Bleeding gums, a denture that slips when you laugh, or a jaw that aches every morning are easy to push aside when mountain life keeps you busy. Left alone, though, small problems like these tend to grow into bigger and more expensive ones.
Travis J. Calhoun, DDS, welcomes Maggie Valley patients who want thoughtful restorative dentistry from a dentist with more than three decades in practice. Our Asheville office pairs Dr. Travis with two experienced hygienists, which gives our patients an unusually strong focus on gum health alongside their everyday dental care.
Maggie Valley is roughly 35 miles west of Asheville, with I-40 and the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway carrying most of the drive. It is a longer trip than a run down Soco Road for groceries, and we know it. The drive makes the most sense when you want a dentist you can stay with for years, not just for one appointment.
Our office keeps a laid-back, friendly pace on purpose. Dr. Travis takes time to walk you through what he sees and why he recommends a certain treatment, and our team files your out-of-network insurance claims so the paperwork does not follow you home.
Your gums hold your teeth in place, but their influence reaches well beyond your mouth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains gum disease can be more severe and slower to heal in people with diabetes, and gum disease can make blood sugar harder to manage in return.
This two-way connection is one reason our hygiene team treats every visit as a chance to catch trouble early. When a routine cleaning is no longer enough, a deep cleaning removes buildup below the gumline so the tissue has a chance to heal. Dr. Travis believes healthy gums are the foundation for every other kind of dental work, from a single crown to a full denture.
Every restoration we plan has three jobs. It needs to feel comfortable, it needs to hold up to years of chewing, and it needs to look like it belongs in your smile. Dr. Travis weighs all three when he recommends a treatment, whether that is a single dental crown or a complete denture.
Balancing those goals takes conversation. We want to hear how your teeth feel day to day, what bothers you about your smile, and what you hope to change. Those details shape a plan that fits your life in Maggie Valley, not a one-size-fits-all approach handed to every patient who walks through the door.
Beyond gum care, we offer Maggie Valley patients a wide range of restorative treatment. Here are three common needs we address.
Traditional dentures remain a reliable way to replace a full arch of teeth. For patients who want more stability, implant-supported dentures attach to implants placed by an oral surgeon or periodontist, and Dr. Travis designs and fits the denture itself. We restore implants but do not place them.
Clenching or grinding at night can wear teeth down and leave your jaw sore by morning. Our TMJ and bruxism treatment often includes a custom nightguard designed to protect your teeth while you sleep. Addressing grinding early may help prevent cracked teeth, worn enamel, and the headaches many people blame on stress alone.
Saving a natural tooth is always our first goal. When a tooth cannot be saved, Dr. Travis can remove it in our office and help you plan how to replace it so the surrounding teeth stay stable. Options may include a bridge, a partial denture, or an implant restoration, depending on your goals and the health of the area.
If you are weighing our office against options closer to home, it helps to know what you can expect here. A few things set our care apart.
Each of these tools serves the same purpose, which is giving you accurate answers and comfortable care.
A lifelong Asheville native trained at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dr. Calhoun has spent over 30 years rebuilding smiles throughout western North Carolina, from a single filling to a full arch restoration.
Dr. Travis is an Asheville native who knew by the seventh grade he wanted to be a dentist like his dad. After studying at the University of Georgia and earning his DDS at UNC Chapel Hill, he came home to practice, and our team shares his belief in treating every patient like family.
We are a fee-for-service office, and CareCredit financing is available when you want to spread out the cost of a larger treatment plan. If your gums have been bleeding or a tooth has started to ache, reach out to our office to schedule a visit.
Questions about payments and financing options? Give us a call at (828) 277-2722.
