According to a study conducted by researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, laughter is truly the best medicine, especially when it comes to treating the fear of a trip to the dentist.

Internationally, it is said that about half of today’s adult population suffers from some degree of dental fear. A trip to the dentist can create fear and anxiety for many. Unfortunately, this can lead to a dental phobia, where patients avoid the dentist and ultimately suffer a decline in dental health.

To help sway dental fear, researchers conducted two separate surveys and set out to determine what works best for coping with dental fear. In one of the studies, it was found that the best strategies for patients to use for overcoming dental fear include:

1. Optimism
2. Self-efficacy
3. Distancing
4. Self-distraction
5. Prayer

Dentists Can Help Too

Alleviating dental fear can also be done with help of the dentist. The second study, which focused more on asking patients what helped them be less fearful, found that humorous dentists greatly lessened the amount of fear a patient felt. Laughter and humor are easy ways to break psychological barriers that can cause stress and anxiety, because they promote a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

Dr. Siegel places great focus and attention on ensuring that all of his patients feel relaxed, welcome and comfortable while in his office. Whether you’re visiting for a routine check-up or for sleep apnea treatment, Dr. Siegel strives to make patients feel safe and fear-free during their appointments. To schedule a visit with Dr. Siegel, patients can call or email us.

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At some point in time, we’ve all gone to work with a little less sleep than we wanted, which usually results in the consumption of plenty of caffeine to keep us going. While being tired at the job is rarely a cause for high concern – especially when the problem is a rare occurrence – there are some careers where workers simply cannot afford to be tired, drowsy, or fatigued. This is especially true for police officers, who put their lives on the line protecting society. Unfortunately, a recent study suggests that the American police force may not be getting enough sleep.

The study, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), determined that the police force in both the U.S. and Canada is nothing short of tired. According to the survey, 40 percent of police officers suffer from a sleep disorder; the most common being sleep apnea, which affected a third of cops, followed by moderate or severe insomnia and shift work disorder, which consists of sleepiness and insomnia associated with working at night.

Tired Police a Threat to Society

Out of the 40 percent of police officers found to be suffering from a sleep disorder, each was also determined to be at a higher risk of suffering from depression, anxiety, a lack of energy, and fatigue. Along with these findings, researchers also determined that these officers had a higher chance of committing both safety and administrative errors along with an increased chance of falling asleep at the wheel.

Sleep Apnea Treatment Important for Everyone

Although sleep apnea treatment may be more critical for men and women in uniform, it is also important for average citizens, regardless of their profession. Sleep apnea symptoms don’t just make life miserable; the condition endangers health, whether you’re a police officer, a computer programmer or a work-at-home mom.

To learn more about sleep apnea treatment, information is only a phone call or email away. To get started, just contact Dr. Siegel’s office at your earliest convenience.

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Researched recently posted in the Journal of Periodontology has shown a possible link between poor periodontal health in women and injectable progesterone contraceptives. The study, which focused mainly on depotmedroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), a common injectable contraceptive, found that users were more likely to show indicators of poor periodontal health. Commonly these women were diagnosed with periodontitis or gingivitis. The findings were compared to women who had never injected or taken DMPA, and such subjects were found to have a lower risk of periodontal health problems.

DMPA has become a very popular contraceptive for women because it is a strictly progestin-based injectable that is long-lasting. Since the shots only need to be administered every three months, using DMPA is convenient and easy for many women; however, this convenience may be compromising their periodontal health.

Contraceptives and the Health of your Teeth

The study, which included premenopausal women between the ages of 15-44 were surveyed on their DMPA usage. Some women had noted that they took DMPA, while others had never taken DMPA at all. All participants were given a thorough dental examination that analyzed periodontal pocket assessment, the presence of gingival bleeding, and clinical attachment loss.

After taking race, age, education, smoking status, and poverty income level into consideration, researchers determined that women who had or were currently using DMPA were at a higher risk of gingival bleeding, CA loss, and an increased amount of periodontal pockets. Women currently taking DMPA were at a higher risk of gingivitis, while past users were most likely to suffer from periodontitis.

Since hormones play a part in a woman’s periodontal health, it’s not unsurprising that
DMPA can negatively impact the gums and teeth. This means that women taking DMPA should definitely pay close attention to their oral health.

One of the best ways to keep tabs on your periodontal health is to schedule general check-ups and teeth cleanings with your dentist. Dr. Siegel works with both females and males to ensure that their smile, gums and jaw remain at healthy levels. To schedule an appointment, call or email us today.

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Most doctors agree that CPAP is effective for people who have the ability to tolerate it. That said, numerous patients cannot cope with the frustrating noises, sense of claustrophobia and pressure sores typically associated with CPAP technology.

If you’ve watched T.V. of late, you may have noticed an advertisement promoting a CPAP business that claims to offer members fresh mail-order masks via postal mail every 30 days. According to the commercial, since these masks are flexible and new, they won’t leak as much – which supposedly means they are able to quiet the maddening noises that often come along with CPAP-use.

Will they really work?

Because these masks can’t be tailored to each patient’s individual facial contours, they aren’t likely to have a great impact on the disturbing nightly noises associated with every other CPAP mask. Even if a patient is fortunate enough to get a mask that fits his or her face well, the product won’t have any effect whatsoever on pressure sores or the general sense of claustrophobia that sometimes comes with CPAP-use.

Though CPAP may work for certain patients, it’s not for everyone. For a different treatment, contact Dr. Siegel’s office today. Dr. Siegel provides personalized sleep apnea treatment tailored to each of his patient’s individual needs. Don’t put your trust in some anonymous far-away CPAP company; get personal attention from Dr. Siegel.

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Cavities have become a common problem for people of all ages, from babies to teenagers, adults and even senior citizens. Cavities are caused by bacteria that accumulates within the mouth and is able to break down the tooth and eventually cause decay. Though most people know that cavities may occur on the surface of teeth, few give much thought to what’s happening between their teeth.

It isn’t uncommon for food particles along with bacteria to find their way in between the teeth. Though the space between two teeth is generally quite small, the bacteria and food particles are even smaller, making interdental space the perfect location to grow and flourish. When left to grow, this bacteria can eventually cause decay, which then leaves the patient with an interdental cavity.

How To Prevent Cavities Between the Teeth

Preventing cavities between the teeth is a two-step process that involves work on your part as well as on your dentist’s end. At home, it’s crucial that you brush and floss your teeth. Flossing is the only way to get rid of a large percentage of the plaque and bacteria between the teeth. Unless you consistently floss, your mouth is not completely clean or protected.

Along with flossing, you should also schedule regular dental visits that include x-rays of your teeth. X-rays are able to show if any interdental cavities exist, allowing for diagnosis and effective treatment. Periodic x-rays are an important part of preventing problems between the teeth.

At home dental care along with routine visits to the dentist are the best ways to prevent problems between the teeth. With brushing, flossing, and periodic x-rays, your teeth are sure to remain healthy. Call or email Dr. Siegel’s office to schedule an appointment. Dr. Siegel will examine the spaces between your teeth to ensure that they are healthy and free from decay.

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For years, the only way to diagnose sleep apnea has been through an overnight stay at a sleep center, where a sleep physician administers a sleep test; however, thanks to today’s ever-increasing technological advances, there is now an FDA-cleared wireless home sleep test known as AccuSom, which was created by NovaSom. NovaSom has recently paired with Verizon Wireless in efforts to ensure more reliability and accuracy in its test.

AccuSom is the only FDA-cleared wireless home sleep test available for use today. The test is designed to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is said to plague almost 18 million Americans today. The test is a smart-phone-sized Type III cardio-respiratory monitor that is able to measure snoring, respiration effort, oxygen saturation, pulse rate, and respiration airflow – all factors that are taken into consideration when diagnosing OSA. The sleep test uses Verizon’s wireless network to maintain and transfer data collected during the test from the patient’s own home to a management platform the sleep physician has access to.

When compared to stays in a sleep lab test environment, most patients prefer at-home testing because the patient is able to undergo the necessary testing while sleeping in his/her own bed, which makes the entire diagnostic experience much less anxiety- and fear-filled.

Diagnosis Means Treatment

Whether you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea at a traditional sleep lab, or you’ve undergone a sleep study in the comfort of your own home; a positive diagnosis always means that treatment must follow. Sleep apnea treatments will differ from patient to patient, depending on his/her type of sleep apnea, severity, and so on. To learn more about sleep apnea treatment, patients should call or email Dr. Siegel’s office today.

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We automatically know that our teeth help us chew and eat food, as well as compliment our smiles and laughs; however,many people are surprised to learn that their teeth can also show how healthy they are internally. A healthy smile is usually an indication of a healthy body, just as a patient with less than optimal oral health may eventually suffer from general health problems.

With this in mind, patients should know that comprehensive dentistry is a must; as our mouths and teeth require more than just routine brushing to stay healthy. It’s ideal to work with a dentist, such as Dr. Siegel, who offers a wide variety of dental procedures that can not only improve your smile, but improve your life.

Comprehensive Dentistry and a Well-Rounded Dentist

Finding a dentist that can fix some of the most complex dental problems is ideal. While any dentist is able to examine and clean your teeth and fill in any cavities you may have; not all dentists are versed in diagnosing and treating TMJ disorder or offering full mouth reconstruction. Dr. Siegel offers a wide range of dental procedures that can make your smile more aesthetic and improve your mouth’s health.

While TMJ treatment gets rid of the pain and discomfort caused by an imbalanced jaw, teeth whitening and other cosmetic dentistry procedures eliminate the pain and embarrassment associated with an unattractive smile. With this in mind, it’s obvious that comprehensive dentistry is a must.

If you’re interested in consulting with a dentist that offers comprehensive dental treatment, look no further than Dr. Siegel. Whether you need a routine cleaning, a filling replacement, TMJ treatment, or an entirely new smile; you can count on Dr. Siegel. Patients can email or call our office today for appointment scheduling.

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If you’ve ever eaten sugar-free products, especially gum or hard candy, you’ve probably seen xylitol listed as an ingredient. For years, the FDA has approved xylitol for use as a sugar substitute in many different products. Aside from the obvious benefit of less calories when compared to table sugar, xylitol has also proved to be beneficial for oral and dental health. In fact, xylitol has been shown to reduce the risk of tooth decay, prevent “dry mouth,” promote stronger teeth, and decrease the formation of plaque. For these reasons, the use of xylitol as a sugar substitute has grown.

A study published in the British Dental Journal on October 7 found that products made with xylitol are extremely beneficial. At the same time, the study also warned consumers to be aware of the other common ingredients often used with xylitol, namely acidic flavorings and preservatives. Both of these ingredients, which are commonly used in fruit-flavored candies and gums, are known to cause dental erosion if consumed on a regular basis. Unfortunately, these ingredients could negate the benefits of xylitol.

While consumers don’t have to completely avoid acidic flavorings and preservatives; they should not eat them in excess. Though Xylitol may be beneficial to overall oral and dental health, it shouldn’t be viewed as a fix for a dental problem you may be suffering from.

The only way to ensure that your teeth and mouth are – and remain – healthy is to schedule routine appointments with a dentist you can trust. Only a dentist is able to ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy and free of infection, erosion, or decay. To schedule routine visits with Dr. Siegel, patients can simply call or email our office. We will work to provide you with information you need and address any concerns you may have.

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Though TMJ disorder isn’t a widely-known or talked-about health condition, it is one that is most definitely preventable. Patients who knowingly grind or clench their teeth at night should seek immediate help from a dentist, as such problems can only further deteriorate the health of the teeth and the jaw joint. Untreated grinding and clenching may ultimately lead to TMJ disorder, a condition known to cause all sorts of pain and discomfort in various parts of the body. In patients who grind or clench their teeth, a mouth guard can be created and worn to protect against any further damage.

Teeth grinding and clenching is known to cause damage to the teeth’s dentition. But, with the right treatment, this damage can be stopped, which means that early diagnosis is a must. For patients, this means that such conditions need to be treated almost immediately to protect from further damage that can lead to worsening oral and dental health.

Early Diagnosis Is Key

In the end, while TMJ may be preventable, prevention requires that diagnosis be made almost immediately. This means that patients who experience any symptoms commonly associated with TMJ should seek dental assistance. If you suffer from jaw pain, neck pain, headaches, or other TMJ symptoms, call or email Dr. Siegel’s office today. Schedule an appointment to learn more about TMJ and the available treatment that can protect your teeth and your jaw bone.

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Candy, junk food, sweets, and soda have all been linked to poor dental health. Medical professionals, dentists, and parents have all preached that sugary foods and beverages are not only unhealthy; they’re downright harmful to your teeth. Such foods are commonly high in citric and phosphoric acid: two ingredients that have been linked to enamel loss and dental erosion, which can lead to tooth loss. Though most would consider root beer to be an ordinary soda – similar to Coca-cola or Sprite – recent studies have proved the opposite.

To the surprise of many, other studies have determined that in some cola brands, acid amounts ranked 2.39 – or 1.39 higher than a normal battery, which has a 1.0 acid ranking. These numbers truly show the dangers of drinking soda in excessive amounts. On the other hand, a study posted in the March/April 2007 issue of General Dentistry determined that root beer products do not have the same harmful acids and additives that most sodas have.

While consumers don’t need to worry about ruining their smile and oral health with an occasional soda, consumption of colas and similar products should be limited. If consumers want to drink soda, choosing healthier and safer alternatives, such as root beer, is more ideal.

In the end, the best way to ensure that your oral and dental health remain at optimum levels is to schedule and attend routine dental visits. For a beautiful and healthy smile, schedule consistent appointments with Dr. Siegel. Call or email our office today!

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