Want the Right Emergency Dentist for You? Ask Yourself These Questions.

March 15, 2020

Filed under: Uncategorized — Westside Dental Associates @ 9:03 pm
A woman looking for an emergency dentist in Los Angeles.

It’s always better to be prepared during any emergency. Whether you have a serious medical condition to address or a dental emergency, having a place to call your medical/dental home makes all the difference in the world. If you’re not worried about handling an emergency at this moment, now is the time to make sure you have somewhere to call. During your search, make sure to ask yourself these four questions before you make a final decision on your go-to emergency dentist in Los Angeles.

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Help – I Need an Emergency Dentist in Los Angeles!

January 8, 2017

Ouch! I just lost a tooth – who can I see as an emergency dentist in Los Angeles? What are some dental first aid tips I can use until the dentist can see me?

It’s 2017 and your New Year’s resolution was to try new things. So, you joined the It’s Always Sunny in Culver City Adult Kickball Team. You’re stoked to be at the field for the first official game – you even bought some trendy new knee pads to be in style while you show off your athletic abilities. The coach stations you at first base, right where all the action is. Things are going well until suddenly, a rogue ground-ball bounces – hard – and catches you right in the mouth. Getting your wits about you, you wipe your mouth and see blood. Your tongue searches for what’s wrong – oh no! You’re missing a tooth! You find your tooth on the ground and rush to the sidelines. Your entire team grabs their phones to search for an emergency dentist in Los Angeles. You’re in luck – Dr. Les Latner at Westside Dental Associates is right up the road and can see you right away.

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Dr. Les Latner Helping Give Back Smiles to Victims of Domestic Violence

October 4, 2016

Filed under: General Dentistry — Westside Dental Associates @ 6:58 pm

Dr. Les Latner, owner of Westside Dental Associates, is proud to announce he will be sponsoring the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Charitable Foundation (AACDCF) Give Back a Smile Virtual Race for Smiles, between October 14-16, in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. “The Virtual Race for Smiles is one of the AACDCF’s fundraisers,” said Dr. Latner, who is a member of the Board of Trustees of the AACDCF, which fixes the broken smiles of victims of domestic violence. “This foundation needs our support.” (more…)

Tooth-Colored Fillings

December 17, 2015

Filed under: Uncategorized — Westside Dental Associates @ 6:59 pm

Dental caries, popularly known as tooth decay, is the destruction of tooth structure as a result of bacterial activity in the mouth. The specific microorganism involved in the process of decay is called Streptococcus mutans. This bacterium has the ability to generate acid that dissolves tooth enamel. The acid is produced via metabolism of sugar from diet. The main symptom of tooth decay is nothing, no pain.   If left untreated, the decay gets bigger and bigger decay reaches the nerve or pulp.  This creates an infection which requires a root canal or possibly an extraction.

ANALYSIS

It is extremely important for a tooth to be restored once there is apparent decay. Tooth restorations can be made from either metal or tooth-colored material. Metal fillings are made from amalgam. Amalgam restorations are the silver-colored fillings dentists traditionally used before the advent of modern tooth-colored fillings. Most dentists have stopped using amalgam restorations due to their unaesthetic appearance.

The other fillings are those made of tooth-colored materials. Tooth-colored fillings are bonded to the tooth structure so their hold on the tooth is much stronger than that of a silver filling. The combination of esthetics and bonding are some of the advantages that make tooth-colored fillings much more popular than silver-colored fillings.

CANDIDACY

Tooth-colored fillings are recommended for patients who have mild to moderate tooth damage. The damage can be from tooth decay or from trauma.

TREATMENT COMPARISON

Dental fillings are recommended if there is enough tooth structure left to support the filling material. However, if the decay is so extensive that the filling gets to be more than a third to a half of the width of the existing tooth, the tooth has to be considered for a crown or onlay. Crowns and onlays can reinforce a badly-broken down tooth much more effectively than a filling.

LIMITATIONS

The main limitation of a filling material is that it cannot fix an extensively-damaged tooth. Even if the damage is due to trauma instead of decay, a crown or onlay is still indicated if too much tooth structure has chipped off.

With regards to complications, a filling can sometimes cause the restored tooth to feel sensitive afterwards. Sensitivity to hot or cold is usually short-lived with the involved tooth returning to normal within days. Also, if the patient does not take care of the restored tooth properly, it can develop recurrent decay around the edges of the filling.

RECOVERY

Placement of any kind of dental filling requires no downtime at all. Some sensitivity may be experienced but it is nothing that can hinder the patient’s normal activities. Patients can go back to their daily routine right after the treatment. Some dentists would advise not to eat or drink anything for an hour.

MAINTENANCE

Tooth-colored fillings might get a little bit darker over time. The change in color will occur faster if the patient consumes coffee, tea, or any other dark-colored foods on a regular basis.

Whitening will have very little effect on the restoration. It cannot whiten a stained restoration and it cannot be done to match the color of whitened teeth. If the patient plans to undergo teeth whitening, he or she will need to have the whitening done first. Otherwise, there is a chance that the tooth-colored filling will appear darker than the natural teeth and need to be replaced.

FINAL THOUGHTS

How long a tooth-colored filling lasts depends on the size of the restoration. For most people, the results last 10 years.  In some cases, the filling may last for up to 20 years or longer. The most common reason for replacing a restoration is the presence of decay around it. Patients should consult with an experienced dentist.

Written by Cosmetic Town Editorial Team- AA

Based on an exclusive interview with Les Latner, DDS in Los Angeles, CA

– See more at: http://www.cosmetictown.com/doctor/Les_Latner

The Hidden Messages Behind Your Teeth: An Infographic

December 11, 2015

Filed under: Uncategorized — Westside Dental Associates @ 3:32 pm

dental-care-chart

Dr. Les Latner, Your Los Angeles Cosmetic Dentist, Straightens Teeth with Innovative Six-month Smiles

July 23, 2015

177276486Fast, comfortable and practically invisible,  the Six-month Smiles system is  the orthodontic solution for teens and adults with teeth that are crooked, overlapping or poorly spaced. Cosmetic dentist Dr. Les Latner utilizes the system to move teeth in the “smile zone” into more attractive positions.

Straighten teeth in six months

 

What keeps you from straightening your smile? Do you think you are too old, braces detract from your appearance, treatment takes too long, and orthodontics are too costly? Los Angeles cosmetic dentist Dr. Les Latner addresses these concerns with Sixmonth Smiles. By wearing clear brackets and tooth-colored wires, older teens and adults can confidently achieve amazing dental aesthetics in just half a year–and at a price that’s easier on the budget.

Doesn’t orthodontic treatment take years?

Unfortunately, some people have complex orthodontic problems. Difficult issues with how teeth come together may put a patient through treatment with traditional wire and bracket braces for years. Tooth rotation, crossbite, overbite, underbite–correction of these conditions may be long, complex and at times, uncomfortable–to say nothing of how braces can change personal appearance and self-confidence.

However, for older teens and adults who have healthy teeth and only desire a straight, even look to their smiles, your 90064 cosmetic dentist, Dr. Les Latner, offers Six-month Smiles, braces that are practically unnoticeable and deliver excellent results in just 6 months. This means an individual could begin treatment in the winter and have a totally refurbished smile by a June graduation or wedding.

Move teeth in the smile zone

The beauty of Six-month Smiles lies not only in the aesthetic results but in the strategy. These clear braces treat only the teeth that actually show when a person smiles–in other words, the upper and lower teeth in the “smile zone.” This kind of treatment does not address occlusion issues, or how teeth bite together, the part of orthodontics that is usually so time consuming.

Instead, as a qualified Six-month Smiles dentist, Dr. Latner can apply clear brackets and tooth-colored wires which exert low vector forces to change tooth position from uneven and crooked to straight and balanced. He can effectively close gaps and smooth crowding.

Is moving teeth quickly risky?

Again, the Six-month Smiles system uses gentle physical forces to reposition front teeth. The 90064 cosmetic dentist does not extract teeth as part of the treatment plan. Cosmetic results are quite predictable. Plus, because the patient wears the brackets and wires for such a short period of time (Typical orthodontic treatment averages 2 years or more.), tooth enamel is far less likely to wear thin or develop cavities.

Take a step to learn more

 

Dr. Les Latner at Westside Dental Associates can evaluate your smile and tell you if the Six-Month Smiles system is right for your teeth. These inventive orthodontics are just part of a wide array of cosmetic services Dr. Latner and his team deliver to create a super smile that’s healthy and expressive of the real you. Why not contact your Los Angeles, CA dentist today for a consultation?

 

 

 

 

Don’t Let Cavities Ruin Your Smile – Zap Them With DIAGNOdent

July 21, 2015

Filed under: DIAGNOdent — Tags: , , , , , , — Westside Dental Associates @ 8:47 pm

DIAGNOdent can change your smile.Cavities can become a real big problem if they’re left to rot, literally. They can cause all sorts of issues that range from your basic toothache to sensitivity that will leave you reeling. At our office in Los Angeles, CA, we’re all about continuing education and staying on the cutting edge of dental technology. One such piece of technology is changing the way we look at cavities and how best to treat them. It’s called DIAGNOdent, and it’s revolutionized the industry like never before. In the past, diagnosing a cavity wasn’t difficult simply because symptoms were already visible. With this state-of-the-art machine, we can use the futuristic technology to diagnose cavities in their infancy. Think about that; we can actively treat cavities as they are forming so you don’t have to worry about losing a tooth or dealing with any type of root canal therapy. Are you ready to experience one of the most revolutionary machines to hit the market? It’s time you felt the DIAGNOdent difference!

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Flossing Is One of the Most Beneficial Preventive Dentistry Techniques

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , — Westside Dental Associates @ 6:30 pm

Flossing should be a daily part of your life.We have our eye on you, floss floppers. You know who you are. You can’t hide from us! Did you honestly think that brushing alone could rid your mouth of all the bacteria that needs to go? We sure hope not. While brushing is a helpful tool and a necessity in keeping diseases and harmful bacteria at bay, it isn’t the end-all be-all of practices. Flossing is just as important, if not more when it comes to keeping your oral health in tip-top shape. We’ve heard tons of excuses on why patients aren’t flossing, and we always try explaining why flossing is so vital. Our office in Los Angeles, CA wants you to know that incorporating flossing into your daily dental hygiene regimen is the smart thing to do. All that food from the night before that didn’t make it into your stomach is sitting in between your teeth, just waiting for other bacteria to join so they can throw a party in your mouth. Squash the party and start treating your teeth like your best friends. Start flossing!
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Help Us Welcome Dr. Latner To The International Association of Healthcare Professionals

June 27, 2015

Les Latner has won a prestigious award.There’s some exciting news that we’d like to share with you. Dr. Les Latner has recently been named a New Member of the International Association of HealthCare Professionals. It’s a prestigious honor that has been bestowed on Los Angeles dentist, Dr. Latner. It’s taken him a very long time to achieve this goal and we couldn’t be more proud of him for the achievement. As one of Los Angeles’ premier cosmetic dentists, he knows what it takes to give you the smile of your dreams.
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Combat Gum Recession With State-of-the-Art Treatment

June 19, 2015

Enjoy a new kind of jaw surgery.If you or anyone you know has ever suffered from gum recession, you know just how debilitating this disease can be. In the past, the only way to correct this issue was by using connective tissue grafts. This complex procedure involved two surgical sites combined with a very long recovery period. The results were successful, but the pain and discomfort patients had to endure was too much to bear. Thank goodness for the 21st century and the great advancements that have been made. Now, there is treatment that can help you cope with gum recession — Pinhole Surgical Technique. What makes this system so great is it doesn’t use incisions or sutures. Simply put, it’s the finest gum surgery available at our office in Los Angeles, CA. Your gum line could use a little love, and Dr. Latner is the guy who can restore your gums back to normal.
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