Helping Mission Viejo sleep better with unique apnea therapy
Dr. Mark A Cruz is a leader in the treatment of sleep-disordered
breathing. He practices coordinated care, working with primary
physicians, sleep physicians, and other medical professionals to deliver
individualized treatment to each patient. He is one of very few
dentists treating this condition, and he takes a uniquely progressive
approach.
When you see dental treatment for sleep disordered breathing
advertised on the internet and other places, you may get the feeling
that it’s simply about delivering an appliance and charging a fee. That
approach might be satisfactory if it takes care of the problem. However,
this condition, and its treatment, is more complex than that. In fact,
you may encounter the same thing with the sleep physicians. The gold
standard is the CPAP and therefore alternate treatments may never be
considered.
The polysomnogram (PSG), which is an overnight sleep study, is
important. However, what makes a difference for the patient is what we
do with that information. The answer may not be as simple as delivering
an appliance or prescribing CPAP.
In some countries such as Brazil, for years they have actually
taken a very different approach to treating sleep disordered breathing,
and obstructive sleep apnea. They have been very successful using
non-invasive treatments without surgery and without devices. Dr. Cruz
prefers to take that approach and he believes the dental profession
ought to take that approach. Although that is likely to happen
eventually, most dentists at this point are just focused on the parts of
the stomatognathic system, which is a complex system including the
teeth, the gums, and the jaw joints.
Dr. Cruz does use appliances in select cases, because they are
very successful in specific situations. He takes care to titrate it
properly, adjust it properly, and follow up in the long-term. He also
explains that, even if an appliance is used, the treatment is not about
the appliance. Whatever method of therapy he uses, he believes it is his
responsibility to follow up.
It is important to choose a dentist, such as Dr. Cruz, who has the
training and experience to understand sleep disordered breathing, what
is causing it, and the unique factors that dictate the best treatment
for each individual patient. Call (949) 661-1006 and schedule an
appointment today. Dr. Cruz’s office is located in Dana Point with
convenient access from Mission Viejo and other nearby communities.