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.

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 mass and density 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 Sand Point oral and maxillofacial surgeon who is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield and performs jawbone grafting. In addition, we could also discuss our membership program to make care affordable!

Jawbone grafting is also known as ridge augmentation. Essentially this enables the dentist to rebuild jawbone 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. Some opt for synthetic materials. In a surgical procedure, these are applied to the areas of weakened structure in the lower jaw.

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 or oral surgeon in Sand Point, AK who offers this surgical procedure, and also let you know about our dental discount plan to make sure your treatment fits in your budget!

If you have a toothache, or a tooth that is chipped, you need dental care. Otherwise, the tooth could develop a decay 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 restoration. Instead, the tooth could require immediate extraction. At Doctors Network, our team can help you find a Blue Cross Blue Shield dentist or oral surgeon in Sand Point, AK who can offer a gentle tooth extraction as needed.

As we discussed earlier, advanced decay or injury could be why a tooth needs extraction. But a dentist could also remove one that is loosened by periodontal disease. Taking out a tooth could return balance and chewing function. Extraction could also provide room for correcting misalignment! In many cases, this could prevent complications from wisdom teeth. 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 dentures. Your Sand Point dentist could use this to improve the function and health of your smile.

Now that you understand why and when 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 Sand Point, AK area. But if you don’t have dental insurance, you may worry about the cost. Fortunately, we have a direct 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 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 decreases the flow of calcium and phosphate to the areas without 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 Sand Point, AK who can shore up your jaw.

As we’ve discussed in previous posts, a ridge augmentation procedure helps strengthen the mandible, so it can support dental implants. But what about the upper arch? Instead of a grafting procedure, your Sand Point dentist could perform a sinus lift. Basically, the dentist will raise the sinus floor to generate new support structure. The new structure can support one or more implants. Once the new teeth are secured, this stimulates the growth of bone tissue to preserve the area. 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 one or more dental implants, we could help. Our team can connect you with a Sand Point, AK dental professional who can provide these services 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 a complete smile. 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 can happen!

According to the research by the CDC, over half of the population ages 30 and older suffer from poor periodontal health. Without treatment, this disease could lead to painful symptoms, including bleeding gums. The advanced stage, also known as periodontitis, could also cause missing teeth. This is why care from a Sand Point 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, we all benefit from routine dental care!

How does the poor gum health come about? The early stages of periodontitis could occur due to improper brushing and flossing. Others could develop it due to infrequent dental cleanings, 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, red, and bleeding gums. By seeing a dentist in Sand Point, AK you can receive periodontal treatments like scaling and root planing to bring relief and improve your oral health. These treatment options could be covered or partially covered with 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 online appointment. At Doctors Network, we can connect you to dentists in Sand Point who accept Blue Cross Blue Shield. Good oral health is always an option, and we can help connect you to your new dentist!

You probably know many people who have had their wisdom tooth removed and are eager to describe their experiences to you. While this can be helpful, it is still crucial to consult with a dentist or an oral surgeon. 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 extraction and what you should look for in a dentist. Luckily, Doctors Network can help you connect with a great dentist near you in Sand Point, AK that accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Wisdom teeth are in the back of your mouth, and there is one on each quadrant. They most commonly appear between the ages of seventeen and twenty-five. Because wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt, their arrival can cause issues with your existing ones. They can erupt at unusual angles, only partially erupt, or overcrowd your already-established teeth. When this happens, they are more susceptible to abscess 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, it is important to see a Sand Point dentist hastily.

If you need wisdom tooth extraction, your dentist will determine how they will go about the removal to make certain everything goes smoothly. 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 sedation and the state of your existing teeth. Once they ascertain these facts, they can plan your wisdom teeth extraction more easily. When you come in for the procedure, you will receive the appropriate sedation option, so you will not feel discomfort. 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 be provided with post-operative instructions. Fortunately, there are many Sand Point dentists that accept Blue Cross Blue Shield and can skillfully 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 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 damage the teeth too! Fortunately, your friends at Doctors Network can find the right dental office in Sand Point, 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 opening and closing the mouth fully. Common symptoms include pain in the jaw, head, and neck. Bruxism means you grind or clench your teeth nightly. The pressure could cause jaw pain. Teeth grinding could also fracture or break your 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 cause 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 Sand Point 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 misalignment with braces could ease strain and stop symptoms. The most common option offered by most dental professionals is an oral appliance, which fits like a mouthguard. If you need to find treatment from a Sand Point dentist. then contact our team!