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 eating a variety of meals. Even talking clearly could be a problem. However, the major problem is the loss of structure in the jaw. This weakens the jaw, and could even cause an older 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 link you to a local Old Harbor dentist who is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield and performs ridge augmentation. In addition, we could also discuss our membership plan to make dental care affordable!

Jawbone grafting is also known as ridge augmentation. Essentially this enables the dentist to restore the lost structure in your gums. Your dentist could employ new tissue from multiple sources. We could take tissue from the back of the jaw or the hip. Donor materials such as freeze-dried bovine bone particles may be recommended too. We could also recommend synthetic materials. Through oral surgery, these are applied to the areas of weakened structure in the mandible bone.

Once the area heals, the 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 Old Harbor, AK who performs jawbone grafting, and also let you know about our dental 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 caries and infections. Soon, there is a risk of not only a lost tooth, 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 find a Blue Cross Blue Shield dentist in Old Harbor, AK who can offer a effective 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 gum disease. Removing a tooth could return balance and chewing function. Extraction could also provide room for correcting misalignment! In many cases, this could prevent wisdom tooth impaction. Removing wisdom teeth prior to eruption helps preserve the balance and overall esthetics. For people with advanced tooth loss, removing the last few teeth essentially paves the way for full or partial dentures. Your Old Harbor dentist could use the extraction to improve the function and health of your smile.

Now that you understand 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 Old Harbor, AK area. But if you don’t have dental insurance, you may worry about the cost. Fortunately, we have a financing option! Our dental membership plan is opened with an initial fee and maintained with a low monthly cost. For some, this could reduce the cost of care by up to 90%!

Tooth loss could lead to major issues for your smile. For example, this could impact your meal options, or how clearly you can articulate. But the most serious complication is the loss of mass and density 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 structure 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 Old Harbor, AK who can make smiles ready for implants.

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 jaw? Instead of grafting, your Old Harbor dentist could perform a sinus lift. Basically, the dentist will raise the sinus floor to induce the formation of new bone structure. The new structure can support one or more implants. Once the new teeth are secured, this stimulates the growth of bone tissue to keep your jaw secure. Your new teeth can then stay firm for decades, possibly even a lifetime.

If you need to strengthen your weakened maxillary jawbone to support new teeth, we could help. Our team can connect you with a Old Harbor, 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 complete smile again. If you don’t have insurance, don’t let this stand between you and good oral health. Instead, talk to our team about our financing option. With a monthly 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 CDC, over half of adults older than 30 suffer from poor periodontal health. Without treatment, this condition could lead to painful symptoms, including sore gums. The advanced stage, also known as periodontitis, could also cause missing teeth. This is why care from a Old Harbor dental professional 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 early stages of periodontitis could occur due to lack of proper brushing and flossing. Some could develop it due to severe plaque and tartar buildup, or due to tobacco use, inflammatory illness, certain medications, or even gum disease in other family members. As discussed above, tell-tell signs include sore and bleeding gums. By seeing a dentist in Old Harbor, AK you can receive periodontal treatments like pocket reduction surgery to bring relief and improve your oral health. These treatment options could be accepted by 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 find the right dentists in Old Harbor 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 tooth pulled and are eager to divulge their experiences to you. While this can be helpful, it is still crucial to consult with a dental professional. If you need these teeth pulled, it is important to have lots 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 Old Harbor, AK that accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Wisdom teeth are in the back of the mouth, and there is one on each quadrant. They most commonly appear between seventeen and twenty-five. Because wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt, their presence 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 uncomfortable and can damage your existing teeth. If you think you might have issues with wisdom teeth eruption, it is important to see a Old Harbor dentist or oral surgeon as soon as possible.

If you do need wisdom teeth extraction, your doctor will determine how they will go about the extraction to make sure everything goes without complications. They will decide which of your wisdom teeth need to be removed and how complex it could get. They will also determine the appropriate type of anesthesia and the position of your existing vital anatomy such as nerves. Once they ascertain this information, they can extract your wisdom teeth more easily. When you come in for the procedure, you will receive the appropriate sedation option, so you will not feel 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 pulled, you will get post-surgery care instructions. Fortunately, there are many Old Harbor dentists that accept Blue Cross Blue Shield and can skillfully remove your wisdom teeth.

Have you experienced popping or cracking when you open your mouth? Do you have aching jaw and facial pain? If so, this could be related to a common but serious oral health issue. 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 dentist in Old Harbor, AK who accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield.

While very different from one another, we often find these are related. TMJ disorder develops when the joints connecting the jaw and skull are stressed. This could cause problems with jaw function. 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 headaches and jaw pain. Teeth grinding could also damage teeth. This damage could lead to decayed teeth, infection, and more. Both disorders could be caused by issues that cause bite imbalance, and untreated TMJ disorder could lead to bruxism, and vice-versa. When you have chronic pain in your head and neck, you should find help. We can even connect you with a dental professional in Old Harbor 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 most dentists offer is an oral splint, which fits like a mouthguard. If you need to find treatment from a Old Harbor dentist. then contact our team!