Dr. Margarita M Lachica, DDS

Margarita Lachica, DDS, MS A native of Illinois, Dr. Lachica finished her undergraduate education at the University of Illinois. She then earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and graduated with honors in 1999 from Northwestern University in Chicago. Dr. Lachica began her dental career in the US Navy, with whom she very proudly served as a general dentist for three years. In her first year of service, she completed an advanced degree in general dentistry while working with the Marines. She then had the privilege of working with the men and women of the Armed Forces with tours in Europe and Asia. She was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and finished her military career as a Lieutenant Commander. Upon returning to civilian life, Dr. Lachica taught restorative dentistry at the University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston for two years, operating as a full-time instructor and faculty practitioner while continuing research activities for the Navy. She then focused solely on orthodontics and completed a combined specialty and master’s program at UC San Francisco, with broad experiences in the orthodontic treatment of children and adults. In 2007, she was thrilled to join Dr. Patterson and his devoted team. Dr. Lachica enjoys traveling and cooking with her husband, and competing in triathlons.