Dr. Bernadette De Santos

Dr. DeSantos was born and raised in Houston, Texas.  She became interested in Orthodontics while wearing braces herself during her middle school years.  It was at this point that she decided to focus on her goal of becoming an orthodontist.
She received her B.S. degree in Biology graduating Summa Cum Laude from Stephen F. Austin StateUniversity in Nacogdoches, Texas.  She then got her dental training at the University Of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Texas.  Immediately after dental school she moved to the Pacific Northwest for her orthodontic residency training at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon.  Upon her completion of her 2 year orthodontic residency she received her specialty certificate in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.
While attending the University of Texas Dr. DeSantos was recognized with various awards such as the Academy of Dental Materials Award, Margaret Jones Chanin Award, Quintessence Award for Clinical Achievement …Restorative Dentistry, American Association of Public Health Dentistry Award and the American Association of Orthodontists Award.
Dr. DeSantos practiced orthodontics in the Pacific Northwest for about 7 years before moving to Southern California.  It was there that she gained experience with the multi-disciplinary approach.  This approach includes working along other dental professionals.  She worked side by side with General Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Pediatric Dentists, Periodontists, Oral Surgeons and an Endodontist.  This experience has helped her provide the best possible treatment for her patients.   She moved to California in 2006 and has continued to practice Orthodontics in San Diego and Riverside Counties.  In the summer of 2008 she opened her orthodontic practice, La Costa Orthodontics, in Carlsbad.
She is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, the California Dental Association and the San Diego County Dental Society.
Dr. DeSantos and her extraordinary husband, Stephen and her two children, Haley and Hayden live in San Elijo Hills.  They love living in North County San Diego.  Besides her passion in orthodontics Dr. DeSantos enjoys family time, traveling, the beach, water sports, amusements parks, reading and playing rock band video games.