Meet your Doctors at Success Smiles Orthodontics

Dr. Lilly Padilla

Dr. Lilly Padilla is one of the few Board-Certified Orthodontists specializing in the care of children, teens and adults. Originally from Georgia, Dr. Padilla’s journey to dentistry was atypical. From a bad experience at the dentist as a child, she knew she never wanted to be a dentist. It was not until she was in her undergraduate studies where she worked in a dental office that she realized dentistry was a possibility.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Dr. Padilla earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S) degree from the #1 Ranked – University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry. At UCSF, in addition to winning numerous scholarships & awards for academic, research and volunteer achievements she got to work with the Co-Discoverer of HIV.

Upon graduation, she moved to New York City to complete her 3-year Orthodontics specialty training at the NYU College of Dentistry. As the Chief Resident, in addition to treating patients, she monitored & mentored fellow dental students performing and maintaining a superb standard of care.

Dr. Padilla is passionate about helping patients restore their confidence and self-esteem by giving them a new beautiful smile. She is committed to providing excellent orthodontic care by ensuring that her patients have a positive orthodontic experience from early childhood throughout adulthood. More importantly, she enjoys developing long-term relationships with her patients.

Outside of creating beautiful smiles, Dr. Padilla enjoys reading, watching movies, spending time with her Wire Fox Terrier Einstein, trying new restaurants and traveling with her husband George.

Dr. Taylor Usitalo

Originally from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Dr. Taylor grew up in a small, close-knit community where creativity and hard work were core values. From a young age, he excelled in the arts—especially drawing and painting—and played multiple instruments in band and orchestra. His passion for both art and science naturally led him to pursue a career in dentistry.

Dr. Taylor earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences with honors from Michigan Technological University and went on to attend the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, ranked the #1 dental school in the world. While in dental school, he began his own orthodontic treatment—something his family couldn’t afford when he was younger—which inspired him to specialize in orthodontics.

After graduating in the top 25% of his class, Dr. Taylor completed a three-year orthodontic residency at the University of Michigan and became board-certified by the American Board of Orthodontics, a distinction held by only about one in three orthodontists.

In 2018, Dr. Taylor moved to New Mexico, drawn by its sunshine, beautiful scenery, and warm sense of community. Before joining Success Smiles Orthodontics, he spent eight years providing affordable orthodontic care to underserved families across the state.

When he’s not creating beautiful smiles, Dr. Taylor enjoys working out, painting, attending concerts, and spending time with friends and family. He believes everyone deserves a confident, healthy smile—and he’s proud to help patients live life smiling more.