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A lot happens to our smile when we lose natural teeth. Obviously, there are problems with eating your favorite foods. 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 find a local Meadow Lakes oral surgeon who is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield and provides ridge augmentation. In addition, we could also discuss our membership program to make 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 could also be used. Some opt for synthetic materials. Through oral surgery, these are applied to the areas of weakened structure in the lower jaw.

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, preserving your smile. Our team can connect you to a dentist or oral surgeon in Meadow Lakes, AK who performs jawbone grafting, and also let you know about our membership plan to make sure your care fits your budget!

If 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 areas of the jaw. But sometimes, the 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 Meadow Lakes, AK who can provide a gentle tooth extraction as needed.

As we touched on above, cavities 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 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 Meadow Lakes general dentist could use this to improve the health, function, and surprisingly, sometimes the appearance of your smile.

Now that you understand why a tooth may need an extraction, how do you seek care for one? Well, as mentioned above Doctors Network can find your dentist in the Meadow 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 small fee each month. For some, this could cut the cost of care by up to 90 percent!

Tooth loss could lead to multiple complications for your smile. For example, this could impact how easily you eat your favorite foods, or how clearly you can talk. But the most serious complication is the break down of structure in the jaw. The body suspends the flow of phosphate and calcium 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 Meadow Lakes, AK who can make smiles ready for implants.

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 jaw? Instead of adding new tissue, your Meadow Lakes dentist could perform a sinus lift. Essentially, the dentist will push up the sinus floor to generate 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 then last for decades to come, 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 Meadow Lakes, AK dentist who can offer a sinus lift 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 our Direct Dental Plan, you can have treatments discounted by as much as 90% in some situations. A full smile is in your future!

According to the research by the CDC, over half of adults ages 30 and older suffer from gum disease. Without intervention, 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 Meadow Lakes dental specialist is necessary when you begin to notice changes to your 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 disease could occur due to lack of proper brushing and flossing. Others 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 we touched on above, warning signs include sore and bleeding gums. By seeing a dentist in Meadow Lakes, AK you can receive gum treatments like deep cleaning to bring relief and improve your oral health. These treatments could be at least partially covered by insurance plans.

If you recognize these symptoms, or if you simply have not been to a dentist in recent months, you should schedule a visit. At Doctors Network, we can make sure you find dentists in Meadow Lakes who accept Blue Cross Blue Shield. Good oral health is always possible, and we can help help you find the help you need!

You probably know many people 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 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 removal and what you should look for in a dentist. Luckily, Doctors Network can help you connect with a great dentist near you in Meadow Lakes, 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 come in later than the rest of your teeth, their arrival can cause problems with your existing ones. They can erupt at odd angles, only partially come in, or overcrowd your existing teeth. When this happens, they are probably going to be affected by bacteria and infections. If any of these situations happen, it can be very uncomfortable and can affect your teeth. If you think you might have impediments with wisdom teeth, it is important to see a Meadow Lakes oral surgeon quickly.

If you do need wisdom teeth extraction, your dentist will determine how they will go about the procedure to make sure everything goes according to the plan. 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 and nerve. Once they ascertain these facts, they can plan your treatment more easily. When you come in for the procedure, you will receive the appropriate sedation, so you will not feel discomfort. 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 get post-operative instructions. Fortunately, there are many Meadow Lakes dentists that accept Blue Cross Blue Shield and can adeptly extract your wisdom teeth.

Have you ever noticed a popping sensation in your jaw? 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 crack or chip a tooth! Fortunately, your friends at Doctors Network can find the right dental professional in Meadow Lakes, 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 jaw, head, face, and neck. Bruxism means you suffer from nightly teeth grinding. The stress caused by grinding 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 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 Meadow Lakes 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 aligners or braces could ease strain and stop symptoms. The most common option most dentists offer is an oral splint, which fits like a nightguard. If you need to find treatment from a Meadow Lakes dentist. then contact our team!