About Us

It is our goal at Chico Periodontal Associates to deliver the highest quality periodontal and implant care available. We use state of the art equipment to meet the needs of our patients and referring dentists. We strive to be friendly, prompt, and professional. We want each patient who enters our practice to feel welcomed, cared for and comfortable.

Dr. Jeff Fleming founded the practice in 1990. After practicing solo for 5 years, Dr. Garry Millard was invited to join the practice in July 1995. He came to Chico after serving 10 years in the U.S. Navy. Both attending dentists have received advanced training through an accredited periodontal residency program and both are board certified periodontists.

Currently, Chico Periodontal Associates employs 13 full and part time staff members who enjoy serving the local community.

We take great pride in our staff at CPA. We employ a full time office manager who is an insurance specialist, 3 receptionists, 4 full time registered dental assistants, one sterilization technician, and 4 part-time dental hygienists. We are proud of the fact that we have a very loyal staff, and the average staff member has worked for our office for 10 years or more. Our staff is a well-trained professional team who enjoy treating patients like family.

A periodontist is a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of gum and bone infections and in the placement of dental implants. We have completed 4 years of college, 4 years of dental school, 2 years of full time periodontal residency, as well as completing the task of board certification.

Board certification is not required to practice periodontics. Currently, approximately 30% of periodontists nationwide are board certified. It is a 2 part examination process. The first stage is an 8 hour written examination which evaluates current knowledge of the field of periodontics. If part I is passed, the candidate has the opportunity to present slides of actual patients he or she has treated before a board of examiners. The examiners can ask any medical or dental question they wish, and the examinee must demonstrate expert clinical knowledge and skill to pass and become "board certified". Both Dr. Millard and Dr. Fleming have been board certified since 1995. Approved continuing education is required to maintain board certification.

Dental implants are designed to replace missing teeth. Currently dental implants have a very high 30 year success rate. Implants look and feel like natural teeth, and are not taken in and out. If you have bone loss, you may still be a candidate for dental implants, as there are techniques available to recreate missing bone and gum tissue. Dental implants have many advantages over traditional bridgework or partial dentures. See http://www.perio.org