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.