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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San Francisco dentist discusses a recent study linking poor health and sleep apnea

San Francisco dentist discusses study findings about the bad effects of heavy snoring and sleep apnea on patients

It’s no secret that exercise is important. The benefits of cardio and strength fitness apply to both the mental and physical wellness of most patients. However, research has also shown that how you sleep can impact your physical fitness.

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine found that individuals who have moderate to severe obstructive cases of sleep apnea might have less ability to burn high amounts of oxygen while doing strenuous cardio exercise. Obstructive sleep apnea is a medical condition in which a person frequently stops breathing while sleeping. These episodes may last only several seconds but can interrupt sleep patterns and cause snoring, exhaustion, headaches, sore throats, and more. Over time, the condition can cause a person’s health to deteriorate as the body and the brain stop receiving oxygen during these sleep apnea episodes.

While one of the risk factors for sleep apnea is obesity, the study found that individuals with sleep apnea had less aerobic health compared to other individuals with the same body mass index. Certainly, researchers found, an argument can be made that would encourage patients to exercise more in order to reduce their risk of sleep apnea. However, researchers also believe that sleep apnea can cause changes to the muscle that will make it more difficult for those patients to exercise. This indicates that physicians could use VO2 max measurements to diagnose sleep apnea, which could lead to more treatment of the disorder.

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

Currently, sleep apnea is often undiagnosed and, therefore, not properly treated. Patients either don’t recognize that they’re having sleep issues or they believe their exhaustion or headaches are due to stress or other factors that inhibit their ability to sleep. When sleep apnea is diagnosed, patients have several forms of treatment available. Dr. Leo Arellano helps his patients find relief and a good night’s sleep using an oral appliance that shifts the jaw and keeps the tongue from covering the airway. This method of treatment is often preferred to the CPAP machine which delivers constant air to the patient because the CPAP appliance can be awkward and uncomfortable. For more information about sleep apnea call Dr. Leo Arellano General & Cosmetic Dentistry today.

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I’ve been going to Dr. Arellano for about 20 years and I continue because of the excellent care and treatment I get with him and his whole office team. He is both professional and personable.
Recently I had a newer technique of gum surgery/grafting at his office called, “Pinhole Surgical Technique of gum grafting.” I personally found this to be much easier to handle than the other style of gum grafting that I received years ago for the other side of my mouth. That worked, it was where part of my roof of my mouth was cut and surgically sewn onto the gum. However, I much prefer the pinhole technique. It was actually the easiest dental work I’ve had (beyond regular cleaning) It didn’t take too long and it didn’t feel uncomfortable getting it done.... More Reviews