Our community has been through a lot due to the ongoing pandemic, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your health and safety.

Infection control has always been a top priority of our dental practice, and you may have seen that we take great pride in this. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our practice to keep the patients, staff, and the ones we come in contact with in our daily lives safe.

Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued.

Upon the emergence of COVID-19, here are some additional measures we take to ensure your safety:
  • Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again when you are in the office, and we will be taking your temperature. Based on your answers and if your temperature is 100.4°F or higher, we will need to reschedule your appointment.
  • We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find some in other places in the office for you to use as needed.
  • You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect. Similarly, please limit the personal belongings that you bring inside to your appointment.
  • Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients when possible. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment. Please respect the social distancing requirement of 6 feet where practical.
  • We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time. To that end, please consider calling from your car to check on the status of the reception area and be on time. Also, please come alone to your appointments. If needed, one guardian/caretaker is permitted, but they must remain in the reception area.
  • Please arrive with face masks/coverings for they will be required at all times for both patients and staff when appropriate.
  • An antiseptic mouth rinse will be used just prior to treatment for the health and safety of all. Where possible, expect changes in how we do certain procedures to eliminate or reduce the spread of aerosols and splatter during treatment. For example, for now we will be temporarily eliminating ultrasonic tools and teeth polishing during your teeth cleaning appointments until further notice.
  • Clear sneeze guard barriers between you and our front desk personnel will be used to aid in social distancing, and we ask that we all limit our conversations to what’s necessary to limit contact time. More regular and frequent sanitizing of high touch areas and items will be done for your health and safety. This includes door and other handles, light switches, countertops, etc.
We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call our office at 415-752-8311 .

Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors, and friends.

Sincerely,
Dr. Leo Arellano

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Beautiful Smile through Dental Crowns now by Dr. Leo Arellano in San Francisco, CA

Beautiful Smile through Dental Crowns - San Francisco, CA

When Do I Need A Bridge?

Bridges are recommended as a method to replace a missing tooth or teeth. When a tooth is lost, it changes the balance of forces that in turn causes the surrounding teeth to move. Not only does a missing tooth not look good, but the loss of support of your lips and cheeks can also affect your appearance.

What Are the Different Types of Bridges?

As its name implies, a conventional bridge connects two or more teeth together so that the space is filled with artificial teeth called pontics. There are different ways to connect these pontics to the adjacent teeth. The most common method is to connect the pontics between two crowns that are then securely cemented onto the adjacent teeth. This requires that the adjacent teeth be prepared or ground down to fit the type of connection used – in this case, for crowns. The best connection for your particular situation can be determined with the help of your dentist. Sometimes even connecting a pontic to only one tooth can be appropriate.

What Other Choices Do I Have to Replace a Missing Tooth or Teeth?

Fixed bridges are not meant to be removed since they are securely cemented into place. Removable bridges, more commonly known as removable partial dentures, are meant to come out. Finally, dental implants have quickly become the standard of care for replacing missing teeth since they do not require that the adjacent teeth be ground down.

What Are the Advantages of Bridges?

Until the advent of dental implants, bridges were considered the best way to replace missing teeth because they closely duplicated the feel and function of your natural teeth.

What Are the Disadvantages of Bridges?

The current trend in dentistry is to avoid connecting teeth together. Not only does this make it harder to keep your teeth clean, but if only one part of the bridge fails, then the whole bridge needs to be replaced.

Dental Bridges let you smile with confidence

Dental Bridges let you smile with confidence
Video Transcript

A bridge is a nonsurgical way to replace one or many teeth. A bridge uses the adjacent teeth as anchors to support the missing tooth or teeth. With today’s dental advancements, a bridge can be fabricated in a fairly short period of time using a metal or nonmetal foundation. Don’t let that missing tooth affect the way you speak, eat and smile. Bridges yield immediate results that las ta lifetime. Ask your dentist what type of bridge might be right for you.


Real Patients Real Results

Before and After Photos

Porcelain Crowns and Gum Trimming to Replace Defective Old Crowns

Photo by Dr. Leo Arellano

Crowns - Bridges – BNA Image – 09
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What our patients are saying...

originally posted on Google
5.0

Great dentist and very pleasant to work with. He has been very helpful in helping you understand the entire process of your dental needs! If you want someone to take has time with you, he is your guy. I am very happy and pleased with his fantastic service. Also, his front staff is wonderful and very ease to talk to and very helpful. May provide excellent patient service!

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