TMJ, Headache & Sleep Apnea Care for San Mateo
A short drive south on US-101 or El Camino Real.
If you live or work in San Mateo and have been searching for TMJ pain care, headache relief, or an alternative to CPAP, our office is closer than you may think. NorCal Headache Relief Center — the practice of board-certified Oral Medicine specialist Dr. Dina Hammouda — is located in neighboring San Carlos, about seven miles south of downtown San Mateo.
Patients come to us from across San Mateo (ZIP codes 94401, 94402, 94403, and 94404) and from Foster City and Hillsborough next door. Most are looking for the same thing: an explanation for symptoms that have never fully made sense, and a conservative plan that addresses the cause rather than only the symptom.
Getting to Our San Carlos Office from San Mateo
From downtown San Mateo, take US-101 south to San Carlos, or follow El Camino Real (CA-82) south through Belmont. Our office is on San Carlos Avenue near Alameda de las Pulgas, about a mile west of El Camino Real. Most drives take 10–20 minutes depending on traffic. From the Hillsdale, Laurelwood, and Beresford areas, Alameda de las Pulgas is a direct route south.
Caltrain runs from the San Mateo, Hayward Park, and Hillsdale stations to San Carlos station; the office is roughly a mile west of the station.
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 San Mateo neighborhoods such as Hillsdale, Baywood, Aragon, San Mateo Park, Sunnybrae, Hayward Park, Bay Meadows, Beresford, Laurelwood, and Shoreview.
Why San Mateo Patients Choose an Oral Medicine Specialist
San Mateo has many excellent general dentists, and several offer TMJ night guards or splints. What is less common is a specialist trained to look at the whole system — jaw joints, muscles, airway, neck, and bite — and to explain why the jaw is under strain in the first place. Oral Medicine is a small specialty; Dr. Hammouda is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Medicine and a member of the San Mateo County Dental Society.
That perspective matters when symptoms overlap: jaw pain with headaches, ear fullness without an ear infection, teeth that keep wearing down, or sleep that never feels restorative. Our evaluation looks for the primary source of strain before any treatment is recommended.
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 San Mateo Patients
Do you treat TMJ pain for patients from San Mateo?
Yes. Our office is in San Carlos, about seven miles south of downtown San Mateo. We evaluate and treat TMJ disorders, jaw pain, clicking and locking, headaches, facial pain, ear symptoms, teeth grinding, and sleep apnea for patients from across San Mateo (ZIP codes 94401, 94402, 94403, and 94404).
How long does it take to get to your office from San Mateo?
Usually 10–20 minutes by car via US-101 or El Camino Real. Caltrain also stops at San Carlos station, about a mile from the office.
Do I need a referral from my San Mateo dentist or physician?
No referral is necessary for most patients. If your dentist, physician, ENT, neurologist, or physical therapist has records or imaging, we are glad to review them, and we send a consultation report back after your evaluation.
Are you in network with my insurance?
To provide the highest level of care without the limitations of insurance, we are out of network with most insurance providers. We provide a Superbill you can submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement. Call or text (650) 369-9227 with questions.
Also serving: Redwood City Belmont Foster City Menlo Park Palo Alto Burlingame San Francisco San Jose · All areas