October 31, 2013

Time for a New Front Tooth?


Replacing an Old Crown Can Enhance Your Mood


Replacing that old crown on your front tooth with today's more advanced dental laboratory technology can make all the difference in the world in how you look, smile, and feel about yourself.  With our in-house laboratory, we can create whichever restorative solution is best for your dental needs. As a Board Certified Prosthodontist, Dr. Tupac welcomes the opportunity to help you! 

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

October 30, 2013

Do You Have Sleep Apneas?


Type of Sleep Apneas


Sleep apnea is a disorder which affects 18 million Americans.  It results in loud snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue.
  • obstructive--the most common--occurs when soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses and obstructs the airway, causing breathing to stop
  • central--when the brain doesn't signal the muscles to breathe
  • mixed--a combination of the two

How Does Sleep Apnea Affect Rest?


During normal sleep, muscles that stiffen the airway behind the tongue and soft palate relax.  With a normal size airway, there is no problem.  However, if the airway is small (anatomically or because of excess weight), it can close.  Breathing continues against the closed airway and becomes increasingly strong (in response to diminished oxygen levels and increased carbon dioxide levels) until the greater effort causes awakening, which activates the muscles to reopen the airway.  The arousals are brief (and mostly unnoticed) but if they occur frequently enough during the night, sleep becomes fragmented and non-restorative, and daytime sleepiness and fatigue results.

With a proper diagnosis of sleep apnea, some dentists make appliances for patients to wear that are designed to keep the airway open.  Prevention.com has a listing of research studies regarding the health effects of untreated sleep apnea.


Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

October 29, 2013

Mouthguards Prevent Dental Injuries


Mouthguards Protection


Athletes have used mouthguards for years to help limit the severity of and provide protection from dental and maxillofacial injuries.  But some authors and manufacturers contend that using mouthguards also can enhance athletic performance, depending on the type of mouthguard used.  To test that theory, researchers at the University of Washington School of Dentistry in Seattle conducted a controlled randomized trial "to evaluate and compare the effect of two different types of mouthguards on the athletic performance and strength of collegiate athletes."  Their findings were reported in the August 2012 edition of Dental Traumatology.  Using members of the university's varsity rowing crew, aged 19 to 23 years, physical performance tests were conducted and overall differences were measured for mouthguard type, as well as athletes' overall satisfaction with each type.  Researchers concluded:  Results failed to demonstrate improved athletic performance while using either type of mouthguard, reflecting earlier research.

Customer Mouthguards


Custom made mouthguards were reported to be comfortable and did not impair athletic performance.  Over the counter mouthguards had a slight negative effect on athletic performance.  The researchers concluded that the use of custom mouthguards should be encouraged in contact sports as a protective measure, without concern for any negative effect on the athletic performance of the athletes.  

Source:  JADA Specialty Scan: Endodontics

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

October 28, 2013

Second-Hand Smoke is Hazardous to Pregnant Women


Researchers have found that pregnant non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke are at a 23% increased risk of delivering stillborn babies and a 13% increased risk of having babies with congenital birth defects.  The findings underline the importance of discouraging expectant fathers from smoking around their pregnant partners and warning women of the potential dangers of passive smoking both pre-conception and during pregnancy.  Mothers' smoking during pregnancy is well-recognized as carrying a range of serious health risks for the unborn baby  including fetal mortality, low birth weight, premature birth and a range of serious birth defects such as cleft palate, club foot and heart problems.  The study from the University of Nottingham drew together the results of research from a systematic review of 19 studies in North and South America, Asia and Europe, and centered on pregnant women who did not smoke themselves but were exposed to second-hand smoke in the home or in the workplace.  While the risk was related to the amount of cigarettes smoked, the data suggested that exposure to as little as 10 cigarettes a day is enough for the risks to be increased.


Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

October 24, 2013

The Link Between Asthma and Tooth Decay



To test the relationship between asthma and tooth decay, data from Medline, government reports and conference proceedings were searched, allowing only for objective criteria.  In all, 11 studies on the primary dentition were included, and 15 on permanent dentition.  The studies were then analyzed.  Evidence from this analysis suggests that  asthma doubles the risk of decay in both the primary and permanent teeth.  If you or your child have asthma, taking preventive measures (home care, routine dental examinations, etc.) are important!  

Source:  Evidence-Based Dentistry 13, 41 (2012)

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

October 23, 2013

Use of Bisphosphonate



Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ) has captured attention in the past 8 years since the identification of this side effect of bisphosphonates (fosomax, et al).  Bisphosphonates are highly effective in control of skeletal health, such as treatment of osteoporosis and cancer metastasis therapy.  However, in patients on oral or intravenous bisphosphonates, there is an increased risk of BRONJ (bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the jaw) after oral procedures that result in exposure of the bone, especially dental extractions or dental implant placement.  The authors found that while the risk with oral bisphosphonates was rare, the risk, while still low, was 30 times higher with the intravenous type.  However, after two years of bisphosphonate therapy, the risk of BRONJ escalated fourfold.   

Source: Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice, June 2012

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

October 11, 2013

Anxiety Disorders


According to the National Institute of Health, studies estimate that anxiety disorders affect between 3 and 14% of older adults in a given year.  While doctors and older adults tend to view anxiety and fear as normal given the circumstances of aging, anxiety disorders are different.  An anxiety disorder lasts a long time and can get worse if it is not treated.  Brain studies show that older adults experience and process emotions differently than younger adults.  They have different concerns, and problems with cognition (thinking) and changes in life circumstances can complicate matters.  They may often express their anxiety in physical terms, such as feeling dizzy or shaky, whereas younger adults may express it in more psychological terms.  Anxiety disorders commonly occur at the same time as other illnesses, like depression, stomach or digestive problems, hyperthyroidism, respiratory problems, heart disease, diabetes and other medical problems.  


Types of Anxiety Disorders


There are several basic types:  
Generalized Anxiety Disorder --worry about things like money, health, and family problems, even if everything is OK; or feeling anxious about just getting through the day.  There is an inability to control worries and relax, a hard time concentrating, and physical symptoms such as headaches, trembling, twitching, sweating, having to go to the bathroom a lot, or difficulty sleeping.  

Social Phobia --even though a person often knows that they shouldn't be afraid, they can't control their fear of everyday things like running errands or meeting with friends.  There is worry in advance of meeting people or about being embarrassed and therefore a feeling of self-consciousness around other people, and a tendency towards isolation.  Physical symptoms such as blushing, heavy sweating, trembling and nausea are common.     

Panic Disorder --sudden, unexplained attacks of terror, often with heart pounding, during which there is a sense of unreality, a fear of impending doom, or a fear of losing control.  During an attack, there is sweating, a feeling of faintness or dizziness, numbness in hands, or nausea, chest pain or difficulty breathing.  There is increased worry about when the next attack will occur.     

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) --develops after undergoing a terrifying ordeal like an accident or an act of violence.  It can be the person who is harmed, or have a loved one who is harmed, or have witnessed a harmful event.  People with PTSD constantly re-live the trauma they experienced and may be triggered by ordinary events.  They may startle easily, become emotionally distant with loved ones, lose interest in things they once enjoyed, be irritable or aggressive, or even violent.     

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder --the uncontrollable need to check things over and over, or having certain unwanted thoughts or images, or perform certain routines over and over.  These thoughts and rituals cause distress and get in the way of daily life.  The repeated, upsetting thoughts are called obsessions.  To try to control them, people with OCD repeat rituals or behaviors, which are called compulsions.  People with OCD cannot control or stop these thoughts or rituals, and they can cause missed work or meetings with friends, or chronic lateness.     

Specific Phobia --an intense, extreme fear of something that poses little or no actual danger, like closed-in places, heights, escalators, tunnels, highway driving, water, flying, animals, or the sight of blood.  Even though the fear is irrational, facing or even thinking about facing the feared object or situation creates severe anxiety.  If you think you have an anxiety disorder, the first person to consult is your family doctor.  A physician can determine whether the symptoms that alarm you are due to an anxiety disorder, another medical condition or both.  If an anxiety disorder is diagnosed, the next step is usually seeing a mental health professional.  The practitioners who are most helpful with anxiety disorders are those who have training in cognitive behavioral therapy and/or behavioral therapy, and who are open to using medication if it is needed.  The good news is that most disorders can be treated with medication or psychotherapy.   

Source:  National Institute of Health

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309