Cosmetic Braces Options for Los Angeles and Beyond

February 28, 2014

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Les Latner @ 7:03 am

BracesA straight, beautiful smile can help you enjoy better oral health and self-confidence. Not everyone’s smile is naturally straight, though. For patients who need a little extra help overcoming an underbite, overbite, crossbite, or crowded or gapped teeth, Dr. Latner of Westside Dental Associates offers two great options for cosmetic braces: Six Month Smiles and Invisalign.

Six Month Smiles uses a set of clear brackets and tooth-colored wires to move teeth into their ideal position. The process really does take just six months to complete, and some patients are able to achieve results slightly quicker.

Invisalign, on the other hand, works a little differently. Instead of using brackets and wires, this great system uses a series of clear trays, also known as aligners. Dr. Latner will use 3D computer imaging to design your entire treatment, from start to finish, so that every tray is precisely made for a specific part of the treatment process. When you have your aligners, moving your teeth into their ideal position is as simple as wearing each one for approximately two weeks.

Make 2014 the year you improve oral and overall health with one of our office’s options for cosmetic braces. Call Westside Dental Associates for an appointment with Dr. Latner. During your visit with us, we can help you understand if Invisalign or Six Month Smiles is right for you. We offer cosmetic braces to patients from Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West LA, Mar Vista, Culver City, Rancho Park, Westwood, Brentwood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Playa Vista, and beyond.

Offering Preventive Care with DIAGNOdent and Tooth-Colored Fillings

February 19, 2014

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Les Latner @ 7:00 am

Preventive care is the cornerstone of dentistry, and few tools today are as helpful with preventive care as a tool called DIAGNOdent. Dr. Latner uses DIAGNOdent every day during regular checkups to look for cavities that are just beginning to form. Every time it comes across one, it lets us know by making a sound. If we find anything, we can start working on a treatment plan immediately, because our goal is to conserve as much of your natural smile as possible.

To preserve smiles we use tooth-colored fillings, which are more supportive of your smile’s natural structure than metal fillings. They also blend in with teeth to provide discreet results. All of which means you can smile with greater confidence as you continue enjoying your natural smile throughout life.

Do you want to learn more about preserving and restoring your smile with DIAGNOdent and tooth-colored fillings? Dr. Latner would be happy to talk to you about both of these during a consultation at his Los Angeles office.

Your smile is in good hands at Westside Dental Associates. We serve patients from Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West LA, Mar Vista, Culver City, Rancho Park, Westwood, Brentwood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Playa Vista, and nearby communities.

How Can Oral Conscious Sedation Help You?

February 15, 2014

Filed under: Sedation Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Les Latner @ 7:57 am

oral conscious sedationDo you avoid going to the dentist because of anxiety? So do many others. That’s why Dr. Latner of Westside Dental Associates offers oral conscious sedation, a common form of sedation dentistry. With oral conscious sedation, we can help patients in the Los Angeles area stamp out anxiety and have a new kind of dental experience.

Oral conscious sedation works using a safe and effective prescription, in combination with nitrous oxide. What’s more, Dr. Latner has been certified to offer oral conscious sedation by the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS). That means you can trust our team to safely and effectively offer care with oral conscious sedation.

Here’s what you can expect.

First, you’ll take a small pill when you arrive at our Los Angeles office for your appointment. Once the pill has taken effect and you’re resting comfortably, we’ll begin your procedure. Under the influence of oral conscious sedation, your appointment will pass like a dream. When it’s over you won’t remember any significant details from your appointment.

Will your next appointment be your first using oral conscious sedation? Keep in mind that you’ll need a friend or family member with you to drive you home afterward; it can take several hours for the effects of oral conscious sedation to wear off.

Call Westside Dental Associates if you’d like to learn more about oral conscious sedation, or if you just want to set up an appointment with Dr. Latner. We offer this great service to patients from Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West LA, Mar Vista, Culver City, Rancho Park, Westwood, Brentwood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Playa Vista, and beyond.

The Connection between Oral Health and Heart Health

February 7, 2014

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Les Latner @ 7:54 am

oral and overall healthOn February 14, couples across the country celebrated another Valentine’s Day. Given how important the heart is to that day—or at least cartoonish version of one—we decided to use our first post of the month to talk about the connection between heart health and oral health.

You might be surprised to hear that your smile and your heart are connected, but recent data indicates that they are. How exactly? That’s not entirely clear, but it seems to involve gum disease, a very common oral health problem.

Gum disease is caused by the accumulation of bacteria and plaque around the gum line. If left untreated, pockets can form between your teeth and your gums, giving bacteria and plaque a way into your bloodstream and other parts of the body as well, like the heart. Once there, they can contribute to clotting and even heart attack.

But heart health isn’t the only thing gum disease can affect. Other health problems include:

  • Alzheimer’s
  • Stroke
  • Diabetes
  • Pre-term birth
  • Pneumonia

If you struggle with gum disease, or you want to prevent it, there are a couple of steps you can take to protect your smile and your overall wellbeing. First, make sure you’re brushing and flossing on a regular basis. An antibacterial mouthwash will also help you control bacteria and stop gum disease from forming. Second, make sure you’re visiting Westside Dental Associates for regular appointments with Dr. Latner. During a regular checkup, Dr. Latner can look for gum disease and help you treat it if he finds anything. Treating gum disease early is important for enjoying good oral and overall health.

Call Westside Dental Associates today to schedule your next appointment with Dr. Latner. We serve patients from Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West LA, Mar Vista, Culver City, Rancho Park, Westwood, Brentwood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Playa Vista, and beyond.

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