Mark A Cruz graduated from the UCLA School of Dentistry in 1986 and started a dental practice in Monarch Beach, CA upon graduation. He has lectured nationally and internationally and is a member of various dental organizations. He was a part-time lecturer at UCLA and a member of the faculty group practice and was past assistant director of the UCLA Center for Esthetic Dentistry. He has served on the National Institute of Health/NIDCR (National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research) Grant review Committee in Washington D.C. as well as on the editorial board for the Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice (Elsevier) and is currently serving on the DSMB (data safety management board) for the NPBRN (national practice-based research network.

Dr. Cruz has been practicing dentistry in Orange County since 1986. He graduated from the University of California in Los Angeles with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1986. He is a happily married father who lives in Laguna Niguel.

To make the patient-centered practice an accessible, mainstream approach for dental care via the integration of patient preferences with the leading dental science and clinical expertise. Patients are educated on treatment alternatives to gain a complete understanding of available options while balancing the risks and benefits with short-term and long-term financial and biologic considerations.

Treatment dictated by patient needs and desires, while maximizing predictable longevity and conservation of tooth structure where indicated. Patients should have the freedom to choose from among definitive treatment and alternative treatment options. Patient involvement is promoted through two-way communication and transparency. Pleasant patient experience and satisfaction with care are prized. Dr. Cruz and his team foster long-term relationships through the type of open, clear communication that promotes trust.

Lenore Filler Morrissey was born and raised in the Los Angeles area. As an active young person, she began taking an interest in sports at age 5, playing soccer until her early 30s semi-professionally as a goalkeeper. Lenore also played high school tennis, track, and college softball. She earned her undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology at Whittier College in 1993. She continued her studies in the sciences at San Francisco State, Long Beach State, and Louisiana State Universities. During this time, she published two peer-reviewed studies and performed preliminary development of a transdermal blood sugar monitoring watch for a biomedical research company in the Bay Area. Lenore was accepted into the Feinberg School of Medicine Program in Physical Therapy at Northwestern University and graduated with her Masters of Physical Therapy Degree in 1998. She was published in a peer-reviewed pediatric physical therapy article while at Northwestern. Upon returning to California, she worked in a variety of physical therapy settings including pediatrics, home health, and inpatient rehabilitation. At Kaiser Permanente, she treated patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. In addition, she participated in a year-long manual physical therapy course after which she achieved her Orthopedic Certified Specialty from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists in 2004. Then in 2005, Lenore opened and operated a private outpatient orthopedic physical therapy practice in Rancho Palos Verdes for 11 years. During this time, she attended many continuing education courses including functional movement athletic testing, Kinesio taping techniques, sacroiliac joint dysfunction coursework, foot, and ankle injury, and orthotic prescription and fabrication, to name a few.

While running her practice, she saw a growing need for expertise in head and neck disorders and their relationship to airway dysfunction. In 2012, she studied oral myofunctional therapy under Joy Moeller, BS, RDH, a leading international instructor in this field. In the following few years, she earned her Certification as a Craniofacial Specialist under the training of renowned expert in craniofacial and temporomandibular disorders Mariano Rocabado via the University of St. Augustine. She then went on to receive her transitional doctorate in physical therapy with this university, specializing in craniofacial study, in 2017.

Lenore is a faculty member for the Airway Focused Dentistry Mini-Residency, a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, the California Physical Therapy Association, the Academy of Applied Myofunctional Sciences, the Foundation for Airway Health, and the American Academy of Applied Physiologic Medicine and Dentistry. She continues to study postural respiration and cranial-cervical dysfunction with the Postural Restoration Institute. She has studied under the direction of Dr. Lois Laynee in the Laynee Restorative Breathing Method and has studied craniosacral therapy with Upledger Institute, oral myofunctional therapy with the Academy of Applied Myofunctional Sciences, Oxygen Advantage/Buteyko Breathing method with Patrick McKeown, and capnometry and upper airway disorders under many others renowned in the field of airway dysfunction. All of this training enables her to provide an integrated knowledge that is unique in physical therapy. She treats private patients both in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Her mantra: Total body well-being begins with a patent airway in concert with proper alignment and function of the structures of the head, neck, thorax, and tongue. For over 20 years since she graduated from physical therapy school and as a sufferer of chronic TMD, neck pain, and sleep-disordered breathing herself, Lenore has discovered untapped and indispensable treatment skills that can be appropriately implemented by a licensed physical therapist. Additionally, like other like-minded airway centric practitioners, she has determined that such an approach is not only a holistic and non-invasive option to wellness for patients of all ages but has had a substantial foundation in research for decades. It is only a matter of time before it will be common knowledge that many drug therapies and other forms of unpopular band-aid treatments become a thing of the past. The human body has an incredible capacity to heal itself, we just have to remove the obstacles.

Lenore lives in West Los Angeles with her husband, young daughter, and a poodle. She continues to be active in paddle tennis, skiing, running, kickboxing, coaching soccer for AYSO, and is an active Cub Scout leader.

Coury Staadecker, DDS, MS Board Certified Periodontist Coury Staadecker DDS, MS earned his dental degree from The Ohio State University and his Periodontics Certificate from the Naval Postgraduate Dental School in Bethesda, MD. While pursuing his Periodontics certificate, he also earned a Master of Science degree from George Washington University. Dr. Staadecker is a Board-Certified Periodontist with over 20 years of experience, a Diplomat of the American Board of Periodontology, and an Accredited Fellow of the American Society of Dental Anesthesiology.

Most recently, Dr. Staadecker had maintained his private practice in beautiful Newport Beach, CA. While in private practice, he continued his involvement with academics as a clinical instructor and Affiliate Professor at the University of Washington, Department of Graduate Periodontics. He enjoyed his tenure as the Senior Clinical Editor-in-Chief of the Seattle Study Club Journal, reaching over 8000 dentists worldwide. Additionally, Dr. Staadecker was a local director of the prestigious Spear Study Club, an interdisciplinary dental learning continuum, University Without Walls.

When it comes to your dental care, you have many choices. Why choose us? Patients visit the patient-centered dental practice of Dr. Mark A Cruz in Dana Point, CA, from locations across the country for many reasons, and we take pride in developing long-term relationships with our patients.

Every person has unique oral health needs and treatment preferences. We believe in providing patients the freedom of choice and taking the time to give you all of the information you need to make informed, confident decisions about your dental care. We take the time to discuss your treatment choices, including traditional and alternative options and have honest discussions about each options pros and cons. Two-way communication is a core component in how we practice dentistry. We take pride in integrating the latest dental advances and clinical expertise with friendly, compassionate dental care. Our patients come back to us year after year not only because of our empathetic and patient-oriented approach but because of their excellent results: healthy, beautiful smiles.

Breathing and proper airflow are vital to each persons health and well-being. Dr. Mark Cruz is a national leader in airway focused dentistry and is dedicated to helping other dental professionals receive the training and education they need to provide airway focused treatment options successfully:

Learn first-hand from our patients about the difference in care that you will experience at the dental practice of Mark A. Cruz DDS by viewing our patient testimonials: https://www.markacruzdds.com/success-stories/. We welcome new patients to join our patient-centered dental family.