Amazing (Uneven) Front Teeth

If you have only three front teeth instead of four, nobody else has to know!  These beautiful all porcelain crowns were made in our own office laboratory by our master technician.  Which prominent movie star has the same condition?

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

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

Satisfied Implant Patient

Congenitally missing upper right and left lateral incisors... onlay grafts before placement of Nobel 3.0mm Active implants... then restored with angled abutments and porcelain crowns.

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

Your Unique Crown: Your Smile Is Our Specialty

Is crown good for me?

Single front tooth crowns are difficult--the front tooth on the right of this picture has a porcelain crown.

If you've never had a crown or have forgotten the process, you may have some questions.  

Will the procedure hurt or damage my tooth?  How long will it take? What will it look like?  What can I eat?  How long will it last?  Is this crown good for me?  These are good questions that deserve answers.  

Your tooth is unique

Your crown is a prosthesis that is made only for you.  Your tooth is unique like a fingerprint.  Someone else's crown cannot fit your tooth.  It has to be individually made for you alone.  While it's remarkable that science and engineering has made it possible to make millions of exactly the same thing (pencils), it's a miracle that prosthodontists make millions of teeth that are all different, each individualized for each patient's tooth.  An outstanding crown, like the patient's front tooth, can perform all the duties of a natural tooth and cannot be differentiated from the rest of the teeth in your mouth.  It must attach seamlessly to your remaining tooth and root, not allowing bacteria or plaque the opportunity to cause more decay or increase the risk of inflammation leading to gum disease.  It has to remain attached to your tooth and cannot break, and it has to look like and chew like your tooth.  Skillful management of your gum tissues and precise grinding of your tooth is required.  Too much and the tissues are at risk; too little and the crown will be weak.  Dental technology has advanced clinical procedures to a high level of quality and achievement.  Impression materials capture precise details.  Jaw movements are recorded. Materials make crowns more beautiful and stronger than before.  As a Board Certified Prosthodontist, with our advanced techniques and in office laboratory technology, we will provide the exceptional crown you deserve.

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

Replacing Old Front Crowns

Replacing those old crowns on your front teeth 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. Come in for a consultation to see how you can look after being treated.  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

"Your Smile, Our Specialty"

The motto of the American College of Prosthodontists, "Your smile, our specialty", sums up the reason to have your teeth taken care of by a prosthodontist.

Prosthodontists are committed to life-long prosthodontic care as a healthcare partner with their patients.  They believe helping people smile changes lives.  They provide comprehensive care, from diagnosis to treatment.  From a single crown to a full mouth rehabilitation, with fixed or removable prosthetics, using tooth or implant support, prosthodontists are responsible for the patient's complete and final esthetic and functional treatment outcome.

As a Fellow of the American College of Prosthodontists, and having spent more than ten years on the group's Board of Directors, Dr. Tupac ascribes to the ACP's commitment to care.

For more information:  www.gotoaPro.org

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

In-House All Ceramic Crowns

These two upper front teeth have all ceramic crowns fabricated by our in-house laboratory technician.  They can replace old unsightly fillings, eliminate stain, fill spaces and cover exposed root surfaces.  All porcelain crowns for front teeth provide the most natural, brilliant smiles available today

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

Porcelain Veneer Long Term Success

Development Of Resin-Porcelain Mixtures

One of the technological benefits of the "space race" in the 1960's was the development of light weight but highly durable composite (resin-porcelain mixtures) materials.  These composites rapidly expanded into different uses and found their way into all industries, including dental materials.  Hence, tooth-colored composite "bonding" materials became highly popular.  These resin based materials had some drawbacks--tendency to wear, chip and stain, and better techniques were sought.

Introduction of Veneers

In 1982, my in-house porcelain technician and I developed a technique for fabricating veneers for teeth out of porcelain, instead of composite, made on porcelain foil. The interior of the porcelain veneer could be acid-etched and then bonded to a tooth.  I described the technique in presentations to the Pacific Coast Society of Prosthodontics in 1983 and to the California Dental Association Annual Meeting yearly from 1983 to 1987.  In 1999, I presented a 15-year retrospective on porcelain veneers to the CDA meeting, and reported an overall 15 year success rate of 97%.

Combining Veneers With Crowns

As with any technique, success leads the procedure to be used in more demanding situations.  One of these often advertised is the use of veneers in combination with crown lengthening, to create longer teeth and eliminate a "gummy smile."  These veneers inevitably have margins (edges of the veneers) on root surfaces or dentin, instead of enamel.  A recent report in the JADA Specialty Scan quotes a scientific study which shows failure rates of veneers bonded to dentin to be 10.3 times higher than those bonded to enamel, and also a high increased risk of failure associated with crown lengthening, with the most frequent failure type being fracture.

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

Prosthodontists: Crown and Bridge Specialists

Prosthodontic services still include conventional crown and bridge procedures. Crowns are indicated to recreate the anatomy of teeth that are badly broken down and fixed bridges utilize adjacent teeth to replace missing teeth in between them.  Today porcelains afford our office the ability to create teeth that look natural, are compatible with healthy periodontal tissues and durable for many years.

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

Porcelain Crowns

Three upper front teeth instead of four.  The three have been restored with all-porcelain crowns made in our in-office laboratory.  It's the Tom Cruise look.

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