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 limits dental implant placement. Additional treatments could be necessary to strengthen the jaw in order to make tooth replacement possible! Fortunately, Doctors Network could help you schedule an appointment with a local Hughes oral and maxillofacial surgeon who is in-network with Aetna and offers this care. In addition, we could also discuss our membership plan to make care affordable!

Bone grafting is also referred to as ridge augmentation. Essentially this enables the dentist to preserve the ridge in your mandible. Your dentist could use various sources. We could take tissue from the back of the jaw or the hip. Donor materials such as freeze-dried bovine bone particles may be recommended too. Others recommend synthetic materials. Through oral surgery, these are applied to the areas of weakened structure in the mandibular bone.

Once the area heals, the dental implants could be placed. The body will allow them to bond with the jaw. As a result, they help prevent any further breakdown in the jaw, allowing long-lasting tooth replacement. Our team can connect you to a dentist in Hughes, AK who performs jawbone grafting, and also let you know about our membership plan to make sure your care fits your budget!

When 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 cavity is beyond the stage to be treated with a tooth filling. Instead, the tooth could require immediate extraction. At Doctors Network, our team can help you connect with a Aetna dentist in Hughes, AK who can provide a effective tooth extraction as needed.

As we touched on above, advanced decay or injury could be why a tooth needs extraction. But a dentist could also remove one that is loosened by periodontitis. Removing a tooth could restore overall balance and chewing function. Extraction could also provide room for correcting misalignment! In many cases, this could prevent wisdom tooth impaction. 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 a full prosthetic. Your Hughes dentist could use the procedure to improve the function and health of your smile.

Now that you understand when and why a tooth may need to be taken out, how do you seek care for one? Well, as mentioned above Doctors Network can connect you with a dentist in the Hughes, 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 discount 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 suspends the flow of phosphate and calcium to the areas without tooth 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 your missing teeth. But Doctors Network can connect you with a dentist in Hughes, AK who can strengthen your smile.

As we’ve discussed in previous posts, a ridge augmentation procedure helps strengthen the lower jaw, so it can support dental implants. But what about the upper arch? Instead of adding new tissue, your Hughes dentist could perform a sinus lift. Essentially, the dentist will push up the sinus floor to induce the formation of new bone structure. The new structure can support one or more implants. Once the new teeth are secured, this stimulates the growth of bone tissue to prevent further breakdowns. Your new teeth can then stay in place for years, possibly even a lifetime.

If you need to strengthen your weakened maxillary jawbone to support new teeth, we could help. Our team can connect you with a Hughes, AK dental professional who can address tooth loss 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 a monthly membership fee, you can have treatments discounted by as much as 90% in some situations. A full smile is possible again!

According to studies 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 sore gums. The advanced stage, also known as periodontitis, could also cause adult tooth loss. This is why care from a Hughes dental professional is necessary when you begin to notice sore and bleeding gums. We can help by connecting you to one that accepts Aetna. After all, your smile needs regular attention!

How does the poor gum health come about? The disease could occur due to improper brushing and flossing. Others could develop it due to severe plaque and tartar buildup, or due to certain medications, inflammatory illness, tobacco use, or even gum disease in other family members. As discussed above, tell-tell signs include red, sore, and bleeding gums. By seeing a dentist in Hughes, AK you can receive periodontal treatments like scaling and root planing to bring relief and improve your oral health. These treatment options could be covered by insurance plans.

If you experience these warning signs, or if you simply haven’t been to a dentist in recent months, you should schedule a visit. At Doctors Network, we can connect you to dentists in Hughes 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 necessary to consult with a oral surgeon. If you need your wisdom teeth pulled, it is important to have a plethora 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 dentist near you in Hughes, AK that accepts Aetna.

The third molars or wisdom teeth are located in the back of your mouth, and there are two on the top and two on the bottom. They usually appear between seventeen and twenty-five. Because wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt, their appearance can cause problems with your existing ones. They can erupt at unusual angles, only partially come in, or overcrowd your already-established teeth. When this occurs, they are probably going to be affected by bacteria and infections. If any of these situations happen, it can be very uncomfortable and can harm your existing teeth. If you think you might have issues with wisdom teeth coming in, it is important to see a Hughes oral surgeon or dentist quickly.

If you do need wisdom teeth extraction, 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 will be. They will also determine the appropriate type of anesthesia and the position of your existing vital anatomy such as nerves. Once they ascertain this information, they can plan your wisdom teeth extraction more easily. When you come in for the procedure, you will receive the appropriate sedation, so you will not experience pain. Your dentist will extract your teeth and look after you the entire time to make sure you are ok. Once your wisdom teeth are pulled, you will receive post-operative instructions. Fortunately, there are many Hughes dentists that accept Aetna and can skillfully 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 TMD and teeth grinding. Without treatment, these could not just cause jaw pain, but actually crack or chip a tooth! Fortunately, your friends at Doctors Network can find the right dental office in Hughes, AK who accepts Aetna.

While very different from one another, these two disorders are often related. TMJ disorder develops when the jaw joints undergo excessive strain. This could cause problems with jaw function. Common symptoms include pain in the jaw, head, and neck. Bruxism means you often grind your teeth or clench your jaw. The pressure could cause jaw pain and headaches. Teeth grinding could also damage teeth. This damage could lead to cavities, infection, and more. Both disorders could be caused by issues that cause bite imbalance, and untreated TMJ disorder could lead to bruxism, and vice-versa. When you have chronic pain in your head and neck, you should find help. We can even connect you with a dentist in Hughes who accepts Aetna.

Treatment options often vary; for some, relief is possible following crown placement, which improves bite balance. For others, treating misalignment with orthodontic treatment could ease strain and stop symptoms. The most common option offered by most dental professionals is a custom splint, which fits like a nightguard. If you need to find treatment from a Hughes dentist. then contact our team!