TMJ, Headache & Sleep Apnea Care for Palo Alto
Up the Peninsula from Stanford and University Avenue in about 20 minutes.
Palo Alto patients travel to our San Carlos office for a specific reason: an Oral Medicine specialist who looks at headaches, TMJ pain, facial pain, and sleep-disordered breathing together, and who takes the time to explain why the symptoms exist. Dr. Dina Hammouda is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Medicine and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
We see patients from throughout Palo Alto and the Stanford campus (ZIP codes 94301, 94303, 94304, and 94306), as well as from Los Altos and Mountain View to the south.
Getting to Our San Carlos Office from Palo Alto
From University Avenue or Stanford, take US-101 north about 11 miles to the San Carlos exits, then head west across El Camino Real to San Carlos Avenue. El Camino Real north is a slower but simple alternative through Menlo Park and Redwood City. Allow roughly 20–25 minutes.
Caltrain's Palo Alto and California Avenue stations connect to San Carlos station, about a mile from the office.
NorCal TMJ & Sleep Apnea Clinic · 1785 San Carlos Ave, Unit 4, San Carlos, CA 94070 · Directions · (650) 369-9227 (call or text) · Mon, Tue & Wed, 8am–5pm
We welcome patients from Palo Alto neighborhoods such as Downtown Palo Alto, Professorville, Old Palo Alto, Crescent Park, Midtown, Barron Park, College Terrace, and Palo Verde.
Why Palo Alto Patients Choose an Oral Medicine Specialist
Palo Alto has a high concentration of medical expertise, and many of our Palo Alto patients have already seen several specialists. What is often missing is a single evaluation of how the jaw, muscles, tongue, airway, neck, and bite function together. Compression in one area creates compensation in another, and the place where you feel pain is not always where the story began.
We coordinate with your existing physicians and dentists, and we send a written consultation report after your visit.
What We Evaluate
- Headaches & migraines
- TMJ disorders & jaw pain
- Facial pain
- Neck pain
- Ear pain, fullness & tinnitus
- Teeth grinding & clenching
- Worn teeth
- Sleep apnea, snoring & the airway
- Tongue tie
- Trauma & whiplash
Treatment, when appropriate, is conservative and individualized. The ways we help include Head & Neck Decompression™, Jaw Support Therapy™, TMJ orthotic therapy, and oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea — selected from your findings, never a routine protocol.
Questions from Palo Alto Patients
Is it worth the drive from Palo Alto?
Oral Medicine is a small specialty, and patients regularly travel from Palo Alto and beyond. The office is about 20–25 minutes away by car, or reachable by Caltrain to San Carlos station.
Do you treat TMJ pain that has not improved with a night guard?
Yes. A night guard protects the teeth but may not address why the jaw is under strain. Our evaluation looks at joint support, muscle activity, the airway, and the bite to understand the source before recommending treatment.
Do you see Stanford students, staff, and faculty?
Yes, we welcome patients from the Stanford community. No referral is necessary for most patients; we are out of network with most insurance plans and provide a Superbill for reimbursement.
When is the office open?
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, at 1785 San Carlos Ave, Unit 4, San Carlos, CA 94070. Call or text (650) 369-9227.
Also serving: San Mateo Redwood City Belmont Foster City Menlo Park Burlingame San Francisco San Jose · All areas