Meet Dr. Cara Hodgson

Cara Hodgson, DDS, MS

Orthodontist

Dr. Cara's greatest professional fulfillment comes from the meaningful relationships she cultivates with her patients and their families. It's incredibly gratifying for her to witness a patient's self-esteem flourish as their smile transforms. There's truly nothing more rewarding to Dr. Cara than seeing individuals develop into more confident and joyful versions of themselves.

With a background as a high school teacher, Dr. Cara brings a deep passion for working with children and young adults to her orthodontic practice. She values the opportunity to connect with each patient personally, exchanging stories and understanding their unique journeys.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Dr. Cara moved to the United States during middle school. Growing up with a Chinese mother and an American father, she is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and English. Her linguistic abilities expanded further when she learned Spanish through multiple mission trips to Latin America. This trilingual proficiency enables her to effectively serve patients from diverse cultural backgrounds, fostering connections with individuals worldwide.

Dr. Cara is a proud graduate of UC Berkeley, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology with honors. She then pursued her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at UCLA, where she was a recipient of the Dean's Scholarship. Her specialized training includes a Master's Degree and a certificate in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics from Loma Linda University.

Outside of her practice, Dr. Cara embraces an active lifestyle in San Diego with her husband, Rob. Her hobbies include scuba diving, surfing, hiking, yoga, playing the piano, swimming, and vegan baking. She also enjoys all the outdoor and ocean activities our beautiful city offers, often accompanied by her two rescue pups, Kona and Lei Lei, who are enthusiastic paddleboarding companions.