Healthy Dentistry – Mark A. Cruz, D.D.S, Innovative Dentist and Lecturer – Considering Oral Health from a Holistic Perspective

Mark A. Cruz, D.D.S, innovative dentist and lecturer, delivers an insightful overview of his holistic approach to modern dentistry.

Dr. Cruz is an experienced family dentist who believes in approaching all dental issues from a big picture perspective, not simply treating problems as they occur. His successful methods are evidenced by the scores of people who remain his patients for life, as well as the new patients that are coming to visit his practice regularly. Dr. Cruz received his formal education and degree from the esteemed UCLA School of Dentistry in the mid 80s and has been practicing in California ever since. Notably, he served on the National Institute of Health/NIDCR (National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research) Grant Review Committee in Washington D.C. and was also a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Evidence Based Dental Practice (Elsevier).

Dr. Cruz discusses his background and the mission for his practice. He talks about IFL, Inspiratory Flow Limitation, a term used widely in pulmonology and sleep medicine. He explains how it often refers to upper airway resistance syndrome. Dr. Cruz talks about airway issues such as obstructive sleep apnea, etc. He details how sleep fragmentation in children can cause inflammation in the brain and noticeable increases in inflammatory markers that could relate to a child's failure to thrive, cognitive problems, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, and possibly more.

Many dental practices take the approach that problems can simply be treated as they occur; however, Dr. Cruz believes active prevention is critical. Dr. Cruz seeks to help all his patients avoid oral issues, and thus he focuses on education, prevention, and early detection.

Dr. Cruz goes in depth on the various airway issues and their impact on health. He discuss his interdisciplinary team's approach to care, and their process for providing a complete method of care for all patients, bringing together multiple specialists to look at the big picture, thus providing a more comprehensive analysis.

Dr. Cruz is an active member of his community and has been practicing dentistry in beautiful Orange County since 1986.