Meet the Team
Dr. Sandhya Hegde
Dr. Sandhya Hegde became a dentist so she could make a difference in her patients’ health and well-being. She understands the important role that oral health plays in a person’s overall health, and she wants to help each patient enjoy the best health possible.
Dr. Hegde received her dental degree from Loma Linda University in 2000 and started practicing dentistry shortly thereafter, coming to our practice in 2005. She is compassionate, empathetic and caring toward her patients and recognizes their unique, individual needs. She doesn’t believe in a “one-size-fits-all” approach to dental care. She is a perfectionist, and her patients know that she doesn’t settle for subpar outcomes and results, just as she wouldn’t for her own children and family.
Seeing the end result and witnessing the impact on a patient’s life is the best part of Dr. Hegde’s job. She has had patients who would never smile or couldn’t eat a steak or who were afraid of going to the dentist. She has been able to help them overcome these hurdles and get the treatment they need.
Dr. Hegde has achieved the following professional accomplishments:
- Placed over 1.000 implants with a success rate of 99.5 percent
- Earned a Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry within the first three years of being in practice
- Completed extensive work on full-mouth rehabilitation cases with repeat patient referrals
- Guest speaker for Align Technology, for the Americas region as well as APAC region
Away from the office, Dr. Hegde loves spending time with her pets, horse riding, enjoying the outdoors, and traveling to new places.
Dr. Gary Sigafoos
Dr. Gary Sigafoos received his DDS degree in 1971 and his MS in periodontics in 1977, both from Temple University. He joined our team in 2021, but has been practicing dentistry since 1979. Over the years, Dr. Sigafoos has appeared on multiple local and national television programs for his expertise in periodontics. He was one of the first periodontists in San Diego County to focus on soft tissue management programs.
When asked what drew him to dentistry, Dr. Sigafoos fondly recollects when his parents took him to his dentist, who was a perfectionist and had his own crown casting machine that made gold restorations. That perfectionism has stayed with Dr. Sigafoos and even to this day, he likes to show his patients the progress they have made by showing them before and after pictures of the treatment they received. He and his clinical coordinator love to see the transformation that their patients have been through.
In his free time, he enjoys traveling and seeing new sights.
Dr. Haris Lakisic
Dr. Haris Lakisic has an eye for detail and felt that dentistry would be a good fit with his skills. He graduated magna cum laude from Pepperdine University with a bachelor’s degree. in biology. He then received his DDS from the University of Pennsylvania in 2003 and an MS in endodontics from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006.
He began practicing dentistry in 2006, coming to our practice in 2018. Dr. Lakisic is good at what he does and takes pride in the quality of work he provides. His patients appreciate his ability to comfort and care for them while working efficiently. He assures his patients that they will receive the best care possible.
In his free time, Dr. Lakisic enjoys traveling, fishing, and freediving.
Dr. Thomas Brislin
Thomas V. Brislin Jr., the youngest of six siblings, grew up in Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania, where he developed a love for sports, excelling in soccer and volleyball and becoming a passionate water sports enthusiast. During his time at Saint Joseph’s University, Tom played varsity soccer and earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting. However, he soon realized that his true passion lay in dentistry. This shift in focus led him to graduate from Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia in 2011.
Following dental school, Tom served as a General Dental Officer in the United States Navy, stationed at Camp Pendleton, California. In 2013, Lieutenant Brislin participated in Pacific Angel Vietnam, a multi-service medical and dental humanitarian mission in Vietnam. After an honorable discharge, Tom completed his oral maxillofacial surgery residency at Temple University Hospital, where he discovered his strong interest in head and neck pathology, implant restorations, and advanced sedation techniques.
Tom and his wife, Kirby, have five children and have returned to Southern California to enjoy the beach, sun, and surf. Outside of his work transforming smiles, Tom loves spending time with his family, whether at the beach, camping, running, or golfing.
Emma Hanlon
Emma is a Registered Dental Hygienist who is passionate about helping patients feel comfortable, confident, and cared for during their dental visits. She graduated from Concorde Career College in June 2025, where she earned Dean’s List recognition for academic excellence. Emma also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Washington State University and enjoys using her education to help patients better understand their oral health.
With over 14 years of customer service experience, she takes pride in creating a welcoming environment and building genuine connections with her patients. Emma is also passionate about giving back to the community and has volunteered with organizations such as Dental Blue Box and Making San Diego Smile to provide preventive care and oral health education.
Outside of the office, she enjoys traveling, snowboarding, spending time at the beach, paddle boarding, and exploring new restaurants around San Diego.
