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 consuming solid 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 a prematurely aged appearance. More importantly, this limits dental implant placement. Additional treatments could be necessary to strengthen the jaw in order to prepare the gum for dental implants! Fortunately, Doctors Network could help you book an online appointment with a good South Lakes oral and maxillofacial surgeon who is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield and provides ridge augmentation. In addition, we could also discuss our membership plan to make care affordable!

Jawbone grafting is also referred to as ridge augmentation. Essentially this enables the dentist to rebuild jawbone structure in your gums. Your dentist could use a number of different options. Tissue could be sourced from the back of the jaw or the hip. Donor materials like bovine bone could be employed as well. 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, biocompatible dental implants could be placed. The body will see them as natural structures. As a result, they help prevent any further breakdown in the jaw, protecting facial structure. Our team can connect you to a dentist in South Lakes, AK who performs ridge augmentation and dental implants, and also let you know about our membership plan to make sure your care fits in 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 issue 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 connect with a Blue Cross Blue Shield dentist in South Lakes, AK who can offer a effective 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 periodontal disease. Removing a tooth could improve bite balance and chewing function. Extraction could also provide room for treatment with braces! 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 South Lakes general dentist could use the procedure to improve the function, health, and even the beauty 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 find a general dentist in the South Lakes, AK area. But if you don’t have a dental plan, 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 monthly fee. For some, this could cut the cost of care by up to 90%!

Tooth loss could lead to major issues for your smile. For example, this could impact your nutritional intake, or how clearly you can speak. But the most severe complication is the break down of structure in the jaw. The body suspends the flow of calcium, phosphate, and other minerals to the areas without teeth, which in turn causes bone loss and an older appearance and weakens the structure 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 South Lakes, AK who can make smiles ready for implants.

As discussed in previous posts, a jawbone grafting procedure helps strengthen the mandible, so it can support dental implants. But what about the the upper area? Instead of a grafting procedure, your South Lakes dentist could perform a sinus lift. Basically, the dentist will push up the sinus floor to induce the formation of 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 then stay in place for years, possibly even a lifetime.

If you need to strengthen your weakened jawbone to support a new smile, we could help. Our team can connect you with a South Lakes, 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 a complete smile. 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 is possible again!

According to the research by the CDC, over half of adults ages 30 and older suffer from gingival disease. Without intervention, this condition could lead to painful symptoms, including red and bleeding gums. The advanced stage, referred to as periodontitis, could also cause adult tooth loss. This is why care from a South Lakes dental professional 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, your smile needs regular attention!

How does the gum disease start? The early stages of periodontitis could occur due to poor oral hygiene habits. Some could develop it due to severe plaque and tartar buildup, or due to gingivitis, tobacco use, certain medications, or even other family members with poor gum health. As we touched on above, tell-tell signs include changes to your gingival tissues including soreness and bleeding. By seeing a dentist in South Lakes, AK you can receive gum treatments like pocket reduction surgery to bring relief and improve your oral health. These options could be at least partially covered by insurance plans.

If you experience these warning signs, or if you simply haven’t been to a dentist in the last six months, you should schedule a visit. At Doctors Network, we can connect you to dentists in South Lakes who accept Blue Cross Blue Shield. A healthy and whole smile is always an option, and we can help facilitate this process!

You probably know a lot of people who have had their wisdom tooth removed and are eager to describe their experience to you. While this can be helpful, it is still necessary to consult with a oral surgeon. If you need these teeth extracted, it is important 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 expect from the dentist. Luckily, Doctors Network can help you connect with a great dentist near you in South Lakes, AK that accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Wisdom teeth are located in the back of the mouth, and there is one on each quadrant. They typically appear between seventeen and twenty-five. Because they are the last adult teeth, their arrival can cause problems with your existing ones. They can erupt at unusual angles, only partially come in, or overcrowd your current teeth. When this occurs, they are likely to succumb to bacteria and infections. If any of these situations happen, it can be very painful and can affect your existing teeth. If you think you might have complications with wisdom teeth coming in, it is important to see a South Lakes oral surgery practice as soon as possible.

If you need wisdom teeth extraction, your oral healthcare professional will determine how they will go about the removal to ensure everything goes according to the plan. They will determine which of your wisdom teeth need to be removed and how complex it could get. They will also decide the appropriate type of anesthesia and the condition of your existing vital anatomy such as nerves. Once they ascertain these details, they can plan your wisdom teeth extraction more easily. When you come in for the procedure, you will receive the appropriate anesthesia option, so you will not experience pain. Your dentist will extract your teeth and look after you the entire time to make sure you are ok. Once your wisdom teeth are extracted, you will receive post-surgery care instructions. Fortunately, there are many South Lakes dentists that accept Blue Cross Blue Shield and can skillfully remove your wisdom teeth.

Have you experienced popping or crackling sound in the jaw? Do you have persistent migraines? If so, this could be related to two common jaw joint issues. Around 25 million people in the United States suffer from TMD and teeth grinding. Without treatment, these could not only lead to painful symptoms, but actually wear down outer tooth structure! Fortunately, your friends at Doctors Network can connect you to a dental office in South 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 with jaw function. Common symptoms include pain in the jaw, head, and neck. Bruxism means you clench or grind your teeth in your sleep. The pressure of clenching could cause jaw pain. Teeth grinding could also damage teeth. This damage could lead to decay, infection, and more. Both disorders could be caused by issues that strain the jaw joints, 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 South Lakes who accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield.

There are, however, multiple treatment options available; for some, relief is possible following crown placement, which improves bite balance. For others, treating misalignment 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 South Lakes dentist. then contact our team!