Dr. DeSantos

Dr. Bernadette 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 Bachelor of Science in Biology, graduating Summa Cum Laude, from Stephen F. Austin State University 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 two-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 seven 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 endodontists. This experience has helped her provide the best possible treatment for her patients. She moved to California in 2006 and two years later 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 husband, Stephen, and her two children, Haley and Hayden and their corgi named Hazy 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, and reading.