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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 structure in the jaw. This weakens the jaw, and could even cause patients to look older. 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 schedule an appointment with a good Port Alexander oral surgeon who is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield and offers this care. In addition, we could also discuss our membership program to make care affordable!

Bone grafting is also referred to as ridge augmentation. Essentially this enables the dentist to preserve the ridge in your gums. Your dentist could use various sources. We could take tissue from the back of the jaw or the hip. Donor materials could be employed as well. Some opt for synthetic materials. During oral surgery, these are applied to the areas of weakened structure in the mandibular bone.

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 Port Alexander, AK who performs jawbone grafting, and also let you know about our dental discount plan to make sure your care fits in your budget!

When 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 missing teeth, but a spread of infection to other areas of the jaw. But sometimes, the damage or cavity is beyond the stage to be treated with a tooth filling. Instead, the tooth could require immediate removal. At Doctors Network, our team can help you book an online appointment with a Blue Cross Blue Shield dentist in Port Alexander, AK who can offer a gentle tooth extraction 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 periodontitis. Removing a tooth could restore overall balance and chewing function. Extraction could also provide room for correcting misalignment! 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 Port Alexander dentist could use the extraction 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 a general dentist in the Port Alexander, AK area. But if you don’t have a dental plan, you may worry about costs. Fortunately, we have a financing option! 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 ninety percent!

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 serious complication is the loss of integrity 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 an older appearance and weakens the jaw significantly. Which means you may not be able to receive dental implants to address your missing teeth. But Doctors Network can connect you with a dentist in Port Alexander, AK who can strengthen your smile.

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 the upper area? Instead of adding new tissue, your Port Alexander 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 can then stay firm for decades, 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 Port Alexander, 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 full smile again. If you don’t have dental insurance, don’t let this stand between you and good 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 can happen!

According to studies by the CDC, over half of adults older than 30 suffer from gingival disease. Without intervention, this condition could lead to painful symptoms, including sore gums. The advanced stage, referred to as periodontitis, could also cause the loss of your teeth. This is why care from a Port Alexander dentist is necessary when you begin to experience sore, red, 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 disease could occur due to poor oral hygiene habits. Some could develop it due to severe plaque and tartar buildup, or due to certain medications, inflammatory illness, tobacco use, or even gum disease in other family members. As we touched on above, tell-tell signs include sore, red, and bleeding gums. By seeing a dentist in Port Alexander, AK you can receive periodontal treatments like pocket reduction surgery to bring relief and improve your oral health. These treatments could be at least partially covered by insurance plans.

If you experience these warning signs, or if you simply have not been to a dentist in the last six months, you should book an online appointment. At Doctors Network, we can find the right dentists in Port Alexander who accept Blue Cross Blue Shield. A healthy and whole smile is always possible, and we can help connect you to your new dentist!

You probably know many people who have had their wisdom tooth pulled and are eager to divulge their story to you. While this can be helpful, it is still crucial to consult with a oral surgeon. If you need your wisdom teeth extracted, it is best to have a plethora of information at your disposal. This will help you understand what to expect from the procedure and what you should look for in a dentist. Luckily, Doctors Network can help you connect with a great dentist near you in Port Alexander, AK that accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield.

The third molars or 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 they are the last adult teeth, their arrival can cause complications with your existing ones. They can erupt at unusual directions, only partially come in, or overcrowd your existing teeth. When this happens, they are likely to succumb to abscess and infections. If any of these situations happen, it can be very painful and can affect your dentition. If you think you might have issues with wisdom teeth, it is important to see a Port Alexander dentist or oral surgeon hastily.

If you in fact need wisdom tooth removal, your doctor will determine how they will go about the removal to make certain 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 condition of your existing teeth and nerve. Once they ascertain these details, 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 any pain. Your dentist will extract your teeth and pay attention to your needs 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 Port Alexander 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 a common but serious oral health issue. Around 25 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 connect you to a dental professional in Port Alexander, AK who accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield.

While very different from one another, these two disorders are often related. TMJ disorder develops when the jaw joints undergo excessive strain. This could cause problems opening and closing the mouth fully. Common symptoms include pain in the jaw, head, and neck. Bruxism means you suffer from nightly teeth grinding. The pressure of clenching could cause jaw pain and headaches. Teeth grinding could also damage teeth. This damage could lead to cavities, infection, and more. Both disorders could be caused by issues that cause bite imbalance, 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 dentist in Port Alexander who accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Treatment options often vary; for some, relief is possible following recontouring, which improves bite balance. For others, treating malocclusion with aligners or braces could ease strain and stop symptoms. The most common option most dentists offer is a custom splint, which fits like a night-guard. If you need to find treatment from a Port Alexander dentist. then contact our team!