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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 clear speech 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 limits dental implant placement. 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 good Port Alsworth oral surgeon who is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield and performs jawbone grafting. In addition, we could also discuss our payment plans to make care affordable!

Jawbone grafting is also referred to as ridge augmentation. Essentially this enables the dentist to restore the lost structure in your mandible. Your dentist could use a number of different options. We could take tissue from the back of the jaw or the hip. Donor materials could also be used. Others recommend synthetic materials. During oral surgery, these are applied to the areas of weakened structure in the lower jawbone.

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, protecting facial structure. Our team can connect you to a dentist or oral surgeon in Port Alsworth, AK who performs jawbone grafting, and also let you know about our membership plan to make sure your treatment fits in your budget!

When you have a toothache, or a tooth that is broken or cracked, 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 or a root canal. 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 Alsworth, AK who can provide a safe tooth extraction as needed.

As we discussed earlier, severe cavities or injury could be why a tooth needs extraction. But a dentist could also remove one that is loosened by gum disease. Extracting a tooth could improve bite 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 appearance of your smile. For people with advanced tooth loss, removing the last few teeth essentially paves the way for a full prosthetic. Your Port Alsworth dentist could use this to improve the function and health of your smile.

Now that you understand why a tooth may require removal, how do you seek care for one? Well, as mentioned above Doctors Network can connect you with a dentist in the Port Alsworth, AK area. But if you don’t have a dental plan, 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 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 how easily you eat your favorite foods, or how clearly you can speak. But the most severe complication is the loss of mass and density in the jaw. The body suspends the flow of calcium and phosphate 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 gaps in your smile. But Doctors Network can connect you with a dentist in Port Alsworth, AK who can shore up your jaw.

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 the upper area? Instead of grafting, your Port Alsworth dentist could perform a sinus lift. Essentially, the dentist will raise the sinus floor to generate new bone structure. The new structure can support dental implants. Once the new teeth are secured, this stimulates the growth of bone tissue to prevent further breakdowns. Your new teeth can then last for decades to come, 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 Port Alsworth, AK oral surgeon who can provide these services 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 insurance, don’t let this stand between you and optimal oral health. Instead, talk to our team about our financing option. 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 Centers for Disease Control, over half of adults older than 30 suffer from gingival disease. Without treatment, this condition could lead to painful symptoms, including red and bleeding gums. The advanced stage, referred to as periodontitis, could also cause the loss of your teeth. This is why care from a Port Alsworth dentist is necessary when you begin to exhibit the common warning signs. We can help by connecting you to one that accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield. After all, your smile is important!

How does the disease start? The early stages of periodontitis could occur due to poor oral hygiene habits. Others could develop it due to lack of dental cleaning visits, or due to inflammatory illness, certain medications, tobacco use, or even gum disease in other family members. As we touched on above, warning signs include red, sore, and bleeding gums. By seeing a dentist in Port Alsworth, AK you can receive periodontal treatments like deep cleaning to bring relief and improve your oral health. These treatment options 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 schedule a visit. At Doctors Network, we can make sure you find dentists in Port Alsworth who accept Blue Cross Blue Shield. Strong periodontal health is always possible, and we can help connect you to your new dentist!

You probably know many people who have had their wisdom teeth removed and are eager to divulge their experiences to you. While this can be helpful, it is still necessary to consult with a dental professional. If you need these teeth extracted, it is best to have lots of information at your disposal. This will help you understand what to expect from wisdom teeth extraction and what you should look for in a dentist. Luckily, Doctors Network can help you connect with a great dentist near you in Port Alsworth, AK that accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Wisdom teeth are located in the back of your mouth, and there are two on the top and two on the bottom. They typically appear between the ages of seventeen and twenty-five. Because they come in later than the rest of your teeth, their appearance can cause complications with your existing ones. They can erupt at odd directions, only partially come in, or overcrowd your current teeth. When this happens, they are likely to succumb to bacteria and infections. If any of these conditions take place, it can be very painful and can affect your dentition. If you think you might have impediments with wisdom teeth coming in, it is important to see a Port Alsworth oral surgery practice as soon as possible.

If you need wisdom tooth extraction, your doctor will determine how they will go about the removal to ensure everything goes smoothly. They will determine how many of your teeth need to be removed and how complex it could get. They will also decide the appropriate type of anesthesia and the position of your existing teeth and nerve. 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, so you will not experience discomfort. Your dentist will extract your teeth and monitor you the entire time to make sure you are doing well. Once your wisdom teeth are extracted, you will get post-surgery care instructions. Fortunately, there are many Port Alsworth dentists that accept Blue Cross Blue Shield and can effectively extract your wisdom teeth.

Have you ever noticed a popping sensation in your jaw? Do you have persistent migraines? If so, this could be related to a common but serious oral health issue. Around 25 million people in the United States suffer from TMD and teeth grinding. Without treatment, these could not only cause pain, but actually wear down outer tooth structure! Fortunately, your friends at Doctors Network can connect you to a dental professional in Port Alsworth, AK who accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield.

While very different from one another, we often find these are related. 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 jaw, head, face, and neck. Bruxism means you clench or grind your teeth in your sleep. The pressure of clenching could cause headaches and 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 cause bite imbalance, and untreated TMJ disorder could lead to bruxism, and vice-versa. When you have persistent pain in your head and neck, you should find help. We can even connect you with a dentist in Port Alsworth who accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Treatment options often vary; 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 dentists is an oral appliance, which fits like a night-guard. If you need to find treatment from a Port Alsworth dentist. then contact our team!