Gingivitis & Periodontitis Treatment
Understanding which stage of gum disease you have — and what can still be reversed.
Learn morePeriodontics in Berwyn, PA
Specialist care for the gum and bone that hold your teeth in place — the foundation everything else depends on.
Gum Health
Periodontics is the dental specialty concerned with the structures that support your teeth — the gums, the periodontal ligament and the jawbone. A periodontist completes three additional years of specialty training beyond dental school in diagnosing and treating disease in those tissues, and in placing dental implants.
Most people arrive here for one of three reasons: their dentist found deep pockets or bone loss and referred them, their gums have receded, or they need an implant placed. All three come back to the same thing — whether the foundation under the teeth is healthy enough to hold.
Dr. Steven Liu, DMD, DDS holds specialty certificates in both periodontics and prosthodontics from the University of Pennsylvania, and has taught, lectured and published internationally in the field. Patients across Berwyn, Wayne, Devon, Paoli, Villanova and the wider Main Line are treated here.
- Specialist diagnosis and staging of periodontal disease
- Non-surgical treatment attempted first wherever appropriate
- Surgical and regenerative options for advanced cases
- Treatment of failing implants and peri-implantitis
- Written treatment plans with the reasoning explained
- Structured maintenance to hold the result long term
Why gum health is not a cosmetic issue
Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and it is usually painless until it is advanced. Teeth do not typically feel loose until a substantial amount of the bone holding them has already gone — and lost bone does not grow back on its own.
The disease is also not confined to your mouth. Periodontal inflammation has been associated in the research literature with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory conditions and complications in pregnancy. Treating it is a general health matter as much as a dental one.
The practical implication is simple: gum disease is best caught early, when treatment is conservative, rather than late, when it is surgical.
What we treat
Gum disease at every stage
From early gingivitis through advanced periodontitis. Early stages respond to non-surgical treatment; advanced cases may require surgical pocket reduction or regenerative therapy to rebuild what has been lost.
Gum recession
When gum tissue pulls back and exposes root surface, teeth become sensitive, look longer, and lose protection. Soft tissue grafting, including the minimally invasive Pinhole technique, restores coverage.
Peri-implantitis
Dental implants can develop inflammation and bone loss around them, just as natural teeth can. Treating a failing implant is a specialist problem, and one Dr. Liu handles regularly — often with bone grafting to rebuild the defect around the implant.
Bite-related damage
Excessive or misdirected biting force accelerates periodontal breakdown. Where the bite is a contributing factor, occlusal therapy is part of the treatment rather than an afterthought.
Aesthetic gum problems
Uneven gum lines and "gummy" smiles are corrected with crown lengthening. Dr. Liu's earliest published work, in Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry, was on the management of gingival and aesthetic problems.
Warning signs worth acting on
Book an evaluation if you notice any of the following:
- Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
- Red, swollen or tender gum tissue
- Persistent bad breath or a bad taste that does not clear
- Gums pulling away from the teeth, or teeth that look longer
- Loose or shifting teeth, or a bite that feels different
- Pus between the gum and tooth
- New gaps opening between teeth
Bleeding is the one most often dismissed. Healthy gums do not bleed when brushed — bleeding is inflammation, and inflammation is the start of the process that ends in bone loss.
What to Expect
The Periodontal Treatment Process
- Comprehensive periodontal examinationEvery tooth is measured at six points to record pocket depth, recession, bleeding and mobility. This produces a baseline chart that later visits are measured against — so progress is documented rather than estimated.
- ImagingDigital x-rays show existing bone levels. Where implants or surgery are being considered, a 3D Cone Beam CT gives a full volumetric picture of the bone.
- Diagnosis and stagingFindings are explained to you directly — an intraoral camera lets you see what Dr. Liu is seeing on a screen. The disease is staged, and contributing factors such as smoking, diabetes or bite forces are identified.
- Treatment planYou receive a written plan sequenced from least invasive to most, with the reasoning for each step. Conservative treatment is always attempted first where it has a realistic chance of working.
- Periodontal maintenanceOnce the disease is controlled, ongoing maintenance visits keep it that way. This is the phase that determines long-term outcome, and it is not optional — periodontal disease is managed, not cured.
For referring dentists: we welcome referrals for periodontal evaluation, implant placement, grafting and complex reconstruction, and we report back at every stage. Reach the practice directly at (610) 722-5542.
Common Questions
Periodontics FAQs
A general dentist handles routine care — cleanings, fillings, crowns. A periodontist completes three years of additional specialty training focused specifically on gum and bone disease and on the surgical placement of dental implants.
You are typically referred to a periodontist when gum disease has progressed past what a routine cleaning addresses, when gum surgery or grafting is needed, or when an implant requires placement in a site that is not straightforward.
No. Many patients are referred by their general dentist, but you are welcome to book an evaluation directly. If you already have a dentist, we coordinate with them so your care stays joined up.
Gingivitis — the earliest stage, before bone is affected — is genuinely reversible with treatment and good home care.
Periodontitis is different. Once bone has been lost it does not spontaneously return, so periodontitis is controlled rather than cured. With treatment and regular maintenance the disease can be stopped and teeth kept for life. In selected defects, regenerative procedures can rebuild some of the lost bone.
Most dental plans provide some coverage for periodontal treatment, though the level varies considerably between plans. We will review your benefits with you and provide a written estimate before treatment begins.
Related Treatment
You May Also Need
Non-Surgical Gum Treatments
Deep cleaning and antibiotic therapy — the first line of treatment for gum disease, and often the only one needed.
Learn moreGum Surgery
When deep pockets cannot be cleaned any other way, surgery makes them cleanable again.
Learn moreSchedule Your Consultation
Dr. Liu will evaluate your situation and explain your options — including the ones you may not have been offered elsewhere.