Dr. Rudolph Michael Soto, DDS

RUDOLPH M. SOTO, D.D.S., received his dental degree from the University of Pacific. Upon graduation, his general residency was in Public Health Service. Since then, he has been in private practice in Orange County, Orange California.
With a special interest in temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), he has successfully diagnosed and treated TMJ head, neck and facial pain patients in a conservative, non-surgical approach. Special training and experience has led to his practice being 100% TMJ, Myofacial pain and Sleep Apnea treatments. The practice provides a relaxed, caring atmosphere in a modern setting utilizing the
latest in equipment/technology including his certification and mastership in:
Joint Vibration Analysis
EMG
Jaw tracking computerized instrumentation
T-Scan II
In office Complex Motion Tomography (I-CAT)
Eccovision
On-going education courses in the dental care approach related to TMJ head, neck, facial pain and orthodontics have kept his practices current. He is well …prepared to work with craniofacial pain and restoring the occlusion to full function. For over 20 years he has held memberships in the American Dental Association and Orange County Dental Association. He is also a member of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, American Academy of Pain Management, American Association of Dental maxillofacial Radiographic Technicians, American Association for Functional Orthodontics, and the Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea means cessation of breath and is a common disorder that can be very serious. In sleep apnea your breathing stops or gets very shallow when you are sleeping. Each pause in breathing typically last 10 to 20 seconds or more.. These pauses can occur 20 to 30 times or more an hour. The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea. During sleep enough air cannot flow into your lungs through your mouth and nose even though you try to breathe. When this happens, the amount of oxygen in your blood may drop. Normal breaths then start again with a loud snort or choking sound. People with sleep apnea often have loud snoring. However, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. Some people with sleep apnea don't know they snore. Untreated sleep apnea can increase the chance of having high blood pressure and even heart attack or stroke. Untreated sleep apnea can also increase the risk of diabetes and the risk for work-related accidents and driving accidents.
TMJ ( temporomandibular Joint) Disorders
Millions of Americans suffer from TMJ., a condition that affects the function of the temporomandibular joint. Despite this , TMJ remains one of the most commonly misunderstood areas of dentistry and medicine. TMJ disorders can develop when one or both of the temporomandibular joints stop functioning properly. This may happen due to any number of causes and may result in chronic ear pain, jaw stiffness and soreness, difficulty opening the mouth, jaw popping or clicking, and headaches. Suffers of TMJ disorder may experience either sharp pain or a dull, constant ache. The causes and symptoms of TMJ disorder are so varied, the condition is typically classified into three main subcategories: Internal derangement of the joint, Myofacial pain, and Inflammatory joint disease. Depending on the severity of your condition and other factors, there are a number of possible TMJ treatment options. However, to ensure you receive the appropriate, and effective care a thorough diagnosis is required.