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.

Major problems arise when we lose natural teeth. Obviously, there are problems with eating a variety of meals. 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 a prematurely aged appearance. 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 great North Lakes oral and maxillofacial surgeon who is in-network with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and performs jawbone grafting. In addition, we could also discuss our membership program to make care affordable!

Ridge preservation is also referred to as ridge augmentation. Essentially this enables the dentist to restore the lost structure in your mandible. Your dentist could use a number of different options. Tissue could be sourced from the back of the jaw or the hip. Donor materials such as freeze-dried bovine bone particles could also be used. Others recommend synthetic materials. In a surgical procedure, these are applied to the areas of weakened structure in the mandible bone.

Once the area heals, one or more 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, allowing long-lasting tooth replacement. Our team can connect you to a dentist or oral surgeon in North Lakes, AK who offers ridge augmentation, and also let you know about our dental plan to make sure your care fits your budget!

When you have a toothache, or a tooth that is chipped, you need dental care. Otherwise, the tooth could develop a decay and infections. Soon, there is a risk of not only tooth loss, 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 an extraction. At Doctors Network, our team can help you connect with a Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield dentist or oral surgeon in North Lakes, AK who can offer a gentle 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 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 wisdom tooth impaction. Removing wisdom teeth prior to eruption helps preserve the balance and appearance of your smile. For people with advanced tooth loss, removing the last few teeth essentially paves the way for a full prosthetic. Your North Lakes general dentist could use the procedure to improve the health, function, and surprisingly, sometimes the appearance 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 locate a dentist in the North Lakes, AK area. But if you don’t have coverage, you may worry about the cost. Fortunately, we have a 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 several problems for your smile. For example, this could impact your meal options, or how clearly you can talk. But the most severe complication is the break down of structure in the jaw. The body suspends the flow of phosphate and calcium to the areas without teeth, which in turn causes bone loss and an aged appearance 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 North Lakes, AK who can shore up your jaw.

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

If you need to strengthen your weakened upper jawbone to support one or more dental implants, we could help. Our team can connect you with a North Lakes, AK dental professional who can address tooth loss and takes Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. 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 optimal oral health. 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 CDC, over half of the population ages 30 and older suffer from poor periodontal health. Without intervention, this condition could lead to painful symptoms, including red and bleeding gums. The advanced stage, known as periodontitis, could also cause adult tooth loss. This is why care from a North Lakes dental specialist is necessary when you begin to notice changes to your gums. We can help by connecting you to one that accepts Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. After all, we all benefit from routine dental care!

How does the gum disease start? The changes to your gum tissue could occur due to improper brushing and flossing. Others could develop it due to infrequent dental cleanings, or due to inflammatory illness, certain medications, tobacco use, or even other family members with poor gum health. As discussed above, warning signs include red, sore, and bleeding gums. By seeing a dentist in North Lakes, AK you can receive gum treatments like deep cleaning to bring relief and improve your oral health. These treatments could be covered by insurance plans.

If you feel concerned, or if you simply have not been to a dentist in recent months, you should book an appointment. At Doctors Network, we can make sure you find dentists in North Lakes who accept Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. A healthy and whole smile is always an option, and we can help facilitate this process!

You probably have lots of friends who have had their wisdom tooth extracted and are eager to describe their experience to you. While this can be helpful, it is still necessary to consult with a oral surgeon. If you need your wisdom teeth removed, it is important to have lots of information at your disposal. This will help you understand what to expect from wisdom teeth extraction and what you should look for in a dentist. Luckily, Doctors Network can help you connect with a great dentist near you in North Lakes, AK that accepts Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.

The third molars are located in the back of your mouth, and there are two on the top and two on the bottom. They typically appear between seventeen and twenty-five. Because wisdom teeth come in later than the rest of your teeth, their appearance can cause issues with your existing ones. They can erupt at odd directions, only partially come in, or overcrowd your already-established teeth. When this happens, they are probably going to be affected by harmful bacteria. If any of these situations happen, it can be very uncomfortable and can harm your existing teeth. If you think you might have impediments with wisdom teeth coming in, it is important to see a North Lakes dentist quickly.

If you need wisdom teeth extraction, your dentist will determine how they will go about the removal to ensure everything goes without complications. They will determine how many of your teeth need to be removed and how complex it could get. They will also decide the appropriate type of anesthesia and the condition of your existing teeth and nerve. 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 option, so you will not feel pain. 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 removed, you will get information about the recovery period. Fortunately, there are many North Lakes dentists that accept Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and can adeptly pull your wisdom teeth.

Did you ever notice popping or cracking when you open your mouth? Do you have frequent headaches or jaw pain? If so, this could be related to two common jaw joint issues. Around twenty-five million people in the United States suffer from TMD and teeth grinding. Without treatment, these could not just cause jaw pain, but actually wear down outer tooth structure! Fortunately, your friends at Doctors Network can help you find a dental office in North Lakes, AK who accepts Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.

While very different from one another, we often find these are related. TMJ disorder develops when the the temporomandibular joints become strained. This could cause problems opening and closing the mouth fully. Common symptoms include pain in the jaw, head, face, and neck. Bruxism means you suffer from nightly teeth grinding. The pressure 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 lead to bruxism, and vice-versa. When you have persistent pain in your head and neck, you should find help. We can even connect you with a dentist in North Lakes who accepts Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.

There are, however, multiple treatment options available; for some, relief is possible following crown placement, which improves bite balance. For others, treating malocclusion 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 North Lakes dentist. then contact our team!