MEET DR. MARK CRUZ
Dr. Cruz established his practice in l986 with the ideal of pursuing excellence in long-term treatment outcome, thus minimizing the risk of re-treatment. The intelligent approach to contain long-term cost begins with making the correct treatment decision to begin with. This approach requires up front diligence, not merely treating the symptom; not only to render appropriate diagnoses but to also assess the cause or reason for the clinical problems the patient present with. This means that there is an emphasis on prevention beyond mere lip-service and addressing the cause of the clinical problem versus merely treating the symptom.

In an era where everyone claims to be a guru we feel it is important to actually see and verify the doctor's qualifications. Please see Dr. Cruz's abridged Curriculum Vitae (Resume) below to view his qualifications and visit the links to some of the organizations to which he belongs. The mission statements of these organizations will reveal Dr. Cruz's commitment to dentistry and his patients. Please also see our mission and philosophy statements to better understand our practice.

Philosophy Statement
Treatment dictated by patient needs and desires maximizing predictable longevity and conservation of tooth structure where indicated, while offering alternative options to definitive treatment in the interest of respecting patient autonomy. Patient involvement through two-way communication and full disclosure is an essential ingredient in achieving patient satisfaction, minimizing confusion and fostering a long-term relationship through trust.

Mission Statement
To provide excellence in dental care with a caring empathetic environment expressed through our attention to detail and consideration toward individual needs.

Curriculum Vitae ( RESUME OF DR. MARK CRUZ )

EDUCATION

University of California, Irvine
Bachelor of Science, 1981

University of California, Los Angeles
Doctor of Dental Surgery, 1986

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• American Dental Association 1986 - Present
• California Dental Association 1986 - Present
• Orange County Dental Society 1986 - Present
• Academy of General Dentistry 1989 - 2000
• Academy of RVT Study Clubs 1991- Present
• International Association For Dental Research 1994
• Academy of Operative Dentistry 1992 – Present
• American Academy of Gold Foil Operators – 1995
• Academy of Dentistry International – Fellow 1998 to Present
• Pacific Coast Society for Prosthodontics - 2001 to Present
• Fellow Pierre Fauchard Academy April 2003 to Present
• American Academy of Restorative Dentistry 2004 to Present

COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION

• CDA Trial Panel for Judicial Council 1989
• Orange County Dental Society - Ethics Committee 1987 - 1997
• Orange County Dental Society - Membership Committee 1989 - 1990
• Orange County Dental Society - Ethics Committee Chairman 1994 - 1996
• Orange County Dental Society- Board Member at Large 1996-1997
• California Dental Association Expert Panel Journal reviewer 1998 - present
• Orange County Dental Society – Vice President 1997-1998
• Academy of RVT Study Club - Chairman Membership Services Committee
• Academy of Operative Dentistry Seminar/Study Club Committee 1994-1998
• California Dental Association-Council on Research & Developments 1998-2000
• Academy of Operative Dentistry-Developed Prototype/initial Academy Web Site (www.aod.org) 1998
• Academy of RVT Study Clubs-Developed Academy Web Site (www.rvtucker.org)1998-Editor
• Academy of RVT Study Clubs-Chairman for organizing Annual International meeting held September 1998 in Newport Beach, CA
• Member of Editorial Board The Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice 2001-present
• Academy of RVT Study Clubs Secretary 2000
• Academy of RVT Study Clubs President Elect
• Academy of RVT Study Clubs President
• Academy of RVT Study Clubs Immediate Past president
• Academy of Operative Dentistry Seminar committee Chairman 2003 - Present
• Academy of Operative Dentistry Scientific Program Committee 2003 - Present
• Pacific Coast Society of Prosthodontics Scientific Program Committee 2003-2004
• Second International Conference on Evidence-Based Dentistry 2005-Program Committee
• Section chair of editorial board Journal of Evidence-based Dental Practice 2005 - Present
• Program Committee for the Second International Conference on Evidence-based Dentistry Nov 4-6, 2005 Chicago, IL
• Academy of Operative Dentistry-Councilor 2006

PUBLICATION / PRESENTATION

• Granulomatous Delayed Type Hypersensitivity in Q Fever - University of California, Irvine (Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases 1980) (Received honors in undergraduate research).
• Journal of Dental Research Abstract /Presentation March 9-13, 1994 Microleakage & Marginal Fidelity of Gold Inlays Using New Cements, J.A. Sorenson, M. Cruz, S.P. Avera & G. Nunakawa (Advanced Prosthodontics, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.)
• Essay Presentation Pacific Coast Academy of Prosthodontist, June 22-24 1995:, Effect of Venting and Seating Techniques on Seating of Full Gold Castings: Setting The Standard M.A. Cruz, JA Sorensen, and W.K. Johnson (Publication is pending)
• Table Clinic Academy of Operative Dentistry 1995 Effect of Venting and Seating Techniques on Seating of Full Gold Castings: Setting The Standard MA Cruz, JA Sorensen, and W.K. Johnson Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry
• 5 Hour Presentation to Prosthodontic Study Club Mexicali, Mexico 4/27/96
• Assistant Mentor For Cast Gold Seminar American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry 5/4/96
• Presentation- The Cementation Error: A Prescription for Failure 11/08/96 American Academy of Gold Foil Operators,
  San Antonio, Texas
• Clinical Presentation Given at the Annual Meeting of the Academy of R.V. Tucker Study Clubs: Demonstrating Direct and Indirect Gold. Completed on a patient in the The Naval Dental Services Clinic, San Diego, California – 1994
• Clinical Presentation given at the Annual Meeting of the Academy of RV Tucker Study Clubs: Preparation, Cementation and Finishing of Gold Castings on a patient (completed over two clinical sessions) Saluzzo, Italy - 1995
• Clinical Presentation given at the Annual Meeting of the Academy of RV Tucker Study Clubs: Demonstration of Direct and Indirect Gold on a patient using a five-step surgical microscope and medical monitor provided by Global microscopes at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada – 1996
• Clinical Presentation given at the American Academy of Gold Foil Operators: Demonstration on a patient using direct gold foil technique at the University of Texas in San Antonio 1996
• Presentation to the North County Dental Study Club - “State of the Art in Cast Gold Techniques. The RV Tucker Model.” - April, 22 1997 San Diego, CA
• Clinical Presentation Given at the Annual meeting of the Academy of RVT Study Clubs in Newport Beach, CA demonstrating the use of direct & indirect gold cementation and finishing techniques September 1998
• Lecture presentation at The Annual Meeting of the Academy of RVT Study Clubs: The Yin and the Yang in Dentistry: The Use of Post-ceramic Soldering in Combining Ceramics with Gold
• Practical Periodontics & Aesthetic Dentistry-A Clinical Investigation on Three-Unit Fixed Partial Dentures Fabricated With a Lithium Disilicate Glass-Ceramic Sorenson, Cruz, Mito et al Jan/Feb 1999, Signature-Research Evaluations of a Lithium Disilicate Restorative System: IPS Empress 2 Sorenson, Cruz, Mito Fall 1998
• Clinical Presentation at Mehary Medical College, Tennessee @ AAOGFO annual meeting October 27-31, 1999. Class V foil 10/29 & 10/30.
• Evidence-based versus experience-based decision making in clinical dentistry, Journal of the American College of Dentists Spring 2000
• Lecture presentation Pacific Coast Society of Prosthodontics Harmonizing Full Coverage ceramics with Laminate veneers in the Esthetic Zone June 2000, Seattle, WA
• Lecture presentation California Dental Association Health of the Health Care Provider April 14, 2000
• Clinical Presentation given at the American Academy of Gold Foil Operators: Demonstration on a patient using direct gold foil technique class II at the naval dental clinic in Pearl Harbor Honolulu, Hawaii November, 2000
• Lecture presentation: “Communicating Micro-Esthetics” U.C.L.A. Esthetic Continuum Hawaii 2001
• Lecture presentation California Dental Association Environmentally Responsible Dentistry April 21 2001
• Journal of Evidence Based Dental Practice 2001/2002 Editorial: Dental education, dental practice, and the use of evidence.
• Table clinic presentation American Academy of Restorative Dentistry Harmonizing Full Coverage ceramics with Laminate veneers in the Esthetic Zone February 24, 2001
• Guest Mentor Hawaii Cast Gold Study Club October 2001
• Lecture to the Academy of RVT Study Clubs August 2002 “The Evidence Based Approach to Clinical Practice”
• Clinical session demonstration Class II gold foil @ the annual meeting of the Academy of RVT Study Clubs Seattle, WA August 2002 Lecture to the American Academy of Gold Foil Operators October 2002 Halifax, Nova Scotia “Incorporating Gold into an Esthetic Oriented Practice”
• UCLA Esthetic Continuum in conjunction with Delta Dental Lecture: “Common Pitfalls of Veneer and Ceramic Onlay Preparations”. October 2002 Los Angeles, CA
• Clinical session demonstration Class V gold foil @ the annual meeting of the, American Academy of Gold Foil Operators October 2002 Halifax, Nova Scotia
• Guest Lecture to the USC Odontic Seminars November (Los Angeles) and December (San Diego) 2002 “The Evidence Based Approach to Clinical Practice”
• Journal of Dental Research 2003;82:6-7. Evidence-based Dentistry: Benefit or Hindrance?
• Guest Lecture On Evidence-based Clinical Practice to SOS a non-profit dental clinic in Hoag hospital Newport Beach, CA March 29, 2003
• Lecture USC School of Dentistry The New Odontic Seminar “Are You Ready for Evidence Based Clinical Dentistry?” December 4, 2002
• CDA lecture: Evidence-Based Dentistry: What it is and What it is not a panel discussion (participants: Philippe Hujoel, Mark Cruz, Max Anderson) Convention April 2003 Anaheim
• Lecture given to the UCLA Restorative and Periodontics Faculty: The Role of Evidence-Based Dentistry in Dental Education Part I May 2003 Part II June 2003
• UCSF/Fresno Medical Education Program: Patient Care in the 21st Century August 13, 2004
• Mentor RV Study Club of Hawaii (study club #44)/Lecture on Finishing September 9, 2004
• Mentor RV Study Club of Hawaii (study club #50)/Lecture on Finishing September 11, 2004
• 2 Day Seminar for the International Dental Study Club on the use of Cast Gold Buffalo, New York October 29-30.
• Clinical session demonstration Class V gold foil @ the annual meeting of the, American Academy of Gold Foil Operators November 2004 Loma Linda. CA
• Lecture to UCLA Perio residents: EBD: What is it & What is it not Jan 12, 2005
• Lecture presentation Pacific Coast Society for Prosthodontics: : Effect of preparation design on failure rate of porcelain laminate veneers: a quantitative and qualitative assessment, June 2005 Marina Del Rey, CA
• Lecture to the American Academy of Gold Foil Operators September 30, 2005 Morgantown, West Virginia “State-of-the-art” Dentistry: Are we “BS-ing our patients?
• Clinical session demonstration Class V gold foil @ the annual meeting of the American Academy of Gold Foil Operators October 29, 2005 Morgantown, West Virginia
• Guest lecturer UCLA School of Dentistry/1st year students: Decision Making in Dental Practice October 25, 2005
• Panel moderator and lecture: Real World Implementation of Evidence-Based Dental Practice Second International Conference on Evidence-Based Dentistry November 6, 2005 Chicago
• The Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice Volume 5/Number 4: Real World Implementation of Evidence-Based Dental Practice

ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS

• The Development of a ceramic technique to solve the esthetic challenge of combining anterior full coverage ceramics with veneers in the production of predictable optical harmony
• In Vitro veneer study of preparation design to quantify/qualify risk factors for failure.

PROFESSIONAL GOALS

To contribute to the advancement of the dental profession through the pursuit of excellence in diagnostic and the evidence-based approach in clinical expertise supported by continuous education, and research.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Started excellence-oriented general practice upon completion of dental school; overseeing of leasehold improvements, office design, personnel management, implementation of various computer softwares, OSHA adherence, etc.
• June 1995 - June 1996 Visiting Professor at Oregon Health Sciences University, School of Dentistry Department of Fixed Prosthodontics
• January 2000-present Adjunct Professor at Oregon Health Sciences University, School of Dentistry, Department of Fixed Prosthodontics
• December 1999-2001 Lecturer, UCLA School of Dentistry Department of Restorative Dentistry AEGD program/Center for Esthetic Dentistry
• Clinical Assistant Professor at OHSU through June 2003
• Assistant Director UCLA Center for Esthetic Dentistry July 2001-2003· Research associate UCLA Center for Esthetic Dentistry 2002-2004
• Director of Research UCLA Center for Esthetic Dentistry 2003-2004
• Instructor for Hands-On Patient Course and Lecture Format Occlusion - UCLA Continuing Education - 3/06-6/06, 6 sessions.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

• Active member Rotary International 1989 Present (Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club)
• Continual active involvement in community activities, fund-raisers etc.
• Paul Harris Fellow 1995, 1997, 2005
• Co-chairman of International Committee 1993-95
• Mentor for Rotary Mentor Program
• Spearheaded Establishment of village Bank in Guatemala City (Project initiated in 1994 with fund-raiser and matching grant Rotary International)
• Tutor for Read-Ahead Program
• Member of Flying Samaritans, Orange County Chapter since 1993:Spearheaded project in effecting improvement of Dental/Medical clinic in Jesus Maria, B.C. i.e., implemented water purification system in clinic providing potable water for dental surgery and general consumption thus dramatically reducing incidence of GI distress, parasitic infections etc. Implemented tray set-ups system for delivery of dental care. Acquired Autoclave for clinic Facilitated donations and transportation of items to clinic from the United States.
  to Mexico
• Actively involved with “Doctors of Charity” in Cabo San Lucas in Colonia del Sol
  Clinic 1995, providing dental treatment and assisting in establishment of clinic. Helped to acquire “Jaws of Life” extrication equipment for Rotary Club of Cabo San Lucas through the Orange County Fire Authority.
• Member of Thousand Smiles Foundation of Rotary International cleft palate clinic in Mexico. helping with delivery of dental services and facilitating donation of
  dental supplies through the Orange County Dental Society and Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club 1996-Present.
  ·Rotary President’s Impact Award for outstanding service to the club 2001
• Business Rotarian of the year (Finalist) April 2005District 532

Links

The American Academy of Restorative Dentistry

American Academy of Operative Dentistry

The Pierre Fauchard Academy

Academy of Dentistry International

Pacific Coast Society of Prosthodontists

Academy of RVT Study Club