FAQ

While there really is no such thing as brushing too much, you can cause problems if you brush improperly. If you apply too much pressure while you brush, you may find that you can cause abrasion of the gum tissue and of the enamel, which can lead to other problems such as sensitive teeth.

On the other hand, if you do not brush properly, you may leave yourself open to problems stemming from the bacteria you leave behind. This presence of bacteria can lead to gingivitis and periodontitis, and there have been recent studies that indicate the presence of heavy plaque in the mouth can lead to the buildup of plaque in the arteries.

Briglia Dental Group is always happy to respond to your questions and concerns, so please give us a call at (610) 615 0160 and experience the difference that our team has to offer.

Timing is undeniably important, but many people fail to consider their technique when brushing their teeth. Technique is equally, and perhaps even more, important to proper oral hygiene than timing. Remember the following the next time you brush your teeth:

• Use short strokes
• Move back and forth against the teeth and gums
• Move around the surface of each and every tooth

It’s also important to remember to floss! Flossing is commonly overlooked, but it is just as important as brushing when it comes to your oral hygiene!

This is one of the most frequently asked questions we receive. While most dentists recommend brushing your teeth for two minutes, we prefer to suggest three minutes, with 90 seconds devoted to the upper teeth and 90 seconds devoted to the lower teeth.

Briglia Dental Group accepts the following insurance from the providers listed below. If you do not see your insurance carrier listed, please let us know so that we can explore accepting their dental insurance plans in the future.

We are currently accepting the following dental insurance plans:

• Principal (PPO Program)
• United Concordia (Advantage Plus Program)
• Cigna (PPO Plan)
• Guardian (PPO Plan)
• Aetna (PPO Plan)

Briglia Dental Group always makes treatment affordable and will never surprise you with hidden fees. Our estimates and bills are clean and detailed so you know what to expect. To receive a specific estimate of cost, please call our office at (610) 615 0160.

If it’s appropriate, you may be able to have your teeth cleaned the same day as your first appointment. If we diagnosed that you have gum disease and bone loss, we’ll review treatment options with you at that time.

In general, your first appointment will not include any dental treatments or cleanings. Before scheduling any treatments, Dr. Briglia will need to complete a comprehensive exam so that he can provide you with a treatment plan that addresses any problems.

If you have dental x-rays that were taken within the last 12 months, we’ll ask you to call your previous dental practice to have them send us any records or x-rays they have on file.

If you don’t have current x-rays, whether we’ll take new ones on your first visit really depends upon your dental history. We may recommend taking new x-rays to get a complete look at your teeth. X-rays allow us to check for bone fractures, cysts, tumors, lesions, and sinus issues.

Briglia Dental Group is always accepting new patients! Give us call at (610) 615 0160 to request more information about our new patient process.

If you’re a new patient, we ask that you arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment so that we can be sure all paperwork is completed. You can get a head start on this process by downloading our new patient form online!

Once your form is completed, please keep a copy for your records and bring a copy to the office. Call us today at (610) 615 0160 with additional questions or schedule your first appointment when you’re ready.

Your first appointment will involve a comprehensive exam so that Dr. Briglia can provide you with a treatment plan that addresses any problems. We’ll discuss your medical history, why you’ve come to our practice, and any general concerns you have.

Dr. Briglia will review your past dental x-rays or take new updated digital x-rays in order to diagnose any problems that cannot be seen clinically. We’ll review your past medical and dental history, and complete a clinical examination which includes a TMJ/Jaw Joint exam, an oral cancer screening, a tooth by tooth exam, a check for periodontal gum disease, and a check for bone loss around your teeth.

In addition to the services above, we will also take a series of intraoral photographs in order to have a record of your actual teeth and gums for future diagnostic and insurance purposes

If you gag easily during normal dental procedures, then sedation dentistry will help resolve this problem! Patients don’t have any problems with gagging while sedated.

You will feel groggy immediately after treatment, and a caregiver or spouse will drive you home to relax and recover. Generally many patients feel fine after a sedation appointment but need to be monitored until the sedation medication wears off.  Many patients will sleep when they get home as the sedation medication will continue to be metabolized.

Simple answer: yes! We guarantee a stress-free, pain-free, relaxing experience during our sedation dentistry procedures.

No, most patients feel zero discomfort during their treatment and very minimal pain afterwards. When you come in for an appointment involving sedation, you can expect everything to follow the plan discussed before your appointment. We’ll make sure you’re comfortable, administer the proper sedation, and begin our procedure as you relax, stress-free. Some patients stay very relaxed while most others fall asleep altogether. You may have a limited memory of the treatment, but more often you won’t remember much of anything.

Conscious sedation is a great option for those patients who need to recover quickly. By combining the proper sedatives with anesthetics, it allows you to be semi-awake, while being very relaxed, totally free of pain with little to no memory of the visit. When your procedure is complete, you should be able to return to your everyday schedule the next day as you will need to relax and recover from the sedation medications.

So, you may be one of the 10% of people suffering from dental phobia. Well, let us help put your mind at ease. Sedating a patient during a dental procedure is a very safe and effective way to reduce your stress levels while taking care of a variety of dental problems. Briglia Dental Group has extensive experience in dental sedation practices and will review your medical history before any treatment as well as monitor you very closely during sedation. Feel free to give us a call for a no charge sedation consultation to discuss your concerns and to ask us any questions you may have about sedation dentistry.

In our West Chester dental practice we understand fear and the apprehension about going to the dentist. Dental fear due to traumatic childhood experiences or bad dental experiences at any age is a real thing. If you have been avoiding going to the dentist due to uncontrollable fear, the first step is to call our practice for a low stress, no fear, no charge dental consultation. If going to the office seems beyond your comfort zone, Dr. Briglia would be happy to give you a call to speak with you over the phone regarding your concerns. We find that some patients are too apprehensive about visiting a dental office, but a call from Dr. Briglia gives patients a chance to “test the waters” and put their minds at ease.

We have helped thousands of patients over the last 30 years and have vast experience in providing patients with pain-free, relaxed dental care. We offer a no charge consultation appointment to get to know you and start to understand your fear about coming to the dentist. We offer sedation dentistry, and may discover during your consultation that you might prefer to have some level of sedation to complete your care.

When it comes to pain concerns, you can be assured of pain-free numbing because we always use a very strong topical numbing gel to be certain that you do not feel anything. To make you even more comfortable, we can provide nitrous oxide “relaxing air” and oral or IV sedation. Dr. Briglia can provide these sedation services for root canals, dental implants, periodontal surgery, and more.

If you have a lot of dental needs, you can have several treatments completed in just a few sedation appointments. Our sedation fees are very reasonable and all treatment and financial arrangements are reviewed and agreed upon before starting any dental treatment. Your treatment can be predetermined with your insurance company, and your care can be phased over time to make quality care more affordable.

The first step in overcoming your uncontrollable fear of the dentist is to call us or schedule an appointment to set-up a no charge consultation to review your dental options.

By showing them how you take care of your own teeth! Also by helping them brush and floss their teeth. Once a child is old enough, you should floss your child’s teeth to show them how important flossing is. Then once they get older, they will take over the flossing and it should become a healthy daily habit.

Rather than a specific age, we say the answer is: when your child is old enough to understand NOT to swallow the toothpaste. Ingesting too much fluoride can affect the color of permanent teeth.

Just like you, your child should see the dentist every 6 months to get into a good oral health routine. This can also increase the likelihood of catching small areas of decay and taking care of them. Baby teeth have huge pulps and little tooth structure. This means small areas of decay can grow bigger over 6 months and cause an infection.

Thumb sucking and pacifier use truly can alter the growth pattern of your child’s upper jaw if they keep it up for too long. It can create a high upper palate and can shift upper front teeth and make them crooked. Try to wean your child off of these habits as soon as they don’t truly “need” it.

Baby teeth are very important! They aid with speech development, eating, and to hold the positions for the permanent teeth. Teaching your kids to take care of their primary teeth will translate to having good oral care as adults.

If your child has a toothache, you can give them acetaminophen for the pain. Then, you’ll obviously want to call a dentist as soon as possible to schedule an appointment. While you wait, you can have your child rinse with salt water and/or use a small ice pack or cold compress if they’re in a lot of pain.

Both pediatric and family dentists can see children, but a pediatric dentist has more training and usually only sees kids and young adults.

Your child should have their first dental checkup by the age of two. At Briglia Dental, we don’t force treatment during your child’s first visit. If your child is nervous, instead we’ll use their first visit to introduce them to our office and what we do!

You can use a soft-bristled, small-head child’s toothbrush and some children’s toothpaste with fluoride. Make it a fun trip to the pharmacy and let your child pick out their favorite toothbrush and paste!

You’ll only need a very small amount of toothpaste – about the size of a grain of rice. Get in the habit of brushing your child’s teeth in the morning and night if possible. If twice a day is too much to start with, then start with once a day before bedtime.

Your toddler should be brushing and flossing every single day. Brush once in the morning, and brush and floss at night. Rinse his or her teeth regularly with a fluoride rinse before bedtime. Avoid foods that are high in sugar that can cause teeth decay.

One of the most important things you can teach your children is good oral hygiene. Habits are formed when children are very young, and regular dental visits are an important part of developing those habits. Most children start regular examinations at age three, but any time you notice signs of pain or tooth decay before then, you should schedule a dental appointment.