Gum Disease Treatment for Travis Air Force Base families
We are proud to care for the military families and civilian employees of Travis Air Force Base. Frequent moves mean many Travis families need a dentist who can get them established quickly, transfer records smoothly, and deliver efficient care like same-day crowns that fits a demanding schedule. Ask our front office about coordinating benefits with your dental plan.
Nearly half of American adults over 30 have some degree of periodontal disease, and most do not know it because it rarely hurts until it is advanced. It begins as gingivitis, the red, puffy, easily bleeding gums caused by plaque along the gumline. Left alone, bacteria migrate below the gums, the bone that anchors your teeth starts to dissolve, and teeth eventually loosen. Gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss, and research continues to link it with diabetes control, heart disease and pregnancy outcomes.
The good news is that early gum disease is reversible and moderate disease is very manageable. At Regency Dental Group, every exam includes periodontal charting: we measure the pocket depth around each tooth and note bleeding, so we can see change year over year rather than guessing. Gingivitis usually resolves with a professional cleaning and better home care. When pockets are deeper, we recommend scaling and root planing, often called a deep cleaning. Your hygienist numbs the area, removes tartar and bacteria from below the gumline, and smooths the root surfaces so the gums can reattach. It is typically completed in one or two visits, a quadrant or half of the mouth at a time.
After treatment, most patients move to periodontal maintenance visits every three or four months instead of the standard six. That interval is not upselling; it is the interval at which the bacteria that cause the disease re-establish themselves, and it is what keeps the disease from progressing. Between visits, we will coach you on the specific tools that work for your mouth, whether that is a water flosser, interdental brushes or a prescription rinse.
Periodontics is a recognized dental specialty. Dr. Lance Carter is a general dentist, and our hygienists perform non-surgical periodontal therapy in this office. Advanced cases that need gum surgery, bone grafting or regenerative procedures are referred to a periodontist, and we coordinate that care with you.
Why Travis Air Force Base patients choose this treatment here
- Periodontal charting at every exam so changes are caught early
- Comfortable, numbed scaling and root planing in one or two visits
- Maintenance intervals matched to your actual risk
- Practical home-care coaching that fits your routine
- Honest referral to a periodontist when surgery is the right answer
What happens at your visit
-
Full-mouth periodontal charting and X-rays to assess bone levels
-
Diagnosis and a clear explanation of your stage of disease
-
Local anesthetic, then scaling and root planing by quadrant
-
Re-evaluation four to six weeks later to measure healing
-
Periodontal maintenance every three to four months
Why make the drive from Travis Air Force Base
Our three registered dental hygienists, Betsy, Karie and Claudia, are experienced in non-surgical periodontal therapy and take the time to make deep cleanings comfortable, using local anesthetic and working in manageable sections. Dr. Carter reviews every periodontal case, sets realistic expectations, and does not hesitate to refer when a periodontist will get a better result. Because we chart at every visit, you can see your own numbers improve, which is motivating in a way that vague reassurance is not. We are in network with several major PPO plans, most of which cover scaling and root planing and periodontal maintenance as basic services.
Questions from Travis Air Force Base patients
How far is gum disease treatment treatment from Travis Air Force Base?
Travis Air Force Base is about 10 miles from our office by way of Air Base Parkway and Interstate 80. Plan on about 15 to 20 minutes.
Is a deep cleaning painful?
The area is numbed, so the procedure itself is comfortable. Expect some tenderness and cold sensitivity for a few days afterward.
Can gum disease be cured?
Gingivitis is reversible. Periodontitis cannot be undone but can be stopped and controlled with treatment and regular maintenance.
Why do I need cleanings every three months now?
Once bone has been lost, the bacteria return to harmful levels within about 90 days. More frequent maintenance keeps the disease from progressing.
Read the complete Gum Disease Treatment guide including aftercare, cost and insurance details.
Dr. Lance Carter is a general dentist licensed by the Dental Board of California. Services on this page that are associated with a recognized dental specialty are provided by a general dentist who is not a licensed specialist in that field. When a case is better served by a specialist, we say so and coordinate the referral.
General education only, not a diagnosis. Outcomes vary by patient. Please schedule an exam to discuss your situation.