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 clear speech 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 an older appearance. More importantly, this limits dental implant placement. Additional treatments could be necessary to strengthen the jaw in order to prepare the gum for dental implants! Fortunately, Doctors Network could help you schedule an appointment with a good Gakona dentist who is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield and provides ridge augmentation. In addition, we could also discuss our membership program to make dental 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 employ new tissue from multiple sources. 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. Some opt for synthetic materials. In a surgical procedure, these are applied to the areas of weakened structure in the lower jawbone.

Once the area heals, biocompatible 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 in Gakona, AK who performs ridge augmentation and dental implants, and also let you know about our dental plan to make sure your treatment 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 a lost tooth, but a spread of infection to other areas of the jaw. But sometimes, the issue is beyond the stage to be treated with a tooth filling or a root canal. 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 or oral surgeon in Gakona, AK who can offer a gentle 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 gum disease. Taking out a tooth could return balance and chewing function. Extraction could also provide room for treatment with braces! In many cases, this could prevent the negative impact of wisdom tooth eruption. 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 dentures. Your Gakona dentist could use the extraction to improve the function, health, and even the beauty of your smile.

Now that you understand when a tooth may need to be taken out, how do you seek care for one? Well, as mentioned above Doctors Network can find a great dental practice in the Gakona, AK area. But if you don’t have dental insurance, 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 low monthly cost. 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 speak. But the most serious complication is the loss of mass and density in the jaw. The body suspends the flow of calcium, phosphate, and other minerals to the areas without teeth, 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 lost teeth. But Doctors Network can connect you with a dentist in Gakona, 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 upper arch? Instead of grafting, your Gakona dentist could perform a sinus lift. Essentially, the dentist will raise the sinus floor to induce the formation of new tissues. The new structure can support dental implants. Once the new teeth are secured, this stimulates the growth of bone tissue to preserve the area. Your new teeth can then stay firm for decades, possibly even a lifetime.

If you need to strengthen your weakened jawbone to support one or more dental implants, we could help. Our team can connect you with a Gakona, AK dental professional 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 insurance, don’t let this stand between you and optimal oral health. 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 is possible again!

According to the research 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 red and bleeding gums. The advanced stage, referred to as periodontitis, could also cause tooth loss. This is why care from a Gakona dental specialist is necessary when you begin to notice sore and bleeding gums. We can help by connecting you to one that accepts 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. Some could develop it due to infrequent dental cleanings, or due to tobacco use, inflammatory illness, certain medications, or even other family members with poor gum health. As discussed above, tell-tell signs include red, sore, and bleeding gums. By seeing a dentist in Gakona, AK you can receive periodontal treatments like scaling and root planing to bring relief and improve your oral health. These 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 make sure you find dentists in Gakona who accept Blue Cross Blue Shield. Strong periodontal health is always possible, and we can help facilitate this process!

You probably know a lot of people who have had their wisdom teeth removed and are eager to describe their experiences to you. While this can be helpful, it is still necessary to consult with a oral surgeon. If you need your wisdom teeth extracted, 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 Gakona, AK that accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield.

The third molars are located in the back of the mouth, and there are two on the top and two on the bottom. They most commonly appear between seventeen and twenty-five. Because wisdom teeth come in later than the rest of your teeth, their arrival can cause issues with your existing ones. They can erupt at unusual angles, only partially erupt, or overcrowd your already-established teeth. When this occurs, they are more susceptible to harmful bacteria. If any of these conditions take place, it can be very painful and can harm your existing teeth. If you think you might have complications with wisdom teeth eruption, it is important to see a Gakona dentist or oral surgeon as soon as possible.

If you need wisdom teeth extraction, your dentist will determine how they will go about the extraction to make sure everything goes smoothly. They will decide which of your wisdom teeth need to be removed and how complex it will be. They will also decide the appropriate type of anesthesia and the condition 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 anesthesia option, so you will not experience 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 extracted, you will be provided with post-operative instructions. Fortunately, there are many Gakona dentists that accept Blue Cross Blue Shield and can adeptly remove your wisdom teeth.

Have you experienced popping or crackling sound in the jaw? Do you have persistent migraines? 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 only lead to painful symptoms, but actually wear down outer tooth structure! Fortunately, your friends at Doctors Network can connect you to a dentist in Gakona, 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 opening and closing the mouth fully. Common symptoms include pain in the head and neck. Bruxism means you clench or grind your teeth in your sleep. The pressure could cause headaches and 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 strain the jaw joints, and untreated TMJ disorder could mean eventual teeth grinding, and vice-versa. When you have persistent pain in your head and neck, you should find help. We can even connect you with a dental professional in Gakona who accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield.

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