Dr. Siegel's Blog

Congratulations to our patient, Dinora B., for being selected in our most recent drawing to win  a 26″ HD TV.  Twice a year, in late June and late December, we give away a free TV to a patient who has referred a new patient to us who has come in for a new patient comprehensive exam.

The way the contest works is as follows.  When you refer a patient to our practice and that patient comes in for a new patient comprehensive exam, your name is entered on a raffle ticket and that ticket is dropped into the hopper.  Twice a year we select a ticket at random and that lucky person wins!

Do you ever find yourself tired in the middle of the day? Have you dozed off while sitting in front of your computer? Or maybe you have even found yourself falling asleep while waiting for a traffic light to change.  All or any of these might be a sign that you suffer from a potentially dangerous malady called sleep apnea.  The most common form of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea or OSA, usually results from a constriction in the upper airway due to collapse of the soft tissues of the tongue, palate and throat during sleep, causing snoring and difficulty, or in some cases a momentary cessation, in breathing.  Many times the person suffering from OSA is unaware of their condition, but it is usually no surprise to one’s sleeping partner.  More often than not it is the sleeping partner that initiates the action that results in the condition being treated.

In my case, loud snoring during sleep had resulted in my fabricating for myself a dental appliance called a Thornton Anterior Positioner or TAP appliance, which when worn forces the patient’s lower jaw to a forward position, resulting in a more open airway due to advancment of the tongue away from the back of the throat.  For a while this seemed to work.  But recently my snoring continued even with the appliance, such that I decided to seek  a consultation with a specialist in Sleep Medicine.  And so, in this case the Doctor has become the Patient.  I am currently scheduled to undergo a Polysomnogram, or Sleep Study, to confirm the tentative diagnosis of OSA and to determine its severity.  In some cases of mild to moderate apnea, dental appliances may be appropriate.  In other cases, usually more severe, CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) magchines may be necessary. 

Hear what Rosie O’Donnell has to say a her sleep apnea condition:

I decided to blog about this condition because I feel that it is important for my patients, as well as the general public, to be made aware of the potential danger associated with OSA. It increases the risk for stroke, heart attack, and even diabetes.  I will follow up on this topic after I get the results of my sleep study.

Victor R. Siegel, DDS

At the dental office of Victor R. Siegel, DDS, we believe in the old adage:

“It’s better to give than receive”

 That’s why our patient referral program is full of giveaways!

 Never been to our office?  You get a free consultation.

Been to our office and want $50 off your next visit? Refer a patient.

Never been to our office and a current patient referred you? You get $50 off your next visit as well!

Oh, and every one of your family members that come here for the first time is considered a referral so you get $50 off for each family member, and each of those members get an initial $50 credit just for being referred! 

And lets not forget our drawing for our flat screen TV – each person you refer gets you a ticket in the fishbowl, drawing is next month!

Going to the dentist is never high on anyone’s ‘to-do list’…but it is one of life’s necessities…especially if you’ve experienced a broken tooth or filling.  The usual protocol used to be….get an evaluation, return for a crown prep, have a gooey impression taken and then have a temporary made. Then you wait a week or two for the lab to make your crown, return to the office to have the temporary removed and the final crown delivered.  The best case scenario would be a total of three visits…but more often than not, the temporary would pop off or break and you’d be back in dental chair having another temporary made, keeping your fingers crossed that this one holds strong.  So this time you take the necessary measures to eliminate another visit back to the dentist by eating only soft foods and chewing on the other side of your mouth.

Here at Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Siegel has mastered the art of fabricating your final permanent crown in one short visit!  Using CEREC technology, Dr. Siegel prepares the tooth, takes a picture and the milling unit carves out your new crown while you wait!

For new patients we offer a complimentary evaluation of the tooth in question along with a free review of your dental benefits.  Then we schedule your appointment and in one visit you leave with a permanent restoration!

And don’t let your fear of the dentist keep you from giving us a call, ask us about our conscious sedation!

Charlotte here from our Rockville Family & Cosmetic Dentistry office, wishing everyone out there and wonderful holiday and a prosperous New Year.

I recently had a couple of interesting experiences that I thought I would share with you here in blog form.

Having been an assistant in the dental field for almost 10 years now, I know a lot about all things dental.

If you have been to the mall lately, you may have noticed the teeth bleaching kiosks. I saw one for the first time the other day and was shocked at what I saw. A young Doogie Howser looking character, wearing a white lab coat and pinning bibs around the necks of shoppers disguised as real patients! Sandwiched between hair extensions and a hot dog cart was what looked like a high schooler costumed as a dentist. He was shifting between several reclined operatory chairs handing out shade guides and promising guaranteed results. My jaw hung open as I waited to hear about the wonders of snake oil.

A crowd began gathering as these ‘patients’ would dutifully follow the instructions of the boy in the white coat. With mirror and bleaching gel in hand, these ‘patients’ started spreading the gel on their teeth! Now, I know that in the state of Maryland , dental assistants aren’t even allowed to apply the whitening gel, so how are these untrained people allowed to place this strong solution in their mouths? Well, that’s the catch. I soon realized that the process making this legal is that the kiosk operators do not place the product in the ‘patients’ mouth; the ‘patient’ places it themselves.

I heard nothing in the way of patient education. I heard nothing about the possible risks. I had a hard time keeping quiet. I felt I had an obligation to inform these people of the dangers of having your teeth bleached outside of a dental professional’s office. If it were me, I would want to know that using high concentration bleach without proper administration can cause serious damage to my teeth and gums. I wanted to grab Doogie and ask him about his credentials, and how does he determine who is a good or bad candidate for this procedure?

In our office, we wouldn’t think of bleaching teeth before Dr. Siegel performs a thorough exam.

There are many things to consider before deciding to whiten your teeth.

Do you have any cavities? Placing a strong concentration of bleach on cavities or teeth with nerve damage can cause further problems.

Are your gums healthy and free of disease? Only a dentist can determine this.

Are your teeth sensitive? Without the correct diagnosis and follow up instructions, bleaching sensitive teeth can cause intense pain and discomfort.

I didn’t speak up that day but I am speaking up now. Saving a few dollars isn’t worth your health. If you are interested in a whiter, brighter smile, please go see a dental professional.

Give us a call and ask about what tooth whitening options we have to offer or come see Dr. Siegel at Family & Cosmetic Dentistry for a complimentary exam. (more…)

These are our thoughts this Thanksgiving from our Rockville Cosmetic Dentistry office by Dr. Victor R. Siegel and staff.

The Last Thursday in November

In October of 1863, in the midst of a civil war that tested the very existence of our country, President Abraham Lincoln, at the urging of the noted editor and writer Sarah J. Hale, issued a proclamation that the last Thursday in November be set aside as a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” Up to then, Thanksgiving was mainly celebrated in New England, with each state setting its own date. Of course, the first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims of Plymouth Rock in 1621. Ultimately, it was due to Franklin D. Roosevelt and Congress in 1941, that the holiday was changed to be celebrated on the third Thursday in November.

And so it is that we are thankful that our practice is blessed in that we continue to grow, we have a fantastic staff, we have fantastic patients who in turn refer other fantastic patients and for that we are eternally grateful. From all of us at Rockville Cosmetic Dentistry office of Dr. Victor R. Siegel, DDS, may you enjoy a peaceful, healthy and happy Thanksgiving.

Here is an inspirational little video we found on YouTube about the First Thanksgiving

At this time we would like to announce that our office will be conducting a food drive for the remainder of the holiday season. Please bring your non-perishable food donations to the donation box in our lobby and we will deliver it to our local food banks. Thank you.

Dr. Siegel was recently featured in a story on channel 9, WUSA-TV, in Washington, DC.  Dr. Siegel was interviewed on his use of the enhanced oral cancer screening examination using Vizilite Plus.  This test involves the use of a mild acetic acid rinse and examination of the oral tissues under a chemiluminescent light that will cause suspicious oral lesions to “glow” with a white appearance.  This test helps Dr. Siegel discover oral lesions that may otherwise go undetected.

     If you’ve ever had a marginal experience with a medical professional, you’re probably well aware that not all physicians and their respective office experiences are identical across the board.  As doctors are human too, often a compatible personality, along with a high level of expertise, can sometimes make all the difference in the world to the patient.  Here are some interesting facts to note that you may have been unaware of.

Why choose Doc Siegel?

     Victor Siegel has been practicing Dentistry for over 30 years locally in the Rockville area.  He received his Dental degree from renowned Georgetown University and was both a student and well-respected, beloved instructor there as well.  Many local dentists have been (more…)

     Chronic stress is rampant with national news teetering up and down daily, sometimes affecting us at home.  Here are some surprising statistics that you might be unaware of.

     85% of females say stress interferes with their normal sleeping habits.  73% people complain about not having enough time to finish crucial to-do lists.

     71% of women claim stress-induced irritability, while 65% of them take their worries out on a family member, husband or partner.  People, particularily the men, in their lives might attest to this or say the percentage is a little higher.

     63% have constant stress about their job and 60% report stress-induced muscle and body aches; roughly half have head or stomach aches and/or memory lapses.

Some Sound Advice

     Although there’s no immediate fix-it-all solution for our daily challenges, there are certain things we can keep in mind and do to help ourselves become a little happier and possibly live better.

The Arts

     Whenever possible, turn the radio on.  Its been reported that listening to good music with a slower pace may help the body relax more, with the brain waves keeping time with the steady beat.  The exact opposite may also be true, in that faster music (more…)