Non-communicable diseases in dentistry and medicine include sleep apnea, malocclusion, and caries. Dr. Mark A. Cruz, a Dana Point dentist, and his colleague, Dr. Barry Raphael, are committed to taking a closer look at the root causes of these diseases to help in diagnosing and treating patients effectively. Dr. Raphael is an orthodontist in New Jersey who has 33 years of experience in treating patients with a variety of dental and orthodontic concerns. Dr. Cruz and Dr. Raphael developed the Airway Focused Dentistry Mini-Residency to educate doctors from multiple disciplines about the significant role the airway plays in dentistry. Dr. … Read Full Article
Do you feel like you sleep enough hours, yet wake tired and fuzzy headed, like you hardly slept? You may think you have insomnia or an elevated stress level, but you could be suffering from UARS – upper airway resistance syndrome. Dr. Mark Cruz helps patients in the Dana Point area get better sleep, with orthotropics. Is it UARS or OSA? UARS is a sleep disorder where relaxed muscles constrict the airway. Breathing becomes labored, and interrupts deep sleep many times during the night. While UARS shares some characteristics, such as audible snoring, with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), there are … Read Full Article
“Airway Focused Dentistry Mini Residency,” co-developed by Dr. Mark A Cruz of Dana Point, was created to advance research, education, and awareness of the important topic of apnea and other breathing disorders among the medical community. Dr. Litchfield spoke about dysfunctional breathing, including apnea, as well as many respiratory problems that occur during waking hours. The importance of respiratory health Two of the most important functions of breathing are intaking oxygen and expelling CO2. This process is regulated by the body’s oxygen delivery system, which is dependent on proper pH balance within the red blood cells. Changes in the frequency … Read Full Article
Dr. Mark A. Cruz of Dana Point, California, co-developed “Airway Focused Dentistry Mini Residency,” which includes a series of lectures from experts on breathing disorders. During the series, Dr. Litchfield gave an enlightening presentation, discussing the link between dysfunctional breathing and behavior. The link between habits and breathing problems Habits are learned behaviors. Dr. Litchfield explained that not only your mind, but also your body “learns.” Any living system can acquire and save information, then modify physiologically in response. He used a case study to demonstrate how dysfunctional breathing habits can develop, and how they can be consciously overcome. The … Read Full Article
Though you may have heard of sleep apnea, you probably still have some questions. Dr. Mark Cruz in Dana Point, CA is an expert in airway focused dentistry. He explains what sleep apnea is, why you should take the diagnosis seriously, and how a qualified dentist can help. Normal breathing and sleep Deep, restful sleep is essential to overall wellness, and healthy breathing patterns are essential to sleep. Normal breathing entails taking air in through the nose. Air travels through nasal passages to the pharynx, epiglottis, larynx, and trachea—lower portions of the airway shared with the mouth—before entering the lungs.There, … Read Full Article
