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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Pinhole surgical technique to treat gum recession in San Francisco

Two most sought-after treatments are the Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST) and traditional gum grafting.

Most patients do not notice the initial stages of gum recession. Initially, patients may realize that the teeth are more sensitive or appear longer. The patient will often feel something on the teeth or see a noticeable color change near the gum line.

Patients should not ignore gum recession. If it remains untreated, it can lead to teeth and gum tissue damage which could eventually cause tooth loss. There are several ways to treat gum recession. Two most sought-after treatments are the Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST) and traditional gum grafting.

Gum grafting is the traditional treatment for gum recession. The gum tissue is typically taken from a site in the mouth and placed over the location of gum recession in a gum graft procedure. This warrants recovery of two areas of the mouth and usually only one or two teeth receive treatment at a time.

Experienced dentists utilize an alternative to traditional gum grafting known as Pinhole Surgical Technique to treat receding gums. This technique does not involve scalpel incisions or sutures as gum grafting does. Rather, the dentist uses a needle to create a tiny hole in the gums. They then use patented medical instruments to loosen the gum tissue and move it back into the proper place.

This procedure involves less swelling, pain, and blood loss for the patient. Patients should choose a good Pinhole Surgical Technique provider in San Francisco for safe and predictable results.

We are here to help Call us at 415-881-4343 or Schedule an Appointment

What is the Pinhole Surgical Technique?

The Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST) is a minimally invasive procedure that reverses gingival recession without the need for sutures or grafting. PST, also known as Lunchtime Gum Lift or Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation, is an innovative treatment that is a combination of techniques from traditional periodontal surgery such as guided tissue regeneration and coronally positioned flaps (of gum) to reverse gum recession. A CPF (coronally positioned flap) is a procedure that involves making an incision, loosening a flap of gum tissue, pulling the flap coronally (over the teeth), and finally suturing it in place. These techniques are frequently used in combination with grafting.

PST Procedure

Similar to CPF, PST enables repositioning of the gum to cover the area of gum recession. However, it does not involve the use of sutures or scalpels. Rather, a small pinhole is made by piercing the gum below the site of the gum recession. After that, special instruments are inserted through the hole to loosen a “flap” of gum Once the flap of gum tissue is loosened it can conveniently be pulled and re-positioned over the exposed roots of the teeth It remains in this new position during the recovery period via collagen strips. This eliminates the need for sutures. In PST, the collagen membrane is cut into tiny strips and inserted through the pinhole that was used to loosen the flap of gum tissue Then the strips are pushed beneath the gums into the  spaces between and on the sides of the teeth. This procedure covers the surfaces of the roots that were previously exposed. The strips support the tissue at the new position as well as assist in stabilizing the wound during the recovery process to make sure that the roots are covered.

PST is an advanced procedure, and should only be performed by a qualified dentist at in San Francisco for safe outcomes.

Ideal Candidates

PST is an advanced procedure, and should only be performed by a qualified dentist at in San Francisco for safe outcomes.

The patient must not have any swelling or active periodontal disease at the time of this procedure. Patients should follow aftercare guidelines, and refrain from activities that could have led to the gum recession, such as brushing aggressively. It is advisable to use an appliance for protection against bruxism-created trauma when recommended.

Benefits

A significant benefit of PST in comparison to traditional gum grafting, also known as connective tissue grafting, is the capability to treat many more teeth in a single sitting as per the patient’s desires. There are some limitations in the size of the area that can be addressed in a single sitting when the patient’s own tissue from their palate is used It is common to take more than one year to treat the whole mouth, and needs numerous rounds of palatal grafting.

 

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Before and After Photos

Fractured front tooth immediately after being repaired with bonding composite.

Photo by Dr. Leo Arellano

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I’m happy to wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Leo Arellano. Dr. Arellano has been my dentist since the late 1980s, shortly after he established his practice, and I have relied on his expertise since then. He is an exceptionally skilled and caring dentist. Everyone who is part of his team represents the practice with a very high degree of professionalism and sincerity.

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