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 consuming solid foods. 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 leaves the smile too weak for implants. Additional treatments could be necessary to strengthen the jaw in order to make dental implant placement possible! Fortunately, Doctors Network could help you book an online appointment with a good Alatna oral and maxillofacial surgeon who is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield and performs jawbone grafting. In addition, we could also discuss our membership plan to make dental care affordable!

Bone grafting is also known as ridge augmentation. Essentially this enables the dentist to preserve the ridge in your mandible. Your dentist could use various sources. Tissue could be taken from the back of the jaw or the hip. Donor materials like bovine bone could be employed as well. We could also recommend synthetic materials. During oral surgery, these are applied to the areas of weakened structure in the lower jaw.

Once the area heals, biocompatible 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, allowing long-lasting tooth replacement. Our team can connect you to a dentist in Alatna, AK who offers this surgical procedure, 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 broken or cracked, you need treatment. 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 teeth. But sometimes, the damage or cavity is beyond the stage to be treated with a restoration. Instead, the tooth could require immediate removal. At Doctors Network, our team can help you book a visit with a Blue Cross Blue Shield dentist in Alatna, AK who can provide a effective tooth removal as needed.

As we discussed earlier, advanced decay or injury could be why a tooth needs extraction. But a dentist could also remove one that is loosened by periodontitis. Extracting a tooth could restore overall balance and chewing function. Extraction could also provide room for orthodontic treatment! 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 Alatna dentist could use this to improve the function, health, and even the beauty 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 Alatna, 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 small fee each month. 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 nutritional intake, or how clearly you can articulate. But the most severe complication is the loss of integrity in the jaw. The body decreases the flow of calcium and phosphate to the areas without roots, which in turn causes bone loss and an older appearance and weakens the jaw 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 Alatna, AK who can shore up your jaw.

As we’ve discussed in previous posts, a bone grafting procedure helps strengthen the mandible, so it can support dental implants. But what about the upper arch? Instead of adding new tissue, your Alatna 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 last for decades to come, possibly even a lifetime.

If you need to strengthen your weakened jawbone to support a new smile, we could help. Our team can connect you with a Alatna, AK dental professional who can provide these services and takes 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 monthly membership 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 the research by the Centers for Disease Control, over half of adults ages 30 and older suffer from gingival disease. Without treatment, this disease could lead to painful symptoms, including bleeding gums. The advanced stage, referred to as periodontitis, could also cause tooth loss. This is why care from a Alatna dentist is necessary when you begin to notice red, sore, and bleeding gums. We can help by connecting you to one that accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield. After all, your smile needs regular attention!

How does the disease start? The disease could occur due to improper brushing and flossing. Others could develop it due to lack of dental cleaning visits, or due to tobacco use, certain medications, gingivitis, or even a family history of the disease. As we touched on above, warning signs include discomfort and bleeding in the gums. By seeing a dentist in Alatna, AK you can receive periodontal treatments like scaling and root planing to bring relief and improve your oral health. These options could be covered by insurance plans.

If you notice these signs, or if you simply haven’t been to a dentist in recent months, you should book an appointment. At Doctors Network, we can make sure you find dentists in Alatna who accept Blue Cross Blue Shield. Good oral health is always possible, 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 crucial to consult with a professional. If you need these teeth extracted, it is best 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 oral surgeon near you in Alatna, AK that accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield.

The third molars or wisdom teeth are in the back of your mouth, and there are two on the top and two on the bottom. They usually appear between the ages of seventeen and twenty-five. Because they are the last adult teeth, their presence can cause complications 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 harmful bacteria. If any of these situations happen, it can be very painful and can harm your existing teeth. If you think you might have complications with wisdom teeth coming in, it is important to see a Alatna dentist or oral surgeon hastily.

If you do need wisdom tooth removal, your dentist will determine how they will go about the removal to make sure everything goes without complications. They will determine which of your wisdom teeth need to be removed and how complex it will be. They will also assess the appropriate type of sedation and the state 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 anesthesia, so you will not experience pain. 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 extracted, you will receive post-operative instructions. Fortunately, there are many Alatna dentists that accept Blue Cross Blue Shield and can effectively remove your wisdom teeth.

Have you experienced popping or crackling sound in the jaw? 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 chronic bruxism and TMJ dysfunction. Without treatment, these could not only cause pain, but actually damage the teeth too! Fortunately, your friends at Doctors Network can connect you to a dental office in Alatna, AK who accepts 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 with jaw function. Common symptoms include pain in the head and neck. Bruxism means you clench or grind your teeth in your sleep. The pressure could cause jaw pain and headaches. Teeth grinding could also weaken and damage the tooth structure. This damage could lead to cavities, infection, and more. Both disorders could be caused by issues that upset bite balance, 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 dental professional in Alatna who accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Treatment options often vary; for some, relief is possible following dental bonding, 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 an oral appliance, which fits like a nightguard. If you need to find treatment from a Alatna dentist. then contact our team!