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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TMJ/TMD procedures as best treatments for Jaw Problems in San Francisco

TMJ/TMD procedures as best treatments for Jaw Problems - San Francisco

What Is “TMJ?”

Jaw problems and bite problems that affect the jaw are commonly known as “TMJ.” These three letters are taken from the name of the jaw joint called the temporomandibular joint. A more accurate name is “TMD” which stands for temporomandibular joint disorder. It can affect one or more of the jaw joint components including the nerves, muscles, connective tissues, bones, and the teeth that are attached to those bones. 

What Are the Symptoms of TMD?

Some of the symptoms may include sore jaw, head, or neck muscles; painful jaw joints or teeth when chewing or biting; jaw joint noises like popping or clicking; teeth clenching and grinding also called bruxism; and headaches. Because you use your jaw joint all the time to eat and speak, TMDs can be just as debilitating as back and knee problems. 

What Causes TMD?

Sometimes the cause is obvious. At other times it is not clear why some people develop TMD and others do not. Some of the more common causes include trauma or injury to the TMJ; degenerative joint disease such as osteoarthritis; excessive function (para-function) that stresses or strains the TMJ system; a bad bite (malocclusion) or an imbalanced bite; and emotional stress. 

What Is the Treatment for TMD?

The better we know what caused the problem, the better we can formulate a plan to treat it. Sometimes it resolves on its own, and sometimes even science has not discovered an answer yet. Furthermore, not only are there different schools of thought about what causes chronic TMD, but people do not always respond in the same way even when doing the same treatment. In any case, early diagnosis is important in helping to prevent long-term chronic pain, and the willingness of the patient to work collaboratively with the dentist can result in improvement over time. 

Real Patients Real Results

Before and After Photos

Fractured, cracked, and misaligned tooth repaired with a porcelain veneer

Photo by Dr. Leo Arellano

Veneers – BNA Image – 08
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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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