The Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken & Wings “Mega Sando,” with cheese, waffle fries & Hangry Sauce. (Photos by Gary Nager and Joel Provenzano)
Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken & Wings is now open in Wesley Chapel! The new chicken-focused, quick-service restaurant has opened on the north side of Wesley Chapel Blvd. just west of I-75, in front of The Grove, next to Brooklyn Water Bagel (in the former location of King of the Coop).
This is the eighth Hangry Joe’s location in Florida. The Wesley Chapel restaurant’s Grand Opening was held on Oct. 19, following a “soft” opening a few days before. The husband-and-wife team of Nico and Jalahany Gutierrez was on hand for the Grand Opening, making sure everything was running smoothly in their new franchise, as the line outside their location began building several hours before the new Hangry Joe’s opened.
First-in-line Richard Coley celebrates theribbon-cutting at the new Hangry Joe’s in Wesley Chapel, then enjoys his Mega-Sando
In fact, Zephyrhills resident Richard Coley, who was first on line, said he arrived “at about midnight” in order to be first. He even brought his own comfy chair with him!
As to why Richard — who said this was his third attempt at being first on line for a Hangry Joe’s opening (he was first in Zephyrhills and third at Cocoa Beach, when he said a couple came to the soft opening the day before “and just never left”) — is so taken with Hangry Joe’s, he said, “It’s the biggest chicken sandwich I’ve ever seen in my life…and it’s delicious!”
Richard was guaranteed one of the 25 top prizes given away to the first 100 people on line — one free “Sando” per week for a year (Jannah also got one of the 24 other randomly-distributed top prizes) — and as promised, the first 100 attendees all were served within the first hour of the new Hangry Joe’s opening.
Owner Nico Gutierrez (atleft behind the register) helped his employees deal with the crowd at the Grand Opening
Meanwhile, Nico, a Wesley Chapel resident for 14 years, wasn’t afraid to get behind the counter and help out both his customers and his staff. He wore a Hangry Joe’s branded polo, setting the example for his employees.
Nico also owns Code Ninjas, located in the New Tampa Center plaza at Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. at New Tampa/Cross Creek Blvd.
As to why someone who has a long professional background in software engineering got into the restaurant business, Nico said, “I worked in restaurants when I was younger and knew I would eventually get back to it.” He also said he got connected with the Hangry Joe’s brand when he was invited to a Founders Dinner back in February because he wanted to learn more about the franchise. From that first meeting to opening in October, things obviously moved pretty quickly.
The line stretched around the building by the time the new Hangry Joe’s opened.
When asked what really sets Hangry Joe’s apart from its competition, Nico explained that it’s the Korean touch — from the way the chicken is prepared to the way it’s fried. According to the company’s website, “Founders Derek Cha and Mike Kim [both from South Korea] are the dynamic duo behind the success of Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken & Wings…,” and that, “Their meticulous approach to sourcing ingredients, like locally-raised chickens and Korean gochujang peppers, ensures that each dish is a perfect blend of heat, sweetness, and smoky goodness.” The company also prides itself on never freezing its chicken.
Unlike many fast food restaurants, the food that came out actually looked better than the pictures on the menu board! The “Sando,” their normal-size fried chicken sandwich, was plump and juicy, lightly fried, with the right amount of pickles and slaw, on a beautifully toasted bun.
The “medium” sauce had just the right amount of heat and flavor. For more extreme tastes, try the “Mega Sando” which is a huge half- pound chicken breast, and go all the way up on the heat scale to “Angry Hot,” but be aware that you’ll have to sign a waiver if you do!
In addition to sandwiches, wings and Kore- an-style nuggets, Hangry Joe’s also offers chicken & waffles, waffle fries, mac & cheese, salads and wrap sandwiches.
The new Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken & Wings is located at 27835 Wesley Chapel Blvd., Unit 102. For more info, visit HangryJoesWesleyChapel.com or call (813) 519-4997.
Try the crispy wings with soy garlic sauce & Reese’s shake.
Of course, the new Wesley Chapel Steak N Shake sells those famous bacon & cheese double steakburgers with fries, (below left) hand-spun vanilla & strawberry shakes (with or without mix-ins) and (below right)Frisco Melts with classic onion rings. (Photos by Charmaine George)
Although New Tampa’s Steak N Shake was one of the first fast food restaurants to open in zip code 33647, the long-awaited Wesley Chapel Steak N Shake — located at 5542 Post Oak Blvd., off Wesley Chapel Blvd. (S.R. 54) — is finally open following an official ribbon-cutting event on Oct. 7 (see photo below).
Owner Todd Webb and general manager Jason Good and their happy crew are now welcoming the community to Wesley Chapel’s first-ever Steak N Shake and to enjoy those famous “Steakburgers” and hand-spun milkshakes and more in the location’s all-new design, which is a much more modern look than what we have in New Tampa. The old soda fountain/diner-style bar stools are gone and in their place is a more convenient kiosk ordering and pick-up system. But yes, there is a still a drive-through window for customers who are on the go.
The Neighborhood News was on hand for the new Steak N Shake’s VIP “Friends & Family” event on Oct. 5, as well as at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, but one thing is for certain — long-time fans of this 90-year-old chain with more than 450 locations in the U.S. and Europe will not be disappointed. Todd also promises the new Steak N Shake will host some great family events and will feature some cross-promotions with his The Palms Car Wash next door. He will likely keep you posted about these special events in ads in these pages.
For more information and a 20% bonus when you buy a Steak N Shake gift card at the new location, see the ad below.
North Tampa Bay Chamber President Hope Kennedy hosted a lively “Coffee & Conversation” event on Oct. 1 at the Fairfield Inn in Wesley Chapel with State Senator Danny Burgess. (Photos by Charmaine George)
Anyone who knows District 23 State Senator Danny Burgess is aware that he’s not your typical politician. That fact was obvious during Sen. Burgess’ appearance at the North Tampa Bay Chamber’s “Coffee & Conversation” event at the Fairfield Inn on Lajuana Blvd. on Oct. 1, which proved to be more than just the usual pre-election “Look at all I’ve accomplished” speech most incumbents and candidates engage in when they make public appearances.
In fact, during his conversation with Chamber president & CEO Hope Kennedy and about 40 Chamber members and guests, Sen. Burgess hardly talked about himself at all and was clearly serious when he said he fully supports Wesley Chapel incorporating and becoming its own city! (See below)
He also discussed the seriousness of Hurricane Helene (this was ten days before Hurricane Milton hit Florida) and what the state can do and is doing to help the Gulf Coast recover following the storm to ensure that those affected by Helene can still get insurance after such major storms. He also discussed why Pasco and other counties don’t seem to be spending their impact fees to mitigate the actual impacts of all of this development, and so much more.
Kennedy started the “Coffee & Conversation” event with a moment of silence for the victims of Helene and Sen. Burgess thanked her for doing that because, “One part of you feels bad for driving on as normal, a little bit, but the other part of you feels an obligation to help, too, because that could easily be us. I think anyone who lives in the State of Florida recognizes that, when you see someone else in the path of the storm, there’s a lot of humility that blows over you because the next one could be you.”
He added, “Be thankful that you don’t live on the coast because I can’t even tell you the number of people we personally know who just lost their homes. We have a lot to be thankful for, but we also have to think about, ‘How can we help them?’”
When asked what else the state can do to help the thousands of Floridians whose homes were either completely destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by Helene, Burgess said, “Imagine the worst and it’s that bad. Many of those homes are probably going to have to be knocked down and rebuilt, on stilts hopefully, because the surge is coming again. How many of those people now, after the last three storms, are saying, ‘I loved the idea of being on the beach but this isn’t for me anymore?’ The problem is that they could be stuck, can’t get out because whether it’s interest rates or the cost of other homes, it’s cost-prohibitive, so they’re trapped.”
He then mentioned a number of resources available to help the people affected by Helene.
“We have activated the small business bridge loans through the Dept. of Commerce, which is a great resource offering zero-interest loans to businesses impacted by the storm,” he said.
“If you’re involved in the agriculture, like an actual farm or an agricultural business, we’re offering up to a $500,000 bridge loan, through Ag commissioner Wilton Simpson’s office.
“But, for individuals, we have Hope Florida. It’s an amazing connection point for all of the assets that our state provides that nobody knows about, because there’s a communication gap. The reason Hope Florida was created was to solve that problem, plus that gap, for the resident, the individual, the impacted constituent. Please stress this to your readers to call 1-833-GET-HOPE. It was a program established by our First Lady (Casey DeSantis) and supported by the Governor. It’s been an amazing resource. There are Hope Florida buses on the west coast of our state providing comfort care for people, the essentials. Is there an easy, quick fix to this situation? Absolutely not. But, can we do all we can to help our brothers and sisters in need? Yes. And, Hope Florida is that connection point for our state. It’s really still in its infancy, but I think Helene is testing its grit and its resilience and validating that it is needed.”
Kennedy also had Sen. Burgess, who is running for re-election to his State Senate Dist. 23 seat (against Democratic candidate Ben Braver and John Houman, who is running as an independent candidate; see pg. 10 for details), explain the location of his District.
“I was born and raised in Zephyrhills and I’m still there and Zephyrhills is still in the heart of my District, which is awesome, but I represent from the Pasco-Hernando line to the north, Dade City on the north side, Trinity and Odessa to the west and the Polk line at Plant City to the east, all the way down to Brandon to the south. My District includes Dover, Seffner, New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, Land O’Lakes and Lutz. This is home. It’s everywhere I’ve grown up. I love that the municipalities of Dade City, Zephyrhills and Plant City are part of my District. And, all of New Tampa north of I-75. Only Tampa Palms is not in my District.”
On Wesley Chapel Incorporation
As to why he is hoping Wesley Chapel becomes its own city, Burgess said, “I was driving home through Wesley Chapel with my dad from the Bucs game on a recent Sunday and out of his mouth, not mine, he said, ‘I just don’t understand why Wesley Chapel doesn’t incorporate. This area just has so much to offer. They need to take control of their destiny.”
And, from the man who at age 17 became the youngest mayor in the country when he was elected Mayor of Zephyrhills, “Being the mayor of your town is the best gig on earth.”
Kennedy interjected that the conversation about incorporation, “Has been percolating again. For those who don’t know, it was back in 2012 when the Chamber (then the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce) took a position to facilitate that conversation, but it just became such a heavy lift. We remembered that back in 2009, Will Weatherford (who was our area’s State Representative but had not yet become the Speaker of the Florida House), was able to pass some legislation that actually gave Wesley Chapel the opportunity to incorporate itself without having to go to the state for permission.”
“Is that still on the books?,” Burgess asked.
To which Kennedy responded, “I believe it is. I hope it is. We haven’t looked at it recently, but that’s what started the conversation.”
“If I could accomplish one thing before I’m done,” Burgess said, “I’d like to be able to say ‘Wesley Chapel is officially a city. with its own governing body.’”
And, although the idea received boisterous applause from the Chamber members in attendance at the meeting, most of the online commenters on the post I put up on our Facebook page a couple of days later were mostly against incorporation.
But, NTBC Board member Jamie Hess, who also was in attendance for the coffee event, said that, “We’ve had about five meetings about it and our Board is really going to push for it.”
“That makes me so happy,” Burgess said. “Look, there is a stigma attached to adding — as some of my friends in Tallahassee say — another layer of bureaucracy, but the reality is that it allows you to have a distinct identity, which this community does. But, more than that, there is a missing link when you don’t have that very localized, closest-to-the-people form of government. I just personally believe and yes, I’ve learned this first-hand, that living in a municipality doesn’t mean you’re not affiliated with the county. In Zephyrhills, we had fire services through the county, but the county understandably has a very large footprint and a lot of area to cover. But, as a city, you can control your destiny and most important, your culture — that Main Street feel, that’s what I love the most about it. Wesley Chapel has that feel, but we just need to take control of the ship, especially with everything I know is coming here.”
Kennedy added, “It’s so exciting to be in a community you’re literally building it out of the ground. That conversation that is happening, so stay tuned.”
There was a noticeable groan when I asked where the boundaries for the City of Wesley Chapel would be drawn.
“That’s where it died the last time,” Kennedy admitted. “The Chamber put up signs (on Wesley Chapel Blvd.) but the people in Lutz insisted on them coming down. The Census Designated Places (CDPs) through the U.S. Census Bureau uses natural boundaries to determine CDPs, so we looked at Cypress Creek as that natural boundary, but the Lutz folks wanted it drawn at I-75 which is not a natural boundary. We assume the planned boundary [of the City of Wesley Chapel] would be at the CDP boundary of Cypress Creek.”
Insurance Issues
After moving on from the incorporation discussion, Kennedy said that a survey she conducted through the Florida Chamber of Commerce showed that the #1 issue for most folks in Florida is insurance.
“Given the crisis with the recent storm, insurance is going to continue to be a big issue,” Kennedy said. “Can you give us a lay of the land from Tallahassee’s perspective?”
And, although Burgess sad he was no longer on the Insurance Committee in the Legislature, he said, “We had multiple sessions and special sessions to address that issue. From a legislative prospective, I’m sure there’s more that we can do. However, we did so much in the last couple of cycles that we ripped the Band-Aid off of many issues — from tort reform to how insurers operate to checks and balances in that realm.”
He added, “We are starting to see, and I says ‘starting,’ because I don’t want to be insensitive, because it’s not over, but we are starting to see the fruits of those investments. We are starting to see big insurers re-commit to the Florida marketplace — like State Farm, which is a huge one because they had pulled out, but they’re coming back in. It isn’t going to happen overnight. In government, we probably went a little too long without trying to adequately address the problem. It does take 18-24 months to start to see that pendulum swing back into a balance but I do believe that, after the series of three to four reforms we did over the last couple of years, that we are starting to see a re-stabilization of the market. And I’m speaking as someone who lost their home insurance recently and was put into Citizens (the insurer of last resort in Florida). We’ve only been with Citizens for maybe a month. But, we’re already getting notices from other insurance companies [offering to insure us]. So, it is happening.”
Of course, after the devastating storm surge of Helene (and now major damage even our area received from Hurricane Milton), Burgess said, “The question is what happens next? Are these individuals going to be able to get insurance after this storm? Because they’re not allowed to pull out right after the impact happens. That’s bad faith and we’re not going to let that happen. It shouldn’t happen and if it is happening, the [State] Insurance Commission needs to know.”
But, looking forward after the repairs, he said, “If a future storm [like Milton] happens and has a similar impact, how do we balance that? Because, at the end of the day, everyone in Florida is paying that price. So, we have a big issue on our hands as a state. So, we have to start having some really tough conversations as to how to move forward on that.”
He also mentioned that auto insurance is another major issue. “Florida is a no-fault state so you carry at least $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) and the other person does, too, so no matter whose fault it is, you just take care of yourself. But, $10,000 is a product of 1976. It’s gone the second you enter an ER door. So, that’s inadequate coverage and the biggest cost driver in our system right now. So, if we pass mandatory bodily injury coverage and have a threshold of at least $25,000, that’s how we get back to responsibility and also a balance in the force when it comes to auto insurance rates.”
Burgess also said that because living in Florida is so desirable, the cost of everything here is going up. “Inflation is real,” he said. “Interest rates are through the roof, our homes are valued at far more than we ever purchased them for — because, in large part, of the number of individuals wanting to move here. So, we’ve got a lot to be thankful for but also the ‘back end’ effects and I think those are some of the things we’re trying to rectify.”
Kennedy then opened it up to questions from those in attendance, “But with the caveat that the Chamber is a bi-partisan organization. We are here for pro-business legislation and for having conversations with our elected officials.”
Regarding The ‘Live Local’ Act
Kennedy then asked Burgess about people who make a decent living who still can’t afford to buy or rent homes/apartments in our area.
Burgess said, “The ‘Live Local Act’ was supposed to assist the ‘missing middle’ (class). Its intent was pure and it was a good bill but it did have some flaws. We’re still working through it and there are a couple of things we still need to address, a few gaps that need to be filled, but what it was supposed to do, from Pasco’s perspective, was help those who work in Pasco County be able to afford to live here — or any of many other counties throughout the state. We want the working class middle to be able to afford to live near where they work.”
He added, “It passed unanimously! It wasn’t until after it passed and the Governor signed it that anybody said, ‘Hold the phone.’ So, the biggest ‘kumbaya’ thing ever in Tallahassee became this huge explosion.”
Regarding Impact Fees
Burgess said that impact fees are one of his pet peeves. “If you’re a governmental entity in the I-4 corridor, whether county or city, and you’re hurting for money, I think we need to consider that there’s been a mismanagement of funds.”
Attendee Carlos Saenz (photo below), the owner of two Dairy Queens and Fazoli’s on S.R. 54, said that for two Dairy Queens in Pasco, “I stroked a $140,000 check just for the impact fees. It feels punitive for the privilege of creating jobs in the county.”
And where did that impact fee go?,” Burgess responded. “Did you ever get a notice? We had an impact fee bill this year and in my Senate version of the bill, I wanted to know if the impact fees a county is collecting are going to help the areas that the business or development is impacting.”
Kennedy said, “We actually made a pitch to Pasco County to reallocate some of those impact fees, but they’re so splattered that we couldn’t get a definitive answer [as to how they’re spent].”
Burgess said, “Have you ever looked at your personal finances and said, ‘Where did it all go?’ I think it’s the same principle for the county, or any government, because I’m not just picking on Pasco. If you [had to] put those impact fees in a separate pot and itemized it, maybe you could have insured that it went in a certain direction. We had a bill to do just that but it didn’t pass.”
And, Burgess said, “That’s not only a problem with commercial land. The impact fees alone on a piece of land we wanted to buy in Zephyrhills kept us from putting an offer down. I didn’t have an extra $20,000 to put down for that vacant property.”
When Kennedy asked what could be done about the impact fee situation, Burgess asked for help mobilizing other chambers and business organizations to get behind a possible impact fee bill in the next session. “I love the state organizations but they get wrapped up in politics sometimes,” Burgess said. “I think all of you would benefit tremendously from passing a piece of legislation like a transparency act for impact fees, with them allocated to the area where the impact is taking place — other than the schools. We don’t want to take impact fees from them and the bill that didn’t pass specifically did not take away from the impact fees schools would receive. I think our team has that bill included in our 2025 ‘bill tracker’ for the next session.”
Burgess agreed about having impact fee caps and thresholds on the state level, “But, I think for us to put artificial caps on everything without knowing what the true costs of the impacts to these areas are, we might still be needing to fix something on the back end, like with Live Local. I think the first step is transparency and that the impact fees are going to the areas being impacted. And then, from the transparency piece, we’re going to be able to identify ‘That’s extortion.’ A lot of my colleagues in Tallahassee just want to blow the whole system up, but that will create a lot more problems than you solve. So, I’m of the mind, as a military guy, to tactically find where the impacts are taking place before attempting to cap it or moderate it.”
Kennedy added, “Our Board also suggested that the county should have an ordinance to re-allocate those funds from ‘Capital’ to ‘Operational,’ so they could use what’s already there to get the ball moving, but we hit a brick wall with that as well. So, we want to work through the state instead.”
Burgess agreed that impact fees should be something that’s uniform across the state, “since there should be nothing to hide, in theory.”
Older Brother Davis Crume’s Eagle Project Also Benefited Heritage; Younger Brother Donovan Also Is Expected To Go For His Eagle
New Tampa Troop 148 Eagle Scout Dylan Crume, with his grandfather Rodney Hawkins and one of the four bird feeders Dylan installed at Heritage Elementary for his Eagle Project. (Photos provided by Dylan Crume)
Our heartfelt congratulations go out to Meadow Pointe resident and Wiregrass Ranch High junior Dylan Crume, age 17, who recently earned the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout.
Dylan’s Eagle project was the installation of four bird feeders at New Tampa’s Heritage Elementary. According to Heritage Gifted K-5 teacher Jean Josephson, Dylan and many of his fellow Scouts in Troop 148, which meets at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, installed “bird feeders/boxes with flower boxes to attract more birds and pollinators to our campus. Dylan researched ideas for his project, put together a fund raiser to purchase all of the supplies, met with me several times in person and by email to discuss his ideas and beautifully executed the installation.”
“Mrs. Josephson needed some help, so I offered my services to help make their outdoor classroom look better,” Dylan says.
Dylan, whose older brother Davis also earned his Eagle Scout rank and also did an Eagle project that benefited Heritage (he created a micro-irrigation system at the school), says that the project took about three months to complete, from conception to conclusion, and that he appreciated the help of his Scoutmaster Jay Sheridan, his Eagle mentor David Thompson and all of the other Scouts in Troop 148 (see photo below) who helped him with the project.
The Troop 148 Scouts who helped Dylan with his Eagle project.
For those who don’t know, Eagle is the highest rank a Scout can achieve, and only 5 or 6% of all Boy Scouts earn the recognition. An estimated two million Scouts have earned the rank since the Boy Scouts of America were founded in 1912. Here are the requirements for earning the Eagle:
• Earning at least 21 merit badges, including 13 Eagle-required ones, covering subjects like personal fitness, environmental science, public speaking, citizenship and financial management.
• Learning valuable morals and life-lessons alongside friends, as they work together to overcome challenges.
• Serving as a leader within their troop by taking charge of a patrol.
• Learning to independently plan itineraries for campouts, backpacking trips and troop excursions.
• Competing as a unit against other troops in exhilarating, large-scale scout “camporees.”
• Involving themselves in service by volunteering with local organizations and making valuable connections with community leaders.
• Coordinating and leading a large-scale volunteer project for the betterment of their community (the Eagle Project).
Colleges, businesses, the military and community service leaders all respect an Eagle Scout. This performance-based achievement has high standards that not everyone will earn.
Dylan’s parents told me they are “super proud of Dylan and his Eagle Project,” and that their youngest son Donovan also plans to go for his Eagle. I don’t know what the numbers are, but I’m betting there are very few families with three Eagle Scouts.
Dylan says he plans to become a firefighter, so service to the community is obviously in his blood. He also says he plays varsity lacrosse and plays tenor sax in Marching Bulls marching band. He also is on the Youth Ministry Team at St. Mark’s.
So, congrats again, Dylan. The Neighborhood News salutes you!
Dr. Marta Rivera of Pediatric Dentistry of New Tampa, located in the Tampa Palms Professional Center just off the Bruce B. Downs Blvd. exit of I-75, has made sure that the children of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel have had beautiful, happy smiles for more than two decades. (Photos by Charmaine George)
Marta Rivera, D.M.D., has been one of the most trusted children’s dentists serving the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area for more than 20 years, but her Pediatric Dentistry of New Tampa — located in the Tampa Palms Professional Center — added The Aesthetics Beauty Lab just a few months ago to provide skincare services for the parents of her pediatric patients (and other adults). What made “Dr. Marta,” as her patients affectionately call her, decide to add these services for adults? First, let’s talk about this popular local pediatric dentist and the services she has been providing for the children of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel for two+ decades. Then, we’ll get into her new services for adults.
Dr. Marta’s Journey
Dr. Marta first opened her Pediatric Dentistry of New Tampa in Hunter’s Green in 2003 but moved to her current location on Primrose Lake Cir. in Tampa Palms in 2008. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Dr. Marta moved to Puerto Rico at the age of 10, a place she loved growing up. However, she now considers Florida her true home, saying, “Florida, especially New Tampa, is my favorite place.” She also is fluent in Spanish, making her practice accessible to a diverse community.
Dr. Marta graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico in San Juan, where she later also earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree from the university’s School of Dental Medicine. Before moving to Florida in 1997, she ran her own dental practice in Puerto Rico. After passing the Florida Dental Board exams, she worked with other dentists before starting her own practice.
“I’ve seen this area grow, and it’s been a pleasure to be here,” says Dr. Marta. Over the past 21 years, she has treated many patients, mostly children, but also a few adults.
“Some of my patients who grew up coming to me don’t want to go anywhere else now that they’re adults,” she says with a smile. However, she adds that she is no longer accepting new adult patients.
Embracing Innovation & Technology
Dr. Marta’s office is designed with children in mind. “When I first started decorating my ‘house,’” she says with a laugh, explaining that she calls her office her house because she practically lives there, “I wanted the space to be fun and welcoming, like a second home. The practice is all about having an environment where kids feel comfortable and at ease.”
Dr. Marta stresses the importance of starting dental care early. She takes a holistic approach to dentistry, promoting whole-body wellness. “Why think of dental, skin, and bone health as separate things?,” she asks, adding that she believes in a comprehensive approach to health, which includes proper nutrition for strong teeth and gums.
In addition to dental care, Dr. Marta offers guidance on tooth-friendly diets and supplements that can support dental health, like Vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus.
The office features lots of new technology, and Dr. Marta prides herself in having many devices not available at other pediatric (or even adult) dental offices. You can read about them all on her website under the “Technology” header.
One of the most advanced treatments offered at Dr. Marta’s practice is ozone dentistry. Ozone, known by most people as the layer protecting the earth’s atmosphere, also can be used in dentistry to fight bacteria and promote healing.
“Our bodies naturally produce ozone to fight off illnesses,” she explains. But, in dentistry, it’s used to kill the bacteria that cause cavities, without the need for invasive procedures.
Dr. Marta explains, “The equipment is something that looks like a pen that I point at the affected area.” Ozone can save a tooth before it gets to the point of needing a root canal.
“When a dentist cleans out a cavity,” she says, “no matter how well they clean it, there is always the possibility of some bacteria staying behind. Even the tiniest amount of bacteria can continue to grow and cause the patient to need a root canal. By using the ozone, all of the bacteria is killed before filling the cavity.”
The ozone treatment can be as simple as pointing this pen-like wand at the tooth or, for more serious cases, the tooth can be covered and then the gas is released inside that cover.
Ozone treatment also is effective in treating periodontal disease, preventing cavities and even promoting healing for cold sores and canker sores. It’s a pain-free, side-effect-free option that many patients appreciate. And, Dr. Marta is one of only a few hundred dentists in all of North America offering this treatment.
Before the tooth can be treated with ozone, the dentist must clean out the cavity. There is conventional drilling but now, thanks to a company called Biolase, Dr. Marta uses a laser called the Waterlase MD. This laser replaces the drill, is less invasive and requires less anesthesia.
Another service Dr. Marta can provide is early orthodontic treatment. Although she is not an orthodontist, because she was trained in her residency to do orthodontics, and was able to first provide it in her practice in Puerto Rico, she is able to provide orthodontic treatments at Pediatric Dentistry of New Tampa. She specializes in early interventions with Invisalign First.
“Many kids benefit from early orthodontic treatment, and Invisalign is a great option for them,” she says. Invisalign First helps address issues like crowding, spacing, and narrow arches without the need for traditional braces.
The office also has a machine called iTero Element, which kids love because it eliminates the goop used for impressions. It is a scanning system that can capture a detailed 3D model of teeth and gums. This procedure is ideal for crowns, bridges and, of course, Invisalign clear aligners and retainers. Dr. Marta has a video on her website under the “Technology” heading where you can see how the iTero Element works.
She also specializes in assessing and then treating infants and children with tongue or lip ties with simple laser frenectomy procedures to remove or modify a frenulum (a small fold of tissue that limits movement in the mouth). These quick, minimally invasive treatments can help babies with reflux, poor latch, or colic issues, and children with speech delays or mouth breathing.
“We offer same-day treatment for infants because a hungry baby needs help right away,” she explains. Parents often notice improvements immediately after the procedure.
The Aesthetics Beauty Lab
As we mentioned earlier, Dr. Marta isn’t only focused on children these days — as she now also offers aesthetic services for her patients’ parents (and other adults) at her new “Aesthetics Beauty Lab.”
Using advanced technology from Alma and Reveal, her office now provides services like skin tightening, dark spot treatment, hair and tattoo removal, as well as Botox and fillers.
Dr. Marta offers the parents of her young dental patients and other adults a variety of innovative skincare treatments at her Aesthetics Beauty Lab using the latest technology, like the Alma Opus Plasma machine (below left) and the Alma IQ skin analysis machine (above).
“We want to take care of the kids, but parents need pampering too,” Dr. Marta says.
“I’ve always enjoyed taking care of my skin and especially my face,” she adds. “For many years I have gone to an aesthetician and when the American Dental Association gave the ok to move into this area, I was very interested and excited. A lot of dentists are now doing Botox and fillers in their offices. It is part of the dental career evolution. Everything face- and neck-related is part of our expertise as dentists.”
It took Dr. Marta close to a year to become certified in not only the procedures she offers, but also the equipment she uses. She now has earned certifications in Master Botulinum Toxin hands-on training and Master Dermal Filler hands-on training from the American Academy of Facial Esthetics. Three of the pieces of equipment she is trained on are the ‘Alma Harmony” and “Alma Opus Plasma,” as well as the “Denza RF System.”
Dr. Marta says that the Opus Plasma is designed to address many skin conditions. It also helps to fight aging. Sessions last about 15 minutes, as tiny needles break the skin which stimulates healing to produce new collagen and elastin.
Meanwhile, the Alma Harmony can be used to correct dark spots, skin photodamage and more.
The Denza RF (RadioFrequency) System can be used in a similar way. It is a non-surgical skin rejuvenation and tightening process that uses monopolar and bipolar radiofrequencies with pulsing. It targets both superficial and deep layers of the skin, thereby stimulating collagen and elastin production. Denza also can be used for body contouring.
At this time, Dr. Marta is the only one providing these aesthetic procedures in the office. She accepts adult patients ages 18 and over.
“As I entered my 40s, after years of suffering through adult acne, hormonal imbalances, and inflammatory auto-immune diseases, my skin was showing its battle wounds. I tried chemical peels and facials, but needed a more sustainable regimen with longer-lasting results. Then, as the skin rejuvenation Gods would have it, Dr. Marta Rivera began offering aesthetic skincare services in her beautiful “Aesthetics Beauty Lab” suite. After a thorough skin analysis, Dr. Marta suggested the Opus Plasma laser for my overall skin condition and concerns. Just over a week ago, I experienced my first of three sessions with the Opus Plasma laser. It was fairly painless, and the down time was minimal. As a busy mother, and career woman, this is a complete game-changer. With the right before-&-after-care plan provided by Dr. Marta, I was able to resume all normal activities within 3-4 days. I am already seeing several positive results. My skin appearance is more uniform, and I have a fabulous glow to my face. Several areas of hyperpigmentation are lightened, and a scar on my cheek is not as prominent. I am thrilled to move forward with the Opus Plasma series, with Dr. Marta at the helm. She has certainly outdone herself and set the tone for a streamlined process to skin rejuvenation.” — C. Gonzales
Pediatric Dentistry of New Tampa is located at 5326 Primrose Lake Cir. and is open Mon.- Thur., 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The office accepts many insurance plans, primarily PPOs. For more info or to schedule a visit, call (813) 374-0388 or visit TampaHappySmiles.com.
