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Sleep Disordered Breathing

Spinal posture has a tremendous influence on a child’s overall development – the difference between growing up with an apathetic slouch, or standing tall and proud. Did you know that facial posture also impacts your child’s lifelong appearance? Early intervention with facial growth guidance fosters an attractive profile and straighter teeth and easier breathing. Understanding ALF ALF is an acronym for “advanced light functional wire.” ALF combines oral appliance therapy, lessons in proper facial posture, and sometimes permanent teeth straightening with orthodontics. Characteristics of good oral posture include (when swallowing): Tongue on the roof of the mouth.Teeth together.Lips closed. Airway … Read Full Article

Interruptions in breathing during sleep can have devastating effects on the body, possibly leading to death. During a session of the Airway Focused Dentistry Mini-Residency, Dr. Bertrand De Silva discussed the potentially deadly impacts of untreated apnea. The course was co-developed by Dana Point Dentist Dr. Mark A Cruz. The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems The sympathetic system responds to danger and prepares a body for physical activity. The parasympathetic system serves the opposite function, relaxing the body. There is normally a mild oscillation between these systems, with the sympathetic system being more predominant in waking hours and the parasympathetic … Read Full Article

Apnea is a common, and potentially deadly, form of sleep disordered breathing. Dr. Bertrand De Silva discussed the stages of sleep and how apnea is diagnosed, during a session of the Airway Focused Dentistry Mini-Residency. The course was co-developed by Dana Point dentist, Dr. Mark A. Cruz. The sleep cycle Sleep is not a single a state. It is composed of four distinct stages. Stage one – If you think you might have dozed off at your computer, you probably entered stage one sleep. Stage two – When there is no denying that you fell asleep at your desk, you … Read Full Article

Experts estimate that more than a quarter of the adult population suffers from sleep apnea, although it is rarely diagnosed (especially in women). In an Airway Focused Dentistry Mini-Residency session, Dr. Bertrand De Silva explained how misdiagnosis occurs, and the devastating impact on a patient’s health. The course was co-developed by Dana Point dentist, Dr. Mark A Cruz. Dr. De Silva explained how apneic events overload the right ventricle with carbon dioxide, causing it to dilate and fail. Liver problems are often the first symptom, and the beginning of a long and dangerous series of misdiagnoses. He described the potential … Read Full Article

Steven Y. Park, MD gave an enlightening presentation about apnea and related breathing disorders during the Airway Focused Dentistry Mini-Residency. The course was co-developed by Dr. Mark A Cruz of Dana Point. What is obstructive sleep apnea The discussion of sleep disordered breathing, usually revolves around OSA (obstructive sleep apnea). However, as Dr. Park explained, the criteria used to define OSA is very limited, specifically, and it was largely chosen arbitrarily by early researchers. Dr. Park went on to explain the specific definition of apnea related terms: Apnea – An event obstructing at least 90 percent of the airway and … Read Full Article

Airway Focused Dentistry Mini-Residency, a course co-developed by Dr. Mark A Cruz of Dana Point, covers topics about sleep and breathing disorders. During the session, Steven Y. Park, MD discussed evolutionary and lifestyle factors influencing the high rates of apnea in modern society. The development of speech and the airway Dr. Park referenced a scientific paper entitled, The great leap forward: the anatomic basis for the acquisition of speech and apnea, explaining the uniquely human factors in apnea. Although most animals make some sounds, the ability to develop complex speech is unique to humans.With few exceptions, humans are the only … Read Full Article

It is estimated that more than 18 million people in the United States suffer from a condition called sleep apnea. For many, the situation remains untreated. When tissues in the back of the throat collapse and block the airway, oxygen stops being delivered to the brain and heart. The oxygen deprivation causes the individual to wake up to start breathing again. The two main types of sleep apnea are obstructive sleep apnea, the most commonly occurring form, and central sleep apnea. The main warning signs of obstructive sleep apnea include: Extreme sleepiness during the dayInterruptions in breathing which are followed … Read Full Article

The average individual sleeps nearly one-third of his or her life. Sleep is a critical function for overall systemic health, emotional wellness, and mental clarity. Sleep apnea can be a serious medical condition affecting an individual’s ability to think clearly, react quickly, and remain alert, in addition to elevating the risk for other health issues and diseases, including cancer. Sleep apnea occurs when normal breathing is blocked during sleep. An individual may stop breathing several times or more than 50 times per hour. It is a common ailment, affecting more than 18 million Americans. Airway issues and sleep disordered breathing … Read Full Article

Snoring is one of the first symptoms noticed when a person has a sleep disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea. “Snoring is not normal and should never occur,” said Dr. David Gozal, physician-in-chief at Conner Hospital University of Chicago Medical Center Director of Pediatrics Pritzker School of Medicine. The ramifications of snoring are potentially serious in contributing to chronic disease, said Dr. Mark A. Cruz, who highlighted Dr. Gozal’s studies at the Airway Focused Dentistry Mini-Residency he co-developed. Dr. Gozal studied sleep patterns among children. When a child has fragmented sleep, he or she has inflammation in the brain, studies … Read Full Article

Dr. Mark A. Cruz, a dentist in Dana Point, co-developed the Airway Focused Dentistry Mini-Residency with Dr. Barry Raphael, an orthodontist with 33 years of experience. Dr. Raphael is the owner of Raphael Center for Integrative Orthodontics in Clifton, New Jersey. He is also the founder and owner of the Raphael Center for Integrative Education, where mini-residency sessions are held for doctors who come from various disciplines. Drs. Cruz and Raphael are committed to educating their colleagues about the significant role the airway plays in dentistry, orthodontics, and other fields of medicine. During one of the Mini-Residency sessions, Dr. Raphael … Read Full Article



Meet Dr. Mark Cruz

Dr. Mark Cruz Dr. Mark Cruz graduated from the UCLA School of Dentistry in 1986 and started his dental journey in Monarch Beach. He is a well-known lecturer internationally, and he was a part-time lecturer at UCLA. He gives individual attention to each patient while creating a friendly and enjoyable dental experience. He makes the patient a part of the dental procedure, educating them about the problem at hand.

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