At South OC Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, were on a mission to promote proactive, preventative dental care to keep your child happy, healthy, and smiling. From preventive plans to restorative care, our team will always select the most gentle and conservative options that are customized to fit your child's specific needs.
We explain treatment and encourage oral health tips in a way both you and your child can understand, so they can be empowered to take charge of their dental routine. From your little ones first tooth to their first day of college, Drs. John De Lorme, Sam Wu, Chris Carillo, and Edward Balasanian are proud to be their dedicated dental advocates as they grow to be proactive participants in their oral health.Once you and your children walk through our doors, your family is met with warmth and enthusiasm to help everyone feel welcomed and right at home. We understand that moms and dads only want the very best care for their kids, which is why we gladly invite you into the treatment conversation, lend a listening ear to your needs, and impart our expertise. Its our goal to give you the peace of mind you deserve to make the most informed decisions for your childs oral health success!
Dr. Sam Wu is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and is active in his local church and community. Dr. Wu also has a passion for medical missions, and leads an annual medical/dental mission trip to countries across the globe including Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
Dr. Sam Wu is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and is active in his local church and community. Dr. Wu also has a passion for medical missions, and leads an annual medical/dental mission trip to countries across the globe including Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.Dr. Wu is a Southern Californian native and enjoys surfing, snowboarding, golf, and traveling. He and his wife Helen have a daughter Delainey, and a son, Jayden.
As a member of the South OC team since 2006, Stephanie loves working alongside the amazing doctors and staff that create beautiful smiles every day! The best part of her job is being able to build lasting, flourishing relationships with parents and kids alike. When she isnt in the office, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her two daughters and two dogs.
Born in Hawaii but raised in San Clemente, Cathy has been at South OC since the very beginning, back when the practice opened in 1975. South OC is family and where she has built lifetime friendships. Cathys husband Rick and her daughter Cari round out her family. When she is not working, you can find Cathy helping out her husband on their sport-fishing boat, The Fury'', in Dana Point or riding sand rails, motorcycles, camping, saltwater fishing, jet skiing, water skiing, gardening, and growing plumerias. She likes to work with children because she enjoys their humorous stories and getting the opportunity to watch them grow up through our practice.
Lizzette joined the South OC team In 2006 and has genuinely loved her time here ever since! Not only does she get to work with little ones who brighten her day with their cute and different personalities, but she also gets to collaborate with our awesome doctors! When shes not at South OC, Lizzette loves to spend quality time with her husband, two children, and her dog. One of her favorite places to visit and build memories is Legoland!
Nikki has been a part of the South OC team since 2018! Growing up, she always knew that she wanted to work with kids, so pursuing a career path in pediatric dentistry was the perfect fit. Nikkis favorite part of working at South OC is seeing how excited her patients get about their visit! Outside of the office, Nikki loves to take her puppy to the beach, spend time with her niece and nephew, or go to the gym.
Born and raised in Orange County, Veronica has been in the dental field for more than 16 years. The best part of her job is teaching kids how to brush their teeth and seeing them smile after each visit! Veronica is a nerd at heart and loves going to renaissance fairs, Comic-cons, and Disneyland. She looks forward to enhancing little smiles for years to come at South OC!
When Melissa was hired in 1998, she never knew that the staff at South OC would become her extended family for almost 23 years! She has enjoyed so many outside activities with the team, from get-togethers and concerts to even working out together! The thing that Melissa enjoys most about working at South OC is watching a new patient walk in the door so fearful of the unknown and then seeing them leave the office happy and excited. Each child has their hands full with a prize, a toothbrush, stickers, and photos from our photo booth. Melissa feels so blessed to be at South OC and cant wait to see your childs smile soon!
Mahnaz joined the South OC team in 2016 and is thrilled to help little grins grow into confident smiles! With almost ten years of experience working with children in a pediatric dental office, Mahnazs goal is to set up every child with a lifetime of thriving oral health. Mahnaz loves to work with nervous kiddos and help them feel confident, comfortable, and confident at our office. When she can see the smiles on their beautiful faces, Mahnaz feels that she has made a difference!
When Lynne joined the South OC team in 1980, she was a sophomore in high school. She quickly fell in love with pediatric dentistry and changed her major to become a Registered Dental Assistant. Over the years, Lynne has loved encouraging little smiles with gentle care. She loves how every child has their own unique personality, honesty, and sense of humor. Throughout her time at South OC, Lynne has been able to work in all aspects of the office, from being a clinical team member as well as a front office team member. She now oversees the business operations of the office and helps make sure things are running smoothly. As a long-term employee, Lynne is grateful for the relationships that have been built over the years with patients, parents, co-workers, and our doctors. When she is not in the office, you can find her teaching at Orange Coast College in the dental assisting program, or hanging out with her two grown children and her husband.
Michelle always wanted to go into a profession where she could work with children. Her dream came true when she became a South OC team member in 2000! The best part of her day is when she sees a child come into the office unsure of what to expect, but leaves with a smile on their face. When Michelle is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four kids. She also enjoys going to country concerts, reading a good book, running, and doing Pure Barre. A little tidbit that you might not know about Michelle is that she is a boba-holic! She has to get a boba drink almost every day!
Michael joined the South OC team in June of 2019 and is thrilled to spread smiles beside his awesome front office crew! With his easy-going attitude and snappy sense of humor, Michael keeps parents and kids comfortable and happy during visits. Michael is also a jazz musician by trade, so you can often find him in the break room producing electronic music or watching and sharing cute video snippets of his sweet daughter. As a father himself, Michael displays his tender heart while interacting with the children in the practice. One of the many important front office duties that Michael holds is being a liaison between the pediatric specialty and our oral surgery specialty. Our team is so lucky he chose South OC to be his home away from home!
Lorna started working at South OC in 1995 and theres no place shed rather be! From her stellar team to world-class doctors and adorable patients, Lorna truly loves coming to work every day. She oversees the insurance and financial element of the practice and is always happy to answer any questions or explain your benefits. In her spare time, Lorna enjoys playing classical piano, sewing, calligraphy, baseball, football, spending time with her family, and shopping!
After joining the South OC team in 2016, Bree has almost a decade of dental experience up her sleeve! She loves her job because she genuinely enjoys working with kids each and every day. When shes not at the office, Bree enjoys taking photos and spending time with her children and husband.
When Natalie joined our team back in 2012, she had just graduated from her dental assisting program and was a new RDA. She was an instant fit with our team! Our crew was thrilled when she announced that she wanted to further her education and become a hygienist. Off to hygiene school she went, and as soon as she completed her studies, we snapped her up and brought her back! Natalie is gentle, kind, and very patient while working with her patients. Prior to her dental career, Natalie was a childrens gymnastic coach, so encouraging kiddos to be healthy and lead an active lifestyle is important to her. When she is not at the office, Natalie enjoys spending time with her family, especially her new nephew.
Alexia is honored to welcome patients and parents to South OC every day! She is incredibly grateful for the South OC team and is always inspired by her peers and their dedication to pediatric oral health. When she isnt inviting you into our space, Alexia enjoys spending time with her grown children and eating delicious food!
Nick joined the team back in 2004 and is so happy to call South OC his home away from home! Like many of our team members, Nick wears many hats in the office ranging from assisting the doctor, working with patients, maintaining our equipment, and supply ordering. He takes a genuine interest in our patients comfort level and the children respond well to his gentle demeanor. Nick is our fix-it guy and helps keep the office functional and beautiful! When he is not multitasking at South OC, you will find him playing video games and enjoying the latest culinary treats.
The best thing that happened to South OC in 2020 was the day Karla came to work with our crew! Her friendly approach and gentle demeanor has been a positive addition to our front office team. When she is not working, Karla enjoys taking care of her young son and decorating her new home.
After completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Dr. Chris Carter went on to dental school and residency at Oregon Health and Science University. His experience at the University of California Irvine, Plastic Surgery Department allows him to craft smiles that perfectly complement each patients unique facial features. As a member of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society, Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, American Association of Orthodontists, Orange County Dental Society, California Dental Association, and American Dental Association, Dr. Carter is fully committed to his craft and dedicated to expanding his skills.Dr. Carter practiced general dentistry for five years before specializing in orthodontics, giving him a very unique perspective that allows him to analyze not only your smile but also your entire mouth as a whole. An orthodontist can do more than simply give you a great smile they can affect the entire shape of the lower face. Only by focusing on all of these factors can one create the best possible smile, profile, and aesthetics. Dr. Carter is proud to be able to create attractive facial proportions along with beautiful smiles for all of his patients. When hes not enhancing facial and smile aesthetics at South OC, frequently lectures other dentists and physicians on this topic. In his spare time, Dr. Carter loves mountain biking, golf, and spending time with his family.