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A lot happens to our smile 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 a prematurely aged appearance. 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 find a local Gustavus oral surgeon who is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield and provides jawbone grafting. 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 a number of different options. Tissue could be sourced from the back of the jaw or the hip. Donor materials like bovine bone could be employed as well. Some opt for synthetic materials. In a surgical procedure, these are applied to the areas of weakened structure in the mandibular bone.

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, allowing long-lasting tooth replacement. Our team can connect you to a dentist in Gustavus, AK who offers ridge augmentation, and also let you know about our dental discount plan to make sure your treatment fits in your budget!

When you have a toothache, or a tooth that is chipped, you need treatment. 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. Instead, the tooth could require immediate extraction. At Doctors Network, our team can help you book an online appointment with a Blue Cross Blue Shield dentist or oral surgeon in Gustavus, AK who can offer a safe tooth removal as needed.

As we discussed earlier, 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 improve bite balance and chewing function. Extraction could also provide room for treatment with braces! In many cases, this could prevent complications from wisdom teeth. 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 Gustavus general dentist could use this to improve the function and health of your smile.

Now that you understand why a tooth may need to be taken out, how do you seek care for one? Well, as mentioned above Doctors Network can connect you with a dentist in the Gustavus, 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 monthly fee. For some, this could cut the cost of care by up to 90%!

Tooth loss could lead to multiple complications for your smile. For example, this could impact your nutritional intake, or how clearly you can articulate. But the most severe complication is the break down of structure in the jaw. The body decreases the flow of calcium and phosphate to the areas without tooth roots, 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 Gustavus, AK who can shore up your jaw.

As discussed in previous posts, a jawbone grafting procedure helps strengthen the mandible, so it can support dental implants. But what about the upper jaw? Instead of a grafting procedure, your Gustavus dentist could perform a sinus lift. Basically, the dentist will raise the sinus floor to induce the formation of new support structure. 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 maxillary jawbone to support one or more dental implants, we could help. Our team can connect you with a Gustavus, AK dental professional who can offer a sinus lift 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 Direct Dental Plan. 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 studies by the CDC, over half of adults ages 30 and older suffer from poor periodontal health. Without treatment, this disease could lead to painful symptoms, including sore gums. The advanced stage, also known as periodontitis, could also cause the loss of your teeth. This is why care from a Gustavus 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, your smile is important!

How does the gum disease start? The early stages of periodontitis could occur due to lack of proper brushing and flossing. Some could develop it due to lack of dental cleaning visits, or due to inflammatory illness, certain medications, tobacco use, or even other family members with poor gum health. As we touched on above, tell-tell signs include sore and bleeding gums. By seeing a dentist in Gustavus, AK you can receive gum treatments like gum grafting to bring relief and improve your oral health. These treatment options could be at least partially covered by insurance plans.

If you feel concerned, or if you simply haven’t been to a dentist since the pandemic started, you should book an online appointment. At Doctors Network, we can make sure you find dentists in Gustavus who accept Blue Cross Blue Shield. A healthy and whole smile is always possible, and we can help facilitate this process!

You probably know many people who have had their wisdom tooth pulled and are eager to describe their experience 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 extraction and what you should expect from the dentist. Luckily, Doctors Network can help you connect with a great oral surgeon near you in Gustavus, 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 typically appear between seventeen and twenty-five. Because they are the last adult teeth, their arrival 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 occurs, they are more susceptible to abscess and infections. If any of these conditions take place, it can be very painful and can affect your existing teeth. If you think you might have complications with wisdom teeth coming in, it is important to see a Gustavus oral surgery specialist quickly.

If you do need wisdom teeth extraction, your oral healthcare professional will determine how they will go about the extraction to make sure everything goes without complications. They will decide how many of your teeth need to be removed and how complex it will be. They will also determine the appropriate type of anesthesia and the position of your existing teeth. Once they ascertain these facts, they can plan your treatment more easily. When you come in for the procedure, you will receive the appropriate anesthesia, so you will not feel pain. Your dentist will extract your teeth and monitor you the entire time to make sure you are doing well. Once your wisdom teeth are pulled, you will receive post-operative instructions. Fortunately, there are many Gustavus dentists that accept Blue Cross Blue Shield and can adeptly extract your wisdom teeth.

Have you ever noticed 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 twenty-five million people in the United States suffer from chronic bruxism and TMJ dysfunction. Without treatment, these could not only cause pain, but actually crack or chip a tooth! Fortunately, your friends at Doctors Network can find the right dental professional in Gustavus, 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 the temporomandibular joints become strained. This could cause problems when you eat or speak. Common symptoms include pain in the face, head and neck, and jaw. Bruxism means you clench or grind your teeth in your sleep. The stress caused by grinding could cause jaw pain. Teeth grinding could also weaken and damage the tooth structure. 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 cause 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 Gustavus 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 malocclusion with aligners or braces could ease strain and stop symptoms. The most common option offered by most dental professionals is an oral splint, which fits like a mouthguard. If you need to find treatment from a Gustavus dentist. then contact our team!