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Nurse and woman smiling at the dental - Dentist in West Chester PA

Periodontal Disease (Gum Disease)


(610) 615 0160

A Strong, Beautiful Smile Needs A Strong, Beautiful Foundation

We all want a beautiful healthy smile, so we strive to care for our teeth to the best of our ability. What’s important to remember though, is that your gums are just as vital to the appearance and the health of your smile as your teeth are. Your gums are the foundation of your smile, but just like any oral structure, they’re vulnerable to damage and disease, such as periodontal (gum) disease, which can ruin your oral health and your smile. To protect your gums and ensure the foundation of your smile stays healthy and strong, Dr. Briglia of Briglia Dental Group offers periodontal services to treat gum disease at his West Chester, PA office.

Briglia Dental Group is accepting new and returning patients from West Chester as well as surrounding areas such as Chester Springs, Exton, Broomall, and Chadds Ford, PA to our family practice.  Keep reading to learn more about periodontal disease, and how our periodontal services can help patients who want to prevent and treat it.

What Is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease or gum disease is a bacterial infection of the gums. The main cause of gum disease is the buildup of plaque and tartar, substances that occur when food particles mix with the bacteria in your mouth. Plaque and tartar stick to your teeth and gums and usually accumulate in places where it’s hard for a toothbrush and floss to reach.

While plaque can be removed with regular brushing and flossing, tartar, the hardened form of plaque, can only be removed by a dental professional like Dr. Briglia. If these substances remain, they produce more bacteria, which multiplies and produces acid as waste, attacking the gums and causing gum disease. Other causes and risk factors of gum disease include: 

  • Diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, and osteoporosis
  • Sugar-rich diets
  • Tobacco use
  • Clenching and grinding your teeth (bruxism)
  • Certain medications
  • Malnutrition
  • Stress
  • Genetics
  • Pregnancy  

Signs of Periodontal Disease

The following symptoms are often a good indicator that you may have, or are developing, gum disease and require professional periodontal services:

  • Loose or separating teeth
  • Bite changes
  • Partial dentures or bridges not fitting correctly
  • Defective fillings 
  • Bad breath (persistent)
  • Metal taste in your mouth
  • Pus between gums/teeth
  • A sore that does not improve after 2 weeks
  • Tender or swollen gums
  • Bleeding gums
  • Gums that recede or pull away from your teeth

If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, don’t hesitate to call our West Chester office and set up an appointment with Dr. Briglia. Call (610) 615 0160 if you’re a new patient or call (610) 692 4440 if you’re returning so we can offer our periodontal services and treat the disease as soon as possible. 

Healthy teeth

Healthy Teeth

Gum disease teeth

Gum Disease

Stages of Gum Disease

Gum disease occurs in stages that become more destructive the more they advance. The stages of gum disease are as follows:

Gingivitis — The first stage and mildest form of gum disease is gingivitis, which is usually characterized by minor tenderness and swelling in the gums. At this stage, the infection is reversible with proper oral hygiene and professional periodontal services like regularly scheduled deep cleanings from Dr. Briglia. 

Initial Periodontitis — Once gingivitis advances to initial periodontitis, the infection begins to attack the bone and the damage can’t be reversed. Fortunately, the damage can still be stopped with deep cleaning and proper oral hygiene. This stage is usually characterized by your gums bleeding when you brush your teeth, although you may not notice any pain. 

Moderate Periodontitis — Bearing many similarities to the initial stage, moderate periodontitis involves more advanced damage to the ligaments and bones attaching your teeth to your gums. Additionally, the infection is now capable of entering your bloodstream and spreading to other parts of your body.

Advanced Periodontitis — The most destructive stage of gum disease, advanced periodontitis often causes noticeably bad breath, pain, pus-filled abscesses, and makes permanent tooth loss a much more likely occurrence. At this stage, you’ll require frequent deep cleaning sessions and will likely need to undergo surgery to try and save your teeth.

Treating & Preventing Periodontal Disease With Periodontal Services

Proper Oral Hygiene and Regular Dental Exams

The best treatment for periodontal disease is prevention. Dr. Briglia suggests all his patients practice proper at-home oral hygiene to prevent oral health issues like periodontal disease. Proper oral hygiene includes:

  • Brushing for at least two minutes twice a day
  • Flossing at least once a day
  • Rinsing between meals 

However, even patients with the most diligent at-home dental care routines can develop oral health issues. You shouldn’t rely solely on at-home care, as the untrained eye can easily miss issues that start below the surface such as periodontal disease. To effectively protect your smile and get the most out of your at-home care, visit Dr. Briglia at least once every six months for regular dental exams.

Additionally, you can help prevent gum disease by changing your daily habits to promote your overall health and wellbeing. Some changes you may consider incorporating into your life to prevent gum disease include:

  • Staying hydrated
  • Reducing your sugar intake
  • Exercising regularly
  • Stop using tobacco
  • Limit or cease alcohol consumption 

Non-Surgical Periodontal Services: Root Planing & Scaling

To treat periodontal disease, Dr. Briglia recommends non-surgical periodontal services, including a deep cleaning method called root planing and scaling. Root planing and scaling is a process where your dentist removes excess plaque, tartar, and bacteria from around your teeth and below the gum line to remove and stop the progression of infection. 

During the scaling phase of the procedure, your dentist will remove the bacteria from beneath your gum line and around your teeth. In the root planing phase, your roots will be smoothed to help prevent bacteria from reaccumulating and to help your gums reattach to your teeth. Not only will this process help remove bacteria-laden plaque and tartar to enhance your oral health, but it will also drastically improve the appearance of your smile. 

Frequently Asked Questions

The exact cost of your periodontal service will depend on a number of factors including what stage of gum disease you’re experiencing. To ensure our patients get the quality dental care they deserve, Briglia Dental Group offers flexible third-party financing through CareCredit to help you afford your treatment. Briglia Dental Group also offers all uninsured patients 10 percent off of all of their dental treatments, including lab fees. 

In its earliest stage, it may be possible to treat gum disease with proper oral hygiene and home remedies, but there’s no guarantee this will be effective. You may think you’ve managed to eliminate your gum disease when you haven’t, which is why it’s so important to attend biannual appointments with Dr. Briglia at our West Chester, PA office. 

Dr. Briglia will be able to detect problems an untrained eye can easily miss and provide professional periodontal services, including antibiotics, and detailed advice to more effectively treat gum disease as soon as possible.

Periodontal Services: Healthier Gums For Healthier Smiles

The health of your gums is an essential part of your oral health and the brilliance of your smile. At Briglia Dental Group, our periodontal services can help treat gum disease, for better oral health and a smile you’ll be proud of. 

To learn more about the periodontal services available at Briglia Dental Group, contact our West Chester PA office by dialing (610) 615-0160 if you’re a new patient or call (610) 692-4440 if you’re already part of our family practice. You can also fill out and submit our contact form and one of our friendly team members will get back to you shortly.     

Dr. Ron Briglia at Briglia Dental Group

Dr. Ron Briglia has been practicing dentistry since 1984. With decades of experience and extensive continuing education, Dr. Briglia provides the most comprehensive dental services.

He earned his Bachelor of Science from Gannon University and his Doctor of Dental Medicine from Temple University Dental School. He has received advanced training at prestigious organizations like Pankey and Las Vegas Institutes. He is IV and oral sedation-certified too.

Most of Dr. Briglia’s patients have continued with him in his family of patients for over 30 – 35 years, and the restorations he has provided them have lasted for 25-35 years – clear evidence of his skills and expertise.

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