Dr. Maribel Santos-Cordero
Dr. Maribel Santos-Cordero strongly believes in making a positive impact in a child’s life. She does not just settle for fixing cavities and cleaning teeth, she wants to help improve the way kids grow and develop so they can be the best version of themselves. Her personal journey and relentless pursuit to find solutions to her son’s struggles drove her down the path of specialized training in tethered oral tissues, oral myology, and pediatric dental sleep medicine. As an Affiliate of The Breathe Institute, Dr. Santos is very passionate about the need to create awareness of the potential health problems in children with lip & tongue ties and sleep-related breathing disorders (mouth breathing to sleep apnea). She often engages in a team approach with other healthcare professionals to provide her patients with treatment options to help them thrive.
Dr. Santos earned a DMD degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine in 1994. She completed her residency in Pediatric Dentistry at The Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, NY, a Pediatric Dental Sleep Medicine mini-residency at Tufts School of Dental Medicine and a Surgical Proctoring mini-residency with The Breathe Institute. A certified laser surgeon, she is also trained in oral myofunctional therapy and orthodontics.
Dr. Santos holds hospital privileges to perform dental surgery at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, a distinguished Fellow of both the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Laser Study Club. Recognized for her expertise, Dr. Santos has been invited to speak at national and international conferences, including the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Laser Study Club, and the Academy of General Dentistry. She has shared her knowledge on oral restrictions, sleep-disordered breathing, and pediatric orofacial growth, contributing to the advancement of clinical education in these specialized areas.
A firm believer in the quote, “If you can’t repay a favor, pay it forward,” Dr. Santos is dedicated to giving back to the community. She regularly volunteers her time and services to those in need through initiatives such as Give Kids a Smile, Project Christmas Smile, and several church-affiliated programs, ensuring access to quality dental care for underserved populations.
Dr. Santos moved to Sarasota with her husband and two sons in 2001. When Dr. Santos is not in the office you can see her exercising or enjoying church and sports activities with her family.