DENTIST SERVING THE MISSION DISTRICT
TMJ & SLEEP APNEA SPECIALIST

San Francisco Dental Wellness provides comprehensive dental services and TMJ treatment to patients from San Francisco's Mission District. Dr Chris Chui is the specialist and clinical director at the VA Medical Center for the sleep apnea and TMJ clinic. Call 415-781-1944 or contact us today to schedule an appointment. 

Comprehensive Dentistry 

We provide a full range of dental services including general, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry. Our practice focuses on the overall health and wellness of our patients beyond just your oral health. As TMJ specialists we also focus on jaw alignment and mobility, which can have a significant effect on your dental health. We even provide sleep dentistry to help you get better quality sleep and have more energy throughout the day. 

Why Choose San Francisco Dental Wellness? 

What sets us apart is our focus on wellness. We are more than just a dentist that cleans, treats, and replaces teeth. We want to help you achieve better oral health that improves your overall health and the way you feel. Oral conditions like tooth decay and gum disease have been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer in multiple studies. Our goal is to help you keep your natural teeth whenever possible, and to replace them when necessary. We also specialize in the treatment of TMJ disorder, helping patients by relieving your pain and restoring range of motion in your jaw. 

San Francisco Dental Wellness provides the following services: 

• General Dentistry. Our general services include oral exams, dental cleanings, mouthguards, extractions, and more. 

• Restorative Procedures. When the teeth show signs of decay or damage, we provide fillings, root canals, crowns, and more. If your teeth can’t be saved we provide replacement options such as bridges, implants, and dentures. 

• Cosmetic Services. In addition to having healthy teeth, you also want a beautiful smile. Our cosmetic services range from teeth whitening and veneers to fillers and injections (Botox® and Juvederm®) to improve facial aesthetics. 

• TMJ Treatment. Characterized by pain and limited range of motion in the jaw, TMJ disorder is a common condition. We provide a variety of treatment options for TMJ. 

• Sedation Options. If dental visits make you uncomfortable, we provide a variety of sedation options to help you relax. 

• Dental Implants. Dental implants are the highest quality tooth replacement option available. Consisting of an artificial tooth root with a crown attached, it closely resembles the form and function of a natural tooth. 

• Invisalign. You don’t have to see an orthodontist to straighten your teeth. We provide Invisalign, a discreet alignment system for your teeth that can provide the same results as braces for patients who are ideal candidates for this treatment. 

• Sleep Medicine. If you snore or feel tired despite getting plenty of sleep, you may benefit from an oral appliance that can help you breathe more effectively at night. 

Neuromuscular Dentistry (TENSing Technique)

We will utilize TENSing technique. It’s a concept that has been used therapeutically as a way to relax your muscles with electricity. It is generally associated with Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) patients and is a form of Neuromuscular Dentistry.

Initially used for headaches and other pains, electrical stimulation has been a method for pain relief for a very long time. In modern dentistry, dentists are using a low frequency device called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (T.E.N.S.) which relaxes the muscles in your face and jaw by delivering gentle electrical stimulation through the nerves that control the muscles of facial expression and chewing.

There are many benefits to undergoing Dental TENSing. It benefits you by assisting in the fitting of dentures and relieves tension headaches and neck pain due to poor jaw alignment. By relaxing the muscles, TENSing allows us to determine a muscularly-oriented jaw to skull relationship and it closes the jaw through space to a position which is most compatible with relaxed muscles.

The stimulus is painless, though it can be uncomfortable at first as it causes your facial and jaw muscles to twitch. The process takes about 60 minutes before your muscles are truly relaxed. After the twitching or pulsing of the muscles, you are likely to feel calm, unknotted, and even tired from the massaging of the jaw.

Muscles that become tense and could affect the alignment of your jaw are the temporal bone, the muscles of mastication, the condyle, and the mandible.

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a tooth replacement option for one or more missing teeth. It consists of an artificial tooth root made of titanium that is surgically placed in the jaw. It fuses with the bone to form a solid bond that simulates a natural tooth root. A crown can be attached to an implant to replace a single tooth or multiple implants can support a bridge or dentures. 

Are cosmetic procedures covered by insurance?

In most cases cosmetic treatments and procedures are not covered by dental insurance because they are not considered to be medically necessary. However, if there is a health reason for the procedure it may be covered by either your dental or medical insurance. 

What is TMJ disorder?

TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint, the place where your lower jaw attaches to your skull. When this joint is irritated, inflamed, or out of alignment it can cause pain and limited mobility in your jaw, known as TMJ disorder. 

How is TMJ disorder treated?

The first step is home remedies such as ice, anti-inflammatory pain relievers, and eating soft foods to allow your jaw to rest. If home remedies don’t provide relief, we offer a variety of additional treatment options to relieve your pain and restore range of motion. 

What is sleep dentistry?

If you snore at night or wake up feeling unrested, you may not know what to do about it. Please let us know if you have these or other symptoms that are affecting your sleep. We provide sleep dentistry in the form of an oral appliance you can wear at night to reposition your jaw and tongue to prevent snoring and help you breathe better while you sleep. You’ll get better quality sleep and have more energy throughout the day. 

To learn more about our practice, call 415-781-1944 or contact us to make an appointment.