Dentist near the 92692 area explains the airway and its relationship to facial development

Dr. Mark Cruz is a respected dentist near the 92692 area who treats patients struggling with getting a good night’s sleep. Their first step toward improved sleep is to evaluate if they wake up feeling refreshed. If they do not feel refreshed after sleeping, they may suffer from a sleep disordered breathing condition such as upper airway resistance syndrome or obstructive sleep apnea. Often, they are unaware there may be an issue until a bed partner brings a symptom such as snoring to their attention.

Dr. Cruz not only treats patients with concerns about sleep, but he leads in a movement with multiple doctors around the world to share research, knowledge, and theories about a total wellness approach to conditions related to the airway. Committed to improving the quality of services medical professionals provide, Dr. Cruz co-developed the “Multi-Disciplinary Airway Collaborative,” a platform to exchange information during real-time conversations. The discussions are recorded and available on Dr. Cruz’s website at https://www.markacruzdds.com/spreecast-videos.html.

In Episode 6, Dr. Cruz explains the relationship between the airway and facial development. Dr. Cruz believes the airway is the keystone to facial development. A keystone is the part in an arch that stabilizes it and positions the remaining parts. If the airway is the keystone to facial development, the most important area of concern regarding facial development is breathing habits. There is no question that there is a direct relationship between the growth or lack of growth between the upper or lower face and nasal respiratory function, he explains.

In another video regarding sleep disordered breathing on his website, he explains that largely, our ability to breathe dictates the way our face grows. Many orthodontists and other doctors believe the genes determine how the face grows. However, evidence strongly suggests epigenetic factors (diet, stress, and habits) determine the way it grows.

Therefore, Dr. Cruz examines facial structure as well as how a patient swallows and the position of the tongue to determine if a sleep disordered breathing condition may exist. Tooth wear is another sign of a sleep disordered breathing condition. Many dentists may treat worn teeth; however, the patient still suffers from a sleep disordered breathing condition. Committed to finding a solution, Dr. Cruz may refer the patient to a specialist for further evaluation such as a sleep study.

Dr. Cruz’s dedication to finding the right treatment for sleep-disordered breathing is one of many reasons patients choose him. If you would like to meet with Dr. Cruz to discuss your sleep concerns, call (949) 661-1006 today.