Search for a doctor or a procedure based on your insurance. If you do not have insurance, select a doctor who offers a savings plan.

Oral health declines when we lose natural teeth. Obviously, there are problems with eating a variety of meals. Even talking clearly could be a problem. However, the major problem is the loss of mass and density in the jaw. This weakens the jaw, and could even cause patients to look older. More importantly, this prevents dental implant placement. Additional treatments could be necessary to strengthen the jaw in order to make dental implant placement possible! Fortunately, Doctors Network could link you to a local Big Lake oral surgeon who is in-network with Aetna and performs this care. In addition, we could also discuss our membership program to make dental care affordable!

Bone grafting is also known as ridge augmentation. Essentially this enables the dentist to restore the lost structure in your gums. Your dentist could use a number of different options. Tissue could be sourced from the back of the jaw or the hip. Donor materials like bovine bone may be recommended too. We could also recommend synthetic materials. In a surgical procedure, these are applied to the areas of weakened structure in the lower jawbone.

Once the area heals, the dental implants could be placed. The body will see them as natural structures. As a result, they help prevent any further breakdown in the jaw, preserving your smile. Our team can connect you to a dentist or oral surgeon in Big Lake, AK who offers ridge augmentation, and also let you know about our dental discount plan to make sure your treatment fits in your budget!

If you have a toothache, or a tooth that is damaged, you need dental care. Otherwise, the tooth could develop a decay and infections. Soon, there is a risk of not only missing teeth, but a spread of infection to other areas of the jaw. But sometimes, the damage or cavity is beyond the stage to be treated with a restoration. Instead, the tooth could require immediate extraction. At Doctors Network, our team can help you find a Aetna dentist or oral surgeon in Big Lake, AK who can provide a gentle tooth removal as needed.

As we touched on above, severe cavities or injury could be why a tooth needs extraction. But a dentist could also remove one that is loosened by gum disease. Taking out a tooth could improve bite balance and chewing function. Extraction could also provide room for treatment with braces! In many cases, this could prevent the negative impact of wisdom tooth eruption. Removing wisdom teeth prior to eruption helps preserve the balance and overall esthetics. For people with advanced tooth loss, removing the last few teeth essentially paves the way for full or partial dentures. Your Big Lake dentist could use the extraction to improve the function and health of your smile.

Now that you understand why a tooth may need an extraction, how do you seek care for one? Well, as mentioned above Doctors Network can locate a dentist in the Big Lake, AK area. But if you don’t have coverage, you may worry about the cost. Fortunately, we have a direct payment plan! Our dental membership plan is opened with an initial fee and maintained with a monthly fee. For some, this could cut the cost of care by up to 90%!

Tooth loss could lead to major issues for your smile. For example, this could impact your meal options, or how clearly you can articulate. But the most serious complication is the loss of integrity in the jaw. The body reduces the flow of calcium and phosphate to the areas without roots, which in turn causes bone loss and the loss of youthful facial structure and weakens the structure significantly. Which means you may not be able to receive dental implants to address gaps in your smile. But Doctors Network can connect you with a dentist in Big Lake, AK who can strengthen your smile.

As we’ve discussed in previous posts, a bone grafting procedure helps strengthen the lower jaw, so it can support dental implants. But what about the the upper area? Instead of grafting, your Big Lake dentist could perform a sinus lift. Basically, the dentist will push up the sinus floor to induce the formation of new tissues. The new structure can support one or more implants. Once the new teeth are secured, this stimulates the growth of bone tissue to keep your jaw secure. Your new teeth can then stay firm for decades, possibly even a lifetime.

If you need to strengthen your weakened maxillary jawbone to support a new smile, we could help. Our team can connect you with a Big Lake, AK dentist who can provide these services and takes Aetna. When your smile is strengthened and ready, dental implants could provide a whole smile again. If you don’t have insurance, don’t let this stand between you and a complete smile. Instead, talk to our team about our Direct Dental Plan. With our Direct Dental Plan, you can have treatments discounted by as much as 90% in some situations. A full smile is possible again!

According to the research by the Centers for Disease Control, over half of the population ages 30 and older suffer from periodontal disease. Without intervention, this condition could lead to painful symptoms, including bleeding gums. The advanced stage, also known as periodontitis, could also cause missing teeth. This is why care from a Big Lake dental specialist is necessary when you begin to notice changes to your gums. We can help by connecting you to one that accepts Aetna. After all, we all benefit from routine dental care!

How does the disease start? The disease could occur due to poor oral hygiene habits. Others could develop it due to infrequent dental cleanings, or due to gingivitis, tobacco use, certain medications, or even other family members with poor gum health. As we touched on above, warning signs include changes to your gingival tissues including soreness and bleeding. By seeing a dentist in Big Lake, AK you can receive periodontal treatments like scaling and root planing to bring relief and improve your oral health. These treatment options could be at least partially covered by insurance plans.

If you notice these signs, or if you simply have not been to a dentist in recent months, you should book an online appointment. At Doctors Network, we can connect you to dentists in Big Lake who accept Aetna. A healthy and whole smile is always an option, and we can help facilitate this process!

You probably know a lot of people who have had their wisdom teeth pulled and are eager to describe their story to you. While this can be helpful, it is still essential to consult with a oral surgeon. If you need these teeth pulled, it is important to have lots of information at your disposal. This will help you understand what to expect from the procedure and what you should look for in a dentist. Luckily, Doctors Network can help you connect with a great oral surgeon near you in Big Lake, AK that accepts Aetna.

The third molars or wisdom teeth are in the back of your mouth, and there is one on each quadrant. They typically appear between seventeen and twenty-five. Because they are the last teeth to erupt, their presence can cause issues with your existing ones. They can erupt at unusual directions, only partially come in, or overcrowd your existing teeth. When this happens, they are probably going to be affected by abscess and infections. If any of these conditions take place, it can be very painful and can affect your existing teeth. If you think you might have complications with wisdom teeth coming in, it is important to see a Big Lake oral surgery practice hastily.

If you need wisdom tooth removal, your dentist will determine how they will go about the extraction to ensure everything goes without complications. They will decide which of your wisdom teeth need to be removed and how complex it could get. They will also assess the appropriate type of sedation and the condition of your existing teeth. Once they ascertain this information, they can extract your wisdom teeth more easily. When you come in for the procedure, you will receive the appropriate anesthesia option, so you will not experience discomfort. Your dentist will extract your teeth and look after you the entire time to make sure you are doing well. Once your wisdom teeth are pulled, you will receive post-operative instructions. Fortunately, there are many Big Lake dentists that accept Aetna and can effectively remove your wisdom teeth.

Have you experienced popping or cracking when you open your mouth? Do you have aching jaw and facial pain? If so, this could be related to two common jaw joint issues. Around 25 million people in the United States suffer from TMJ disorder or bruxism. Without treatment, these could not only cause pain, but actually damage the teeth too! Fortunately, your friends at Doctors Network can find the right dental professional in Big Lake, AK who accepts Aetna.

While very different from one another, we often find these are related. TMJ disorder develops when the jaw joints undergo excessive strain. This could cause problems opening and closing the mouth fully. Common symptoms include pain in the face, head and neck, and jaw. Bruxism means you often grind your teeth or clench your jaw. The pressure of clenching could cause headaches and jaw pain. Teeth grinding could also fracture or break your teeth. This damage could lead to decay, infection, and more. Both disorders could be caused by issues that strain the jaw joints, and untreated TMJ disorder could mean eventual teeth grinding, and vice-versa. When you have chronic pain in your head and neck, you should find help. We can even connect you with a dental professional in Big Lake who accepts Aetna.

Treatment options often vary; for some, relief is possible following recontouring, which improves bite balance. For others, treating malocclusion with aligners or braces could ease strain and stop symptoms. The most common option most dentists offer is an oral appliance, which fits like a nightguard. If you need to find treatment from a Big Lake dentist. then contact our team!