The answer to this question is both yes and no. Genetic dental problems are no myth. Scientists have found that genetic factors cause about 60% of the risk for tooth decay. While tooth decay isn’t an actual gene in the body, your genes do determine factors that are directly related to your ability to avoid tooth decay. Dr. Latner is an experienced Los Angeles area dentist that can help you find a treatment plan to fix your dental problems if you find yourself on the losing end of genetic tooth decay risk factors.
Genetics Can Increase the Risk of Developing Dental Problems
You can’t blame your parents for all of...(Read More) Are Genetic Dental Problems a Myth?
September 29, 2014
The answer to this question is both yes and no. Genetic dental problems are no myth. Scientists have found that genetic factors cause about 60% of the risk for tooth decay. While tooth decay isn’t an actual gene in the body, your genes do determine factors that are directly related to your ability to avoid tooth decay. Dr. Latner is an experienced Los Angeles area dentist that can help you find a treatment plan to fix your dental problems if you find yourself on the losing end of genetic tooth decay risk factors.
Genetics Can Increase the Risk of Developing Dental Problems
You can’t blame your parents for all of...(Read More) 
Three Cheers for Laser Dentistry!
September 22, 2014
Dentistry has come a very long way in a relatively short time period. Advancements in Laser Dentistry have made many routine dental treatments less invasive and have significantly cut down on the time required for treatment and healing. By eliminating the need for incisions, certain laser dentistry procedures do not require anesthesia. Laser dentistry also minimizes bleeding because the high-energy light beams aid in the clotting of exposed blood vessels, thereby inhibiting blood loss. Lasers are useful for patients who are fearful of dental work, don’t like anesthesia, or don’t like the sound of the drill. Dr. Latner utilizes laser technology in his practice to aid in the comfort of...(Read More) 
Pediatric Dentistry and Sports
September 15, 2014
No matter how old your children are, protecting their teeth is a top priority. Injuries to teeth have the potential to affect your child for the rest of his or her life. The key to protecting their beautiful smiles is prevention. You should start bringing your child to regular dentist appointments as early as age two. As they grow and become more active in activities like soccer, football, karate and cheerleading, it becomes necessary to protect their teeth from sports injuries as well. If you’re thinking about allowing your child or teen to participate in contact sports, contact Dr. Latner for an appointment today. Dr. Latner serves families 
The Cosmetic Dentistry Boom
September 10, 2014
It’s hard to think of dentistry without thinking of teeth whitening, veneers, or natural looking porcelain crowns. However, dental treatments weren’t always focused on improving both the health and appearance of your teeth. In the not so distant past, dental treatment only concerned itself with the treatment and cure of dental maladies like tooth decay and gum disease. Today, having good-looking teeth has merged with having a healthy mouth, and cosmetic dentistry is now a part of an all-inclusive dental treatment package. Although not an official branch of dentistry according to the ADA, cosmetic dentistry has fast become one of the most popular type dental solutions. Dr. Latner works to...(Read More) 
Brighten Your Smile with Teeth Whitening
August 27, 2014
One thing that many people strive for is the smiles they see in the magazines or on television, and one thing all of those smiles have in common is the fact they are dazzling white. Having a beautiful white smile is definitely a lasting, positive first impression, and many people are willing to do whatever they have to in order to accomplish that. Unfortunately, our smiles are not resistant to stains, causing them to really affect the overall aesthetic of our smiles as time goes on. Luckily, Dr. Les Latner is able to brighten your smile using teeth whitening at his Los Angeles, CA dental office.
We offer two forms of teeth...(Read More) 
Restore Your Smile with Dental Implants
August 19, 2014
There are many reasons why someone would be insecure about their smiles, and living with a smile you feel as though you are settling for is never easy. Having teeth missing from your smile can have detrimental effects on the way you feel about yourself as well as the way you interact with the people around you. Because many people consider a smile a first impression, not being able to be one hundred percent confident is an awful feeling to have. Fortunately, Dr. Les Latner is able to restore your smile using dental implants to his patients in the Los Angeles, CA community.
The important first step to dental implants is making...(Read More) 
Love Your Smile Again with Cosmetic Bonding
August 8, 2014
As much as we would like for things to stay in the same pristine condition that we got it, life does not work that way. From a scratch on your car to a stain on your favorite shirt, life definitely has a way of leaving evidence, and it is not always pretty. Unfortunately, the same goes for your smile. Throughout the years, your smile will stain and chip, causing the overall appearance to be less than appealing. If you feel as though there is nothing you can do to bring back the life your smile once had, you are in luck! Dr. Les Latner is able to rejuvenate the smiles of his patients...(Read More) 
Calm Your Fears with Oral Conscious Sedation
August 4, 2014
One thing that many people have in common is a fear. Whether it is a fear of heights or they squirm at the sight of a spider, there are many different fears that people have, and they all affect them differently. One fear that many people share is a fear of the dentist. Though the fear may be slight for some, for others the fear can be crippling, causing them to put off the dental work they so desperate need performed. Though you may feel as though there is nothing you can do, Dr. Les Latner is able to calm the fears of his patients by offering oral conscious sedation at his...(Read More) 
Have You Scheduled Your Second Annual Visit Yet?
July 31, 2014
How many times should you see Dr. Latner in a single year? We recommend coming in twice for a checkup and dental cleaning. Why twice? Because our goal isn’t just to help you treat common oral health problems—we want, as much as possible, to help you prevent them too.
Dental cleanings are a preventive measure; they let us clean away plaque and bacteria you couldn’t clean away on your own. Checkups are also preventive in that they let us diagnose conditions early, when we can provide more conservative care for them. Conservative dentistry is all about preserving as much of your natural smile as possible.
How many times have you visited Westside Dental...(Read More) 
The Connection between Oral and Overall Health
July 24, 2014
Would it surprise you to learn that there’s a connection between your oral and overall health? We tend to think that what happens with our mouths is separate from what happens with our total health and wellbeing, but it’s not.
Medical studies have shown that there’s a link between a common oral health problem like gum disease and a range of health problems in the rest of the body. These health problems include:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Alzheimer’s
- Diabetes
- Pre-term birth or low birth weight