Dr. Cruz is a native San Diegan, born and raised in Pacific Beach and a graduate from Mission Bay High School. He attended UCSD where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and met his future wife, Keri. They currently have two children, Caylie age 11 and Carly age 6.
Using state-of-the-art technology Dr. Cruz is committed to excellence and dedicated to his own personal development. He is dedicated to upholding his reputation as top orthodontist in San Diego and to providing the best adult orthodontic treatment.
Dr. Cruz is an Invisalign-certified orthodontist and an active member in several national, regional, and local dental societies including the American Association of Orthodontics, Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontics, and the San Diego Dental Society to name a few. He also lectures to both general dentists and specialists regarding current orthodontic affairs.
It 's been almost four years now that we 've been coming to Dr. Cruz. If I had one word to describe the experience we 've had it would be 'Amazing'. There 's a sense of family and closeness that you get from him and his staff when you come in for each visit. I couldn 't imagine taking my children anywhere else. It 's truly been our pleasure!!!! People always say you get what you pay for, and I feel Dr. Cruz and his talented staff truly go up and beyond that. The results speak for themselves!!! '
For most people, a beautiful smile is the most obvious benefit of orthodontics treatment. After orthodontic treatment, patients often feel more confident and take great pride in their new straight smile!
Your dentist may have also discussed with you additional benefits of having healthy teeth and proper jaw alignment. Crooked and crowded teeth are harder to clean and maintain. This can result in tooth decay, gum disease, and even tooth loss.
Other orthodontic problems can contribute to abnormal tooth wear, poor chewing function, stress on gum and bone tissue, or misalignment of the jaw joints (TMJ problems). Typically, with quality orthodontic treatment and care, many if not all of these issues can be resolved.
Orthodontic appliances can be made of metal, ceramic, or plastic and have the option of being removable or bonded to the teeth. By placing a constant, gentle force in a carefully controlled direction, braces slowly maneuver teeth towards a corrected position.
Typical treatment time can last between one to three years depending on the severity of the problem. Patients will respond differently to orthodontic treatment so the time of completion may differ from the original estimated treatment time. Patient compliance of any prescribed rubber bands or appliances is also an important factor in staying on track. Interceptive, or early treatment procedures, may take as few as six months.
