I was very hesitant to write this review, because Dr. Siegelman and his staff do seem very caring. The hygenist, Lindsey(SP?), is especailly sweet and skilled at her job and this review is by no means a negative judgement on her.
I just think that my fellow dental-phobs should be made aware as to what they're up against.
What is great about this practice is that Dr. Siegelman calls you personally before the consultation. He makes good conversation and really tries to get to know you as a patient: the source of your dental fear, your dental history, what work you'd like done, etc. As I said before, the staff is friendly and professional. The office is modern and comfortable.
What worries me is that after my consultation at this office, I got a second opinion and found that I was being grossly overcharged and that my problems could be fixed much more easily than Dr. Siegelman had anticipated.
I have a tooth that is causing me a lot of pain, and Dr. Siegelman told me that it would probably have to be extracted since there's not enough tooth left for a successful root canal. When my new dentist (who is just as caring and professional and who has more positiive reviews) heard that diagnosis, he was shocked. "There's absolutely no reason why you would have to lose that tooth," he said. Apparently, a root canal on this tooth will be very easy for a skilled dentist to perform. What a relief, especially since Dr. Siegelman had told me that my extraction would "mess up" my smile for 6 months since I would be walking around with no tooth there until healed.
My new dentist also gave me antibiotics for my tooth, and it doesn't hurt at all anymore! He said it was "mean" that I hadn't been perscribed antibiotics before.
I had also lost an old crown from a previous root canal, and Dr. Siegelman told me that the now exposed tooth would eventually have to be extracted as well. My new dentist's diagnosis: wrong again! That tooth can also definitely be saved.
Siegelman's office also told me that my procedure (either a root canal or extraction) would be over $4,000! If I wanted sedation, it would cost an additional $1,700. The quote caught my attention, because I've had a root canal done at another NY office that also didn't take insurance, and they charged me $2,000. I panicked a little, and Dr. Siegelman came out and told me that he would drop the $367 charge for oral sedatives. I don't know why, but at this point I began to feel very uneasy. I felt like I was being offered false bargains. The receptionist told me that no matter where else I go, the price will be about the same. Wrong. When I told my new dentist the price, he was absolutely shocked. He was also very open to the idea of me getting services done somewhere else (I won't though..I'm very happy with him) and didn't try to coerce me to stay with him.
I've received the quote from my new dentist for my root canal, and it's under $2,000. Less than half the cost of Siegleman's quote. So now, I get just as caring a dentist for a fraction of the cost, and I get to save my tooth! I don't know why I was told that my tooth probably needed to go. Is it because this office isn't skilled at root canals, and they're covering their bases? Just a little something to think about.
So moral is, go here if you're TERRIFIED of the dentist and need to be knocked out (although my new dentist said that sedation should be about $400-$600, not $1700) but otherwise, save your teeth and your money! You can have an even more pleasent experience elsewhere.
P.S.: When I was in Siegelman's office, I believe I heard him behind the wall listing all these teeth that needed to be extracted from another patient: "16, 17, 18,...19.." Yikes! I hope she got a second opinion too!
P.P.S: I hope that I don't get in trouble for writing this review, and I hope my new and wonderful dentist doesn't either. I just get an eerie feeling from this place, so if something happens to me within the next few days, you know where to look! read more