Meet Dr. Thurston

Dr. Martin Thurston – Orthodontist

Because an uneven bite can create far more than issues with appearance, Dr. Martin Thurston has based his orthodontic career on helping people correct bite issued and attain the highest level of oral health. His interest in nutrition and body fitness/joint mechanics supports his goal and has given him an added perspective on how to correct misaligned teeth and jaws so that you can enjoy a healthy smile that functions as it should. This allows you to live a life with a stunning healthy smile and bite.

While earning his undergraduate degree from UCSD and his doctorate from UCSF, Dr. Thurston developed a passion for orthodontics – one that has continued since he completed his orthodontic residency and masters from UCLA in 1985. Shortly after, he opened a private practice in Scripps Ranch, while also joining Dr. Dixon’s team. Staying ahead of the latest developments in orthodontic and TMJ care is critical to Dr. Thurston – so he maintains active memberships with the ADA, CDA, American Association of Orthodontics, the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontics, and the San Diego Academy of Orthodontics.

Meet Dr. Lam

Dr. Christy Lam – Pediatric Dentist

Dr. Christy Lam loves kids and has based her career as a pediatric dentist in San Diego on helping kids become passionate about maintaining excellent oral health. Her gentle, understanding nature and ease with children helps them understand what she is doing with their mouth, and why it’s important. Giving kids a firm foundation for health and development underlies everything she does.

After immigrating from Saigon as a teenager, Dr. Lam attended high school in Los Angeles before pursuing her undergraduate degrees from USC – earning Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Finance. She has always enjoyed children, but it wasn’t until she attended Northwestern University Dental School in Chicago that she saw the true power of pediatric dentistry. Helping children of migrant workers in Boulder Colorado on an externship sparked the fire, and Dr. Lam completed her specialty certificate in Pediatric Dentistry with USC and the Children’s Hospital of LA. She is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and a member of the ADA and CDA.

Meet Dr. Amodeo

Dr. Michael Amodeo – Pediatric Dentist

Born in Brooklyn, Dr. Michael Amodeo was raised in Rancho Bernardo and is passionate about helping our neighborhood kids attain the excellent oral health that helps them excel in all areas of their life. From teaching them how to take great care of their teeth to providing a fun and friendly environment for their visits, Dr. Amodeo treats your kids as though they were his own.

With three young boys, Dr. Amodeo understands the challenges parents face when teaching their children about oral health. He and his wife Rachela met at UCSB and feel privileged to be back home in Rancho Bernardo to raise their family. When not spending time with his family, Dr. Amodeo is an avid outdoorsman and an accomplished chef. Ask him about his prize-winning lasagna when you meet him!

After attending Poway High School, Dr. Amodeo attended UCSB and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. From there, he earned both his doctorate and completed his pediatric dentistry residency at UCLA. As Chief Resident and member of the Craniofacial Anomalies and Cleft Palate Team, Dr. Amodeo gained invaluable experience that he continues to build on through continuing education and professional memberships. He is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and a member of the ADA and CDA. He is also a Certified Pediatric Advanced Life Support provider.

Meet Dr. Good

Dr. Lori Good – Pediatric Dentist

On staff at Rady’s Children’s Hospital, Dr. Lori Good takes great care to coordinate our practice’s efforts to provide the best possible care for our patients with special needs, including those with Cleft Lip/Palate and other craniofacial anomalies and syndromes. With kindness and compassion, she takes the time to connect with those under her care while creating an experience that helps them look forward to their next dental visit. From – instructions to using a gentle hand while clearly explaining what she is doing, Dr. Good uses terms that your children understand.

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology from UCSD, Dr. Good continued her education, earning her doctorate from UCSF in 1985. Dr. Good began her dental career as a general dentist in the San Diego region at the Rincon Band Of Luiseño Indians' reservation for two years. Wanting to help children develop a basis for a lifetime of good oral health, Dr. Good pursued her pediatric specialty at USC, where she earned a degree in Pediatric Dentistry and a master’s degree in Craniofacial Biology. Dr. Good is alo and active member of ADA, CDA, and American Academy of Pediatri Dentistry.

Meet Dr. Fischer

Dr. Brittany Fischer – Orthodontist

Caring for your or your child’s smile is Dr. Brittany Fischer’s passion. With tenderness and compassion, she always takes the time to understand your needs and works with you to meet them. She also makes it her focus to help you understand how to best take care of your smile so you can enjoy it for many years to come.

Attending UCLA Dental School, Dr. Fischer graduated cum laude with her doctorate. Dr. Fischer earned her master’s degree and completed her orthodontics training at University of Michigan. Her extensive experience treating patients with craniofacial anomalies and those requiring surgery gave her the expertise to use orthodontics to create a smile that balances form and function, and also looks beautiful. Dr. Fischer has practiced as an Orthodontist in San Diego since earning her specialty designation in 2016.

Meet Dr. Dixon

Dr. Gordon Dixon – Pediatric Dentist

As a founding member of San Diego Dental Specialists (formerly Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists), Dr. Gordon Dixon has been serving your neighbors for over 40 years.

His passion for helping others extends to expanding our team and practice offerings, and his small pediatric practice has grown to include the specialists that can help your family through all stages of their dental development. Dr. Dixon is committed to helping you feel confident you’ve found your San Diego family dentists … for the lifetime of your beautiful smiles.

When not helping people see the value in good oral health – and helping them achieve it – Dr. Dixon enjoys time with his wife Cathie, their seven children, and five grandchildren. When it’s time to unwind, you can often find Dr. Dixon gardening, playing baseball, or feeding his passion for Indian culture and cuisine – loves he developed while spending time on the sub-continent.

While going to high school in Santa Monica, Dr. Dixon received a college football scholarship and gained his undergraduate degree from UCLA in 1968. From there, Dr. Dixon spent two years with the American Peace Corps, teaching physical and biological sciences in India. Back home at UCLA, Dr. Dixon earned his doctorate and then completed a three-year residency in Medical Genetics and Pediatric Dentistry at UCLA-Harbor General Hospital. He is a graduate of the Straight Wire Orthodontic Program and UCLA's Esthetic Dentistry mini residency.

Dr. Dixon has maintained the professional relationships he developed with Rady Children’s Hospital and UCSD’s cleft palate teams and the Children's Hospital trauma team since working with them after earning his pediatric specialty designation.

Meet Our Team

Relationships are the foundation of what we do – that includes both creating long-term relationships with you and your children – and the relationships we foster within our winning team. For over 40 years, we have been serving our city and its surrounding communities, developing deep roots with partnerships and education in our schools, and working with medical professionals to optimize our patients' oral and overall health. Our team values honest, open communication and provides the same level of care we would demand for our own loved ones. With caring and expertise, our team works hard to help you achieve your goals for a healthy, beautiful smile … for life!