Pedro E. Santiago, DMD

My Locations

Duke Children's Health Center Plastic Surgery Clinic

2301 Erwin Rd
Second floor

Durham, NC 27710-4699

Office: 919-668-4000 Get Directions

Duke Craniofacial Orthodontics Clinic

3475 Erwin Rd
First floor

Durham, NC 27705-0005

Office: 919-660-0320 Get Directions

About Me

Learn More About Me

I’m the director of orthodontics for Duke Health. I am also the craniofacial orthodontist for the Duke Health craniofacial team. I treat children, adolescents, and adults who are born with any craniofacial disorder -- for example, cleft lip and palate. I assist the surgeon in the planning and preparation for the cases. I also put on braces and prepare them for different stages of the surgical procedure in both plastics and maxillofacial surgery. I also treat neonates, babies who are up to one week old, before they have the primary lip and palate surgery. We are one of the few centers in the United States and maybe the world that does the least amount of surgery in our patients' lifetimes. It is a joy working with my patients and their families. I treat my patients as if they are family members and give them a very caring environment.

School of Medicine Departments and Divisions

Surgery
- Plastic, Maxillofacial, and Oral Surgery

Current Appointments and Affiliations

Associate Professor of Surgery, Surgery, Plastic, Maxillofacial, and Oral Surgery 2021

Languages

English, Spanish

Areas of Expertise

Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Repair
Craniofacial Conditions
Ear Molding
Orthodontics

Training

Residency

Orthodontics, Eastman Dental Center, University of Rochester (New York), 1993

Education

DMD, University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine, 1989

Fellowship

Craniofacial Orthodontics, New York University Medical Center, Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, 1995

Clinical Focus and Research

Publications

Dunworth, Kristina, Denisse Porras Fimbres, Rose Trotta, Andrew Hollins, Ronnie Shammas, Alexander C. Allori, and Pedro E. Santiago. “Systematic Review and Critical Appraisal of the Evidence Base for Nasoalveolar Molding (NAM).” Cleft Palate Craniofac J 61, no. 4 (April 2024): 654–77. https://doi.org/10.1177/10556656221136325.
Kantar, Rami S., Elçin Esenlik, Omar S. Al Abyad, Antonio Melhem, Robert A. Younan, Mario Haddad, Kristen Keith, et al. “The First Hybrid International Educational Comprehensive Cleft Care Workshop.” Cleft Palate Craniofac J 60, no. 10 (October 2023): 1189–98. https://doi.org/10.1177/10556656221097820.
Ganske, Ingrid M., Karl Sanchez, Elliot Le, Olivia C. Langa, Banafsheh Sharif-Askary, Elizabeth Ross, Pedro Santiago, John G. Meara, Bonnie L. Padwa, and Alexander C. Allori. “Time-Driven, Activity-Based Costing of Presurgical Infant Orthopedics: A Critical Component of Establishing Value of Latham Appliance and Nasoalveolar Molding.” Plast Reconstr Surg 147, no. 3 (March 1, 2021): 444–54. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000007669.

Grayson, B. H., and P. E. Santiago. “Distraction osteogenesis [introduction].” In Semin Orthod, 5:1–73, 1999. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1073-8746(99)80036-x.

Ratings and Reviews

The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Learn more about our survey process. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

Overall Provider Rating

4.91 out of 5

55 ratings, 6 reviews

Patient Reviews

Patient comments are gathered from our Press Ganey Patient Survey and displayed in their entirety.
Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy

Insurance

Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below. Before scheduling your appointment, we strongly recommend you contact your insurance company to verify that the Duke Health location or provider you plan to visit is included in your network. Your insurance company will also be able to inform you of any co-payments, co–insurances, or deductibles that will be your responsibility. If you proceed in scheduling an appointment and your health insurance benefits do not participate with Duke, your out of pocket liability may be higher. We will contact you regarding your coverage and patient liability. If you are uninsured, learn more about our financial assistance policy.

Aetna
- Aetna Choice POS, Aetna Choice POS II
- Aetna Medicare Assure Plan (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna/CVS Health
- Aetna Elect Choice HMO, Aetna Open Access Elect Choice
- Aetna Health Network Only, Aetna Health Network Option
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Limited Benefit Insurance PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice POS
- Aetna Medicare Value Plan (HMO)
- Aetna Medicare Essential Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Eagle Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Open Access HMO, Open Access Aetna Select, Aetna Open Access Select, Aetna Open Access Managed Choice
- Aetna Open Choice PPO
- Aetna PCP Coordinated POS Plan
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (QPOS)
- Aetna Select HMO
- Aetna Traditional Choice
- Aetna Voluntary Indemnity Group Plan
- Aetna Whole Health – Duke WakeMed WKCC
Ambetter
- Ambetter of North Carolina
Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
- Blue Advantage
- Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*
- Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA)
- Blue Select
- NC State Employees Health Plan
- *Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan.
CIGNA
- Cigna Behavioral Health (*Limited eligibility)
- Cigna Choice Plus
- Cigna Connect Individual Family Plan
- Cigna Open Access
- Cigna Open Access Plus
- *Please call Cigna Behavioral Heath to see if the provider is participating in your plan.
Duke Group Plans
- Duke Basic
- Duke Select
Experience Health
- Experience Health Medicare Advantage (HMO) Plan
First Health
Gateway Health Alliance
Halifax Physician-Hospital Organization
- Halifax Physician-Hospital Organization plans*
- *This plan is only accepted at Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, and Duke HomeCare & Hospice.
Healthgram

Humana
- Humana Choice (PPO)
- Humana Choice - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
- Humana ChoiceCare - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
- Humana Gold Choice - Medicare Advantage (PFFS)
- Humana Gold Plus - Medicare Advantage (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage Group Plan - NC State Retirees
MedCost
Medicare
- First Medicare Direct
- Medicare Part A
- Medicare Part B
MultiPlan / Private Healthcare Systems
NC Medicaid
- WellCare of North Carolina
- UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
- NC Medicaid Direct
- Healthy Blue
- Carolina Complete Health
- AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
OneNet PPO
Optima Health
- FAMIS*
- Optima Family Care (Medicaid HMO in VA)*
- Optima Individual & Family (On & Off Exchange Plans)
- Optima Plus (PPO)
- Optima Vantage (HMO)
- *Duke Primary Care, Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, and Duke Raleigh Hospital are not participating with this plan.
TRICARE
- TRICARE Prime
- TRICARE Prime Remote
- TRICARE Select
United Healthcare
- AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 2 (HMO-POS)
- AARP Medicare Complete (HMO, PPO)*
- AARP Medicare Complete Essential (HMO)*
- All Savers Alternate Funding
- All Savers Fully Insured
- United Healthcare (HMO, PPO, POS)
- United Healthcare Charter/Charter Balance/Charter Plus
- United Healthcare Choice/Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Core/Core Essential
- United Healthcare Navigate/Navigate Plus/Navigate Balanced
- United Healthcare Option PPO
- United Healthcare Passport Connect Choice/Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Passport Connect Options PPO
- United Healthcare Select/Select Plus
- United Healthcare Shared Services - Harvard Pilgrim/UHC Options PPO Network
- United Medical Resources (UMR)
- *Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan.

External Relationships

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported outside activities with the companies or institutions listed below. This information has been reported to the health system leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts of interest.

Operation Smile Inc.