Santa Maria Pediatric Dental Group

Dr. Tam is a graduate of the Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine Pediatric Dental Residency. He completed his dental degree at the USC School of Dentistry, and also received a Bachelor's in Business Economics at UCLA.

Dr Tam holds licenses by the California and Massachusetts Dental Boards, and Oral Conscious Sedation Permit for Minors. He is a member of the American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, California Society of Pediatric Dentistry, as well as the California Dental Association.

Dr. Tam has become board certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. As a Diplomat of the Board, it means that Dr. Tam demonstrates skills and knowledge in pediatric dentistry at the highest level.

Dr. David M. Cottrell grew up in California & graduated from Pomona College in Claremont California with a BA degree in Zoology. He received his dental degree from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry & was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Honor Society. Dr. Cottrell did his residency in Pediatric Dentistry at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

Dr. Cottrell is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and a Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. A pediatric dentist that is board certified has gone through a rigorous examination process and only dentists that have completed a residency in pediatric dentistry can sit for the board certification examinations.

Dr. Cottrell received a Certificate of Merit from the American Society of Dentistry for Children, the Quintessence Award for Clinical Achievement in Restorative Dentistry and the American Academy of Gold Foil Achievement Award.