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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3030 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118 | Directions
New Patients please call 415-881-4343
Existing Patients please call 415-752-8311
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Temporomandibular Joint Disorder: Is There a Cure?

Posted By: | Published On: | Featured Articles, TMJ-TMD
TMJ Dentist in San Francisco Area
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Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) can be highly disruptive to your lifestyle. This condition can result in jaw pain, headaches, restricted jaw mobility, difficulty chewing, and other painful symptoms that can lower your quality of life. Working closely with a TMJ dentist is the best way to manage TMD symptoms so you can live life to the fullest. Dr. Leo Arellano, DDS, is your go-to TMJ dentist in San Francisco, California. These FAQs explain more about TMD causes, symptoms, and treatments.

What is TMD?

You have two temporomandibular joints (TMJs) on each side of your face that control your jaw movements. Most of the time, they function properly, making opening and closing your mouth easy. However, temporomandibular joint disorder can occur when your TMJs malfunction. When these joints malfunction, they affect your facial muscles and nerves, leading to pain and discomfort when moving your jaw. 

What can cause TMD?

Some of the most common causes of this disorder are:

  • Trauma to your face or jaw. 
  • Misaligned jaw or bite.
  • Bruxism (teeth grinding). 
  •  Arthritis around the TMJ.
  • Stress.

A thorough evaluation by Dr. Arellano and our team can help determine the underlying cause of your condition so we can recommend the appropriate treatment.

What are the symptoms of TMD?

TMD symptoms often vary depending on the severity of your condition. Some people only occasionally experience minor pain or discomfort, which doesn’t require treatment. Other people may have more debilitating symptoms due to compression of facial nerves, which can lead to frequent headaches, earaches, facial pain, or neck, shoulder, and back pain. Other symptoms include:

  • Painful chewing.
  • Jaw stiffness and pain.
  • Restricted jaw mobility. 
  • A clicking or popping noise when opening or closing your mouth.
  • Ringing in your ears.

How is TMD treated?

Dr. Arellano and our team offer several treatments to help manage your symptoms so you can live a higher quality of life. Many of these treatments are easy to comply with, such as the use of muscle relaxants or anti-inflammatories to ease jaw tension and pain, wearing an oral appliance at night to stop teeth grinding, or taking part in activities (exercise, yoga, meditation, etc.) that help reduce stress. For some people, physiotherapy (jaw exercises) can help improve jaw mobility and flexibility to relieve temporary pain. Steroid or Botox injections can also be used to relax the muscles around your jaw to ease swelling and pain. 

Can TMD be cured?

If malocclusion (bad bite) or jaw misalignment is the source of your pain, Dr. Arellano may recommend orthodontics to correct your bite or surgery to realign your jaw to permanently relieve TMD symptoms and cure this condition. 

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

Should I see a TMJ dentist in San Francisco for TMD Pain Relief?

Absolutely! Working with a TMJ dentist can save you time, money, and frustration in getting the relief you need. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Leo Arellano at our San Francisco, California, dental clinic, contact us at 415-881-4343.

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Tooth with failing root canal, fractured root, and poor crown esthetics replaced with a dental implant and new crown.

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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

"Why choose us?" The bottom line is, it's all about YOU.

Contact our San Francisco dental office to schedule a one on one consultation with Dr. Arellano, and experience the benefits of a truly healthy mouth and a great looking smile.

Dr. Leo Arellano is a Board-certified dentist San Francisco, CA and nearby Bay Area communities Dr. Leo Arellano is a Board-certified dentist with more than three decades of experience serving San Francisco, CA and nearby Bay Area communities. He is licensed in LANAP periodontal therapy and certified by the Institute of Advanced Laser Dentistry certified in Nd:YAG laser treatment. Dr. Arellano is known for providing conservative restorative treatments and artisan-quality cosmetic enhancements, using the latest technology and techniques. He has extensive experience in Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique for treating gum disease.