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A lot happens to our smile when we lose natural teeth. Obviously, there are problems with eating your favorite foods. Even speaking 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 leaves the smile too weak for implants. 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 Port Alexander oral surgeon who is in-network with Aetna and provides ridge augmentation. In addition, we could also discuss our membership program to make dental care affordable!

Jawbone grafting is also known as ridge augmentation. Essentially this enables the dentist to rebuild jawbone structure in your mandible. Your dentist could employ new tissue from multiple sources. We could take tissue from the back of the jaw or the hip. Donor materials could be employed as well. We could also recommend synthetic materials. Through oral surgery, 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 accept them as natural roots. As a result, they help prevent any further breakdown in the jaw, preserving your smile. Our team can connect you to a dentist in Port Alexander, AK who performs ridge augmentation and dental implants, and also let you know about our dental plan to make sure your care 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 cavity is beyond the stage to be treated with a tooth filling or a root canal. Instead, the tooth could require immediate extraction. At Doctors Network, our team can help you book a visit with a Aetna dentist or oral surgeon in Port Alexander, AK who can provide a gentle tooth removal as needed.

As we discussed earlier, severe cavities or injury could be why a tooth needs extraction. But a dentist could also remove one that is loosened by periodontal disease. Taking out a tooth could return 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 smile beauty. For people with advanced tooth loss, removing the last few teeth essentially paves the way for full or partial dentures. Your Port Alexander dentist could use the procedure to improve the function and health of your smile.

Now that you understand when 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 Port Alexander, AK area. But if you don’t have dental insurance, 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 low monthly cost. For some, this could discount care by up to ninety percent!

Tooth loss could lead to multiple complications for your smile. For example, this could impact how easily you eat your favorite foods, or how clearly you can talk. But the most severe complication is the loss of integrity in the jaw. The body decreases the flow of phosphate and calcium to the areas without teeth, which in turn causes bone loss and the loss of youthful facial structure and weakens the jaw significantly. Which means you may not be able to receive dental implants to address lost teeth. But Doctors Network can connect you with a dentist in Port Alexander, AK who can make smiles ready for implants.

As discussed in previous posts, a jawbone grafting procedure helps strengthen the mandible, so it can support dental implants. But what about the the upper area? Instead of a grafting procedure, your Port Alexander dentist could perform a sinus lift. Essentially, the dentist will raise the sinus floor to generate new bone structure. The new structure can support your new 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 in place for years, possibly even a lifetime.

If you need to strengthen your weakened maxillary jawbone to support one or more dental implants, we could help. Our team can connect you with a Port Alexander, AK dentist who can offer a sinus lift and takes Aetna. When your smile is strengthened and ready, dental implants could provide a complete 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 financing option. With a monthly membership fee, you can have treatments discounted by as much as 90% in some situations. A full smile can happen!

According to the research by the Centers for Disease Control, over half of the population ages 30 and older suffer from gingival disease. Without intervention, this disease could lead to painful symptoms, including red and bleeding gums. The advanced stage, also known as periodontitis, could also cause tooth loss. This is why care from a Port Alexander 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 gum disease start? The early stages of periodontitis could occur due to poor oral hygiene habits. Some could develop it due to infrequent dental cleanings, or due to tobacco use, inflammatory illness, certain medications, or even gum disease in other family members. As we touched on above, tell-tell signs include red, sore, and bleeding gums. By seeing a dentist in Port Alexander, AK you can receive periodontal treatments like gum grafting to bring relief and improve your oral health. These treatment options could be accepted by insurance plans.

If you notice these signs, or if you simply haven’t been to a dentist since the pandemic started, you should book an appointment. At Doctors Network, we can connect you to dentists in Port Alexander who accept Aetna. Strong periodontal health is always possible, and we can help connect you to your new dentist!

You probably know many people who have had their wisdom teeth extracted and are eager to describe their story to you. While this can be helpful, it is still crucial to consult with a professional. If you need your wisdom teeth pulled, it is best to have a wide range of information at your disposal. This will help you understand what to expect from wisdom teeth removal and what you should expect from the dentist. Luckily, Doctors Network can help you connect with a great oral surgeon near you in Port Alexander, AK that accepts Aetna.

Wisdom teeth are in the back of the mouth, and there are two on the top and two on the bottom. They most commonly appear between the ages of seventeen and twenty-five. Because they are the last adult teeth, their presence can cause problems with your existing ones. They can erupt at odd directions, only partially erupt, or overcrowd your existing teeth. When this occurs, they are more susceptible to harmful bacteria. If any of these situations happen, it can be very painful and can harm your dentition. If you think you might have complications with wisdom teeth eruption, it is important to see a Port Alexander oral surgeon or dentist as soon as possible.

If you in fact need wisdom teeth extraction, your oral healthcare professional will determine how they will go about the extraction to make certain everything goes according to the plan. They will determine which of your wisdom teeth need to be removed and how complex it could get. They will also determine the appropriate type of anesthesia and the position of your existing vital anatomy such as nerves. Once they ascertain these facts, they can extract your wisdom teeth more easily. When you come in for the procedure, you will receive the appropriate anesthesia, so you will not experience discomfort. Your dentist will extract your teeth and pay attention to your needs 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 Port Alexander dentists that accept Aetna and can adeptly extract your wisdom teeth.

Have you ever noticed a popping sensation in your jaw? Do you have frequent headaches or jaw pain? If so, this could be related to two common jaw joint issues. Around 25 million people in the United States suffer from chronic bruxism and TMJ dysfunction. Without treatment, these could not just cause jaw pain, but actually wear down outer tooth structure! Fortunately, your friends at Doctors Network can find the right dental professional in Port Alexander, AK who accepts Aetna.

While very different from one another, one often increases the risk of the other. TMJ disorder develops when the joints connecting the jaw and skull are stressed. This could cause problems opening and closing the mouth fully. Common symptoms include pain in the head and neck. Bruxism means you grind or clench your teeth nightly. The pressure of clenching could cause jaw pain. Teeth grinding could also fracture or break your teeth. This damage could lead to decayed teeth, 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 frequent discomfort in your head and neck, you should find help. We can even connect you with a dentist in Port Alexander who accepts Aetna.

Treatment options often vary; for some, relief is possible following crown placement, which improves bite balance. For others, treating malocclusion with Invisalign could ease strain and stop symptoms. The most common option most dentists offer is an oral splint, which fits like a mouthguard. If you need to find treatment from a Port Alexander dentist. then contact our team!