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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Dentist in San Francisco, CA offers dental treatment for patients with TMJ/TMD

At the practice of Dr. Leo Arellano, patients in the area of San Francisco, CA and the surrounding communities can seek treatment for a variety of dental situations, including the treatment of TMJ/TMD.

At the practice of Dr. Leo Arellano, patients in the area of San Francisco, CA and the surrounding communities can seek treatment for a variety of dental situations, including the treatment of TMJ/TMD. These conditions can greatly affect one’s quality of life and can cause a variety of issues that can only be addressed with proper treatment.

What is TMJ/TMD?

Dr. Leo Arellano describes TMJ/TMD as a malfunction of the jaw joint and its associated structures. TMJ is the temporomandibular joint. This is the joint that hinges the jaw, so it can open and close. When it becomes extremely problematic, it may become a more chronic issue known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). At this point, many patients are experiencing the following issues daily:

  • Clicking and popping of the jaw joint
  • Locking of the jaw in the open or closed position
  • Pain radiating around the jaw joint
  • Chronic headaches and migraines
  • Discomfort in the neck and shoulders

When these issues begin to disrupt one’s daily life, it may be time to seek a proper diagnosis and treatment.

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

Treatment of TMJ/TMD

Most of our patients experience mild to moderate discomfort due to their TMJ/TMD. This can be easily addressed with the use of oral appliance therapy. Oral appliance therapy is a specialized treatment for TMJ/TMD that can help in realigning the jaw and reducing the tension that may be caused by the condition. This special mouthpiece is worn by patients during the night when they sleep to help reduce the tightening and tension caused by the condition, including coexisting conditions such as bruxism. Bruxism is the clenching and grinding of teeth together and may be apparent when patients have teeth that are worn flat, cracked, chipped, loose, or completely fractured. In more severe cases that cannot be treated with oral appliance therapy, patients may benefit from treatment involving surgery of the jaw. This is often a last resort because it can be an invasive procedure, but for patients who do not experience effective treatment with oral appliance therapy alone, it may be the only way to address the problem at the source.

How do I know if I have this condition?

Image of a Patient suffer from TMJ pain

Typically, this condition is diagnosed with a medical history and background information regarding the pain and experiences patients are dealing with, in addition to a physical evaluation of the smile by a qualified TMJ/TMD dentist.

Schedule a visit today for a proper diagnosis and discussion of treatment

Conditions such as TMJ and TMD can be devastating for patients who deal with the problems day in and day out, so it is important for patients to work with a dental provider who can offer relief! Call the practice of Dr. Leo Arellano today to discuss the advantages of treatment with oral appliance therapy to reduce headaches and pain caused by this sometimes-chronic condition. Our front office team can be reached to book an appointment by calling 415-881-4343 and the office is conveniently located in San Francisco, CA at 3030 Geary Boulevard. We welcome new patients as well as current families into our state-of-the-art facility for comprehensive dental care solutions.

 

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Porcelain Veneers to Repair Broken Lower Teeth

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What our patients are saying...

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5.0

Even after moving to Oakland (and when I lived in Mountain View) I always return to SF to see Dr. Arellano. EVERYONE in the office is top notch!

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