Dental Implants: The Secure Smile!

Too loose for use:  Just yesterday, we had another new patient who was wearing a removable partial replacing some missing upper front teeth. Her story was predictable:  every few years, her gums changed and the partial had to be remade.  The partial moves around and she was self-conscious that people could tell the teeth were loose.  The movement made her guarded with her smile and speech, because she felt she had to hold the partial in place all the time.  She also avoided biting into foods that could dislodge the partial.

Implant the quality in your life:  Fortunately, as long as you are healthy, it's never too late for dental implants.  Teeth on implants are secure and comfortable.  By bringing out your best smile, and allowing you to eat and speak with confidence, they improve the quality of your life.

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 Board Certified Prosthodontist Knows Best

The training of prosthodontists enables them to perform more complex procedures and employ advanced strategies.  They envision the patient's function and final smile before dental implants are placed.  The board certified prosthodontist's design from implant placement to the final restoration delivers the best results.

What does it mean to be board certified?  Not all those who call themselves specialists have really had American Dental Association accredited training.  Similarly, not all those who are trained are board certified.  The American Board of Prosthodontics administers the process, like that in other dental and medical fields.  It involves completing a comprehensive, written and oral examination, and demonstration of the diagnosis, treatment and results of patients over a period of years, all presented to a panel of examiners.

The result of passing the multiyear process is the recognition of being a Diplomate of the American Board.  To maintain board certification, Diplomates are required to demonstrate their commitment to their continuing professional education by attending or presenting scientific lectures or publishing articles or textbook chapters.  Dr. Tupac, in 2013, completed the recertification process.

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

Are Dental Implants For You?

Natural teeth have roots that are held by soft tissue to the jawbone. They can become decayed and compromised and unable to function properly.  Dental implants are made of titanium, a scientifically proven substance that is compatible with gum tissue and bonds to bone over time.

Dental implants are the best solution for replacing upper and lower dentures, replacing teeth that have to be removed due to severe periodontal disease or rampant tooth decay, replacing missing or loose teeth, or after unsuccessful root canal therapy.

If your teeth have reached the state of no repair, or you can no longer function fully with removable appliances, dental implants are for 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

Implant-Based Solutions = Improved Quality of Life

There is no need to be edentulous.  With conventional dentures, severe bone resoption occurs.  Because dentures are loose all the time, patients lose more than confidence, avoiding certain foods can lead to nutritional deficiencies, and an altered self-image causes an avoidance of social situations.  Dentures restore only 15% of chewing function.  Poorly fitting dentures can cause sore spots and painful blisters.  They often offer only limited lip and cheek support, and the face loses its natural appearance.

Dental implants provide the following functional benefits:

• greater chewing capability
• improved esthetics
• improved speech
• greater comfort
• less bone resorption

And the following emotional benefits:

• improved self-image
• improved self confidence
• greater self esteem
• improved social life

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

Implants Replace Missing Teeth

As a Board Certified Prosthodontist, my experience has shown that the most predictable and effective method of replacing missing natural teeth is with dental implants.  Here's an example of implants we have placed and restored in our office.

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

Every Missing Tooth = Implant

As a Board Certified Prosthodontist, I believe that the ideal way to replace missing teeth is with dental implants.  In several lectures, I have postulated that every space can be filled with an implant.  Here's an example of implants we have placed and restored in our office.

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

Eat What You Want With Dental Implants

Dentures Vs. Dental Implants

Dentures are not a substitute for natural teeth; they are a substitute for having no teeth at all.

Gums were never intended to withstand chewing forces--people with dentures can generate only 15-25 lbs. of chewing force, compared to the 125 lbs. of chewing force that natural teeth can.  That's why fibrous foods, like meats, fresh vegetables, lettuce and unpeeled fruit, which take up to 60-70 lbs. of force to chew through, are so difficult to manage with dentures.

With dental implants holding your teeth in, you can order from the entire menu!

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

Teeth in a Day Surgical Guide

With the use of a 3D Scan of the patient's jawbone, a computer program can be applied to plan the placement of the dental implants.  From that design, an accurate-fitting surgical guide is fabricated, which allows the precise placement of the dental implants.

In the pictures above, the guide has been fabricated, and when secured in the mouth, provides tubes through which the implants are placed.  The 3D Scan also makes it possible to create the teeth in advance to fit the newly placed implants, so the implant supported fixed bridge can be placed at the same time.  This is an example of one of the many "Teeth in a Day" procedures that we have performed.

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

Advantages of Dental Implants

Implants act like a natural tooth root and support individually made ceramic crowns, bridges or a complete arch prosthesis.

• dental implants have 50 years of success and are a trusted method of tooth replacement
• they act like a natural tooth root, and there is no difference in feeling
• they are made of biocompatible materials and are accepted by the jawbone
• with proper care and maintenance, they can last a lifetime
• they maintain natural bone and minimize further bone loss by providing stimulation from chewing forces
• they provide stability, retention and comfort for a wide variety of replacement teeth solutions

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

Analysis of 800 All-on-4 Implants

Full Arch Implants

Dr. Tupac has successfully used the All-on-4 technique to provide full arch prostheses for patients without any teeth in either the upper or lower jaw.  A recent study again substantiates the success of the technique.  An analysis of 800 implants placed following the All-on-4 protocol, from May 2005 until December 2011, at the PI Dental Center, was done.  The results of 152 patients showed the CSR (cumulative survival rate) of the implants was 97.3%, 96% in the upper jaw and 97.8% in the lower jaw, 98.1% in males and 96.9% in females and identical success rates (97.3%) for tilted and axial implants.  Prosthesis survival was 99%, whether opposing a complete denture or an arch of natural teeth.  These are the same success rates of Dr. Tupac's patients.

The advantage of the All-on-4 technique is that tilted implants are used to take advantage of the bone in front of the maxillary sinus and in front of the mandibular foramen, negating the necessity for complicated and expensive bone grafting procedures.

Source:  jopr


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