on. Dr. Valeriano and his team want to reward patients for taking care of their appliances, being on-time for their appointments, and having good oral hygiene. We give out patients V-Bucks (monopoly money) that our patients can save and cash in for gift cards to Brixx, Target, Ben and Jerry’s, Abercrombie and Fitch, Dicks Sporting Goods, and many more.

• VIP Program – this is our program geared toward our patients who are not quite ready to start orthodontic treatment, but we are still watching them grow and develop to know when orthodontic treatment might be necessary. VIP members get to enter into our drawing for our “BIG prize!” VIP members be sure to bring your VIP cards to your next appointment. If you are part of our Growth and Development program and do not have a VIP card yet, please ask for one at your next visit!

Extra, Extra, Read all about it:

• Fall Newsletter – we just sent our fall newsletter last week! In the newsletter you will find information about our staff, new contests, and helpful information regarding insurance, healthcare savings, and more! If you have not received your newsletter through the mail, you may pick one up in our office or feel free to call us at (704) 364-6544 and we will mail you a copy!

We believe that orthodontics is more than just creating beautiful smiles; we want your time spent with us to be fun and rewarding!

Everybody Benefits from Braces!

Braces aren’t just for pre-adolescents and teenagers anymore! Anyone, at any age, can benefit from orthodontic care; whether it is correcting a problem not treated in your younger years, or catching a problem early.

To ensure the best overall treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children receive an orthodontic consultation as early as age seven. If a problem is evident, taking action early can spare a lot of treatment and expense down the road.

If you never received orthodontic treatment when you were young, don’t worry! You’re never too old for a beautiful smile. Set up an appointment for a consultation and find out how adult orthodontics will transform your smile, and your life!

Mooooove Over Gum Disease!

Is dairy a major part of your diet? If not, it should be! A recent study from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) has found that regular consumption of dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt, can lower your chances of contracting periodontal disease (also known as gum disease).

Gum disease is caused by a bacterial infection in the mouth that affects the gums and jaw. Gum disease results in a loss of teeth and bone, and has been connected to certain cases of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease and osteoporosis.

Results of the study show that adults who consume at least 55 grams of lactic acid a day are less at risk for gum disease. Eating dairy is not just healthy for building strong bones, but is essential for maintaining a strong, healthy mouth. Next time you reach for a quick snack, choose some cheese, or a glass of milk, and remember with each bite, and every sip you are preserving your teeth for a lifetime of smiles and good oral health!

For more information about keeping your teeth healthy, call us at 704-364-6544 or visit www.valerianoorthodontics.com.

Flat Dr. V Travels the World!

Flat Dr. V and his friends have been traveling the world and sharing stories all summer long, and now he’s returned to Charlotte, North Carolina with tales of faraway places and tons of great photos!

This summer patients of all ages participated in Valeriano Orthodontics’ Flat Dr. V contest. In September each patient submitted photos of their summertime travels to enter the contest and win a special prize. Pictures were judged based on nine different categories, and one winner was chosen for each category. The pictures are amazing and it is clear that Dr. V had a busy summer with tons of exciting adventures!

Here are the winning photographs of each of the nine categories. Contest winners won a gift card to Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream – Yum!

Winners:

Most Creative – Shannon Foster (imitating Flat Dr. V)
Funniest – Tucker Albert (tug-o-war dogs)
Most Historical – Everett Echevarria (Rome)
Farthest – Amy Button (Sydney, Australia)
Tastiest – Morgan and Olivia Gerik (Hershey Bars in Hershey, PA)
Most Daring – Gray Vandyke (scuba diving)
Best Celebrity – Annie Whitney (Mike Minter of the Carolina Panthers)
Strangest – Aaron Dozzi (Albert Einstein)
Best Animal – Jacob Price (picture not available)


Watch our slide show and see some of the great pictures that were submitted for our Flat Dr. V contest. Please click here to view ALL of the amazing pictures we received!

Yet another wonderful smile!

Our office received this beautiful card and we wanted to share it with you.

Dear Dr Valeriano -

As the front of the card says - we should all use the gifts He has given us. You all exemplify that command! With each individual gift you have provided such a welcoming and cheerful office and service. You all put patients at ease with your relaxed nature. We never heard an unkind word or anyone ever snapping at another. The front desk never made us feel as foolish as we already felt when we missed an appointment or came at the wrong time. Your outreach mission is a constant reminder of the needs of others and that charity can be found everywhere. I loved how you emphasize positive reinforcement over reprimands! You were always efficient, on time and attentive. Can you tell how thrilled we have been with our association? It was a joy to watch our daughter glance in mirrors yesterday at her beautiful smile! Again - you have given the gift of pride, confidence, and happiness! Thank you for such an outstanding experience!! Many thanks!

From our family to yours.

Are There Teeth Grinders in Your House?

Grind, grind, grind, grind. If you live with a teeth grinder, especially a night grinder, you may be familiar with this unpleasant sound. Other symptoms of teeth grinding (technically called “bruxism”) include:

• Sensitivity in the teeth
• Tightness or pain in the jaw
• Dull headaches, earaches, or facial pain
• Chipped, worn down, or loose teeth

People frequently grind their teeth in response to stress, so taking measures to reduce or eliminate stress can help solve the problem.

Here are some things you can try to stop grinding:

• Cut back on caffeine and alcohol

• Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration

• Relax right before bedtime with a warm bath or shower

• Help your jaw learn to relax by quitting any chewing
habits (pens, pencils, gum)

• When clenching or grinding happens during the day, place your tongue between your teeth to serve as a reminder to avoid the habit

If grinding goes untreated, it can lead to chipped teeth, worn enamel, chronic pain, or even TMJ, a painful jaw disorder. If the teeth-grinder in your house can’t stop, make an appointment to see us by calling Dr. Valeriano. Dr. Valeriano can help determine the cause of the problem and possibly even prescribe a custom mouthpiece to help break the habit. To schedule your complimentary exam, please call our office at 704-364-6544.

Is it Time to Schedule a Check Up?

Even with braces it's important to remember to still visit your dentist every six months for a regular checkup and teeth cleaning! At Valeriano Orthodontics we recommend our patients visit the dentist regularly to help give them the brightest, healthiest smile during and after their treatment with us.

Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health. Even during your orthodontic treatment, your dentist can examine your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue to check for problems you might not see or feel including cavities and tooth decay. Before beginning any orthodontic treatment remember to schedule a dental checkup with your dentist for any neccessary dental work you may need. Then, once you begin your orthodontic treatment remember to continue scheduling reglar dental checkups every six months!