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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 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 help you schedule an appointment with a local Craig dentist who is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield and provides ridge augmentation. In addition, we could also discuss our payment plans to make dental care affordable!

Jawbone grafting is also referred to as ridge augmentation. Essentially this enables the dentist to rebuild jawbone structure in your gums. Your dentist could use various sources. Tissue could be taken from the back of the jaw or the hip. Donor materials such as bovine bone particles could be employed as well. Some opt for synthetic materials. Through oral surgery, these are applied to the areas of weakened structure in the mandible bone.

Once the area heals, biocompatible 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, preserving your smile. Our team can connect you to a dentist or oral surgeon in Craig, AK who performs jawbone grafting, 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 tooth loss, but a spread of infection to other teeth. But sometimes, the damage or 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 connect with a Blue Cross Blue Shield dentist in Craig, AK who can offer a safe 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 periodontal disease. Extracting a tooth could restore overall balance and chewing function. Extraction could also provide room for orthodontic treatment! In many cases, this could prevent the negative impact of wisdom tooth eruption. 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 dentures. Your Craig general dentist could use this to improve the function, health, and even the beauty of your smile.

Now that you understand why and when a tooth may need an extraction, how do you seek care for one? Well, as mentioned above Doctors Network can find a general dentist in the Craig, AK area. But if you don’t have dental insurance, you may worry about costs. Fortunately, we have a payment plan! Our dental membership plan is opened with an initial fee and maintained with a low monthly cost. For some, this could cut the cost of 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 reduces the flow of calcium and phosphate to the areas without teeth, 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 lost teeth. But Doctors Network can connect you with a dentist in Craig, AK who can make smiles ready for implants.

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 a grafting procedure, your Craig dentist could perform a sinus lift. Basically, the dentist will push up the sinus floor to generate new tissues. The new structure can support your new implants. Once the new teeth are secured, this stimulates the growth of bone tissue to preserve the area. Your new teeth then last for decades to come, possibly even a lifetime.

If you need to strengthen your weakened jawbone to support new teeth, we could help. Our team can connect you with a Craig, AK dentist who can address tooth loss and takes Blue Cross Blue Shield. When your smile is strengthened and ready, dental implants could provide a complete smile again. If you don’t have dental insurance, don’t let this stand between you and optimal oral health. Instead, talk to our team about our financing option. 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 gingival disease. Without treatment, this disease could lead to painful symptoms, including red and bleeding gums. The advanced stage, also known as periodontitis, could also cause adult tooth loss. This is why care from a Craig 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 is important!

How does the disease start? The early stages of periodontitis could occur due to poor oral hygiene habits. Some could develop it due to lack of dental cleaning visits, or due to certain medications, inflammatory illness, tobacco use, or even a family history of the disease. As discussed above, warning signs include red, sore, and bleeding gums. By seeing a dentist in Craig, AK you can receive gum treatments like scaling and root planing to bring relief and improve your oral health. These options could be covered or partially covered with insurance plans.

If you notice these signs, or if you simply have not been to a dentist since the pandemic started, you should book an appointment. At Doctors Network, we can make sure you find dentists in Craig who accept Blue Cross Blue Shield. Strong periodontal health is always an option, and we can help facilitate this process!

You probably have lots of friends who have had their wisdom teeth extracted and are eager to describe their experience to you. While this can be helpful, it is still essential to consult with a professional. If you need your wisdom teeth pulled, it is important 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 look for in a dentist. Luckily, Doctors Network can help you connect with a great oral surgeon near you in Craig, AK that accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Wisdom teeth are located in the back of the mouth, and there is one on each quadrant. They usually appear between the ages of seventeen and twenty-five. Because wisdom teeth are the last adult teeth, their arrival can cause problems with your existing ones. They can erupt at unusual angles, only partially erupt, or overcrowd your existing teeth. When this happens, they are more susceptible to harmful bacteria. If any of these situations happen, it can be very painful and can affect your existing teeth. If you think you might have issues with wisdom teeth, it is important to see a Craig oral surgeon hastily.

If you do need wisdom tooth extraction, your oral healthcare professional will determine how they will go about the removal to ensure everything goes smoothly. 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 sedation and the position of your existing teeth. 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 option, so you will not feel any 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 be provided with post-operative instructions. Fortunately, there are many Craig dentists that accept Blue Cross Blue Shield and can effectively 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 25 million people in the United States suffer from TMJ disorder or bruxism. Without treatment, these could not only cause pain, but actually wear down outer tooth structure! Fortunately, your friends at Doctors Network can find the right dentist in Craig, AK who accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield.

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 when you eat or speak. Common symptoms include pain in the face, head and neck, and jaw. Bruxism means you suffer from nightly teeth grinding. The pressure of clenching could cause jaw pain. 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 mean eventual teeth grinding, 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 Craig who accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield.

There are, however, multiple treatment options available; for some, relief is possible following dental bonding, which improves bite balance. For others, treating misalignment with braces could ease strain and stop symptoms. The most common option most dentists offer is a custom splint, which fits like a mouthguard. If you need to find treatment from a Craig dentist. then contact our team!