Westside Dental Associates Blog

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...

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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 desperately 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...

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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.

What is the Purpose of Dental Checkups & Cleanings?

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...

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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 well-being, but it’s not.

What Health Problems Can Occur?

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

How Does Gum Disease Increase Your Risk of Overall Health Problems?

But how does gum disease increase your...

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Advanced Care for Gum Disease with Arestin

July 17, 2014

In our last post, we talked about the connection between bad breath and gum disease. We also talked about other symptoms of gum disease. Today, we want to highlight one of the most effective tools in the fight against gum disease and its unpleasant symptoms—an antibiotic known as Arestin.

What is Arestin?

Arestin is a topical antibiotic that’s placed below the gumline, in the pockets that have formed between the teeth and gum as a result of gum disease. It’s often administered at the same time as a deep cleaning procedure, but not always. Since Arestin is a topical treatment, it can be placed exactly where it’s needed, giving it...

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Bad Breath and Gum Disease

July 10, 2014

Do you struggle with bad breath on a regular basis? Your diet may not be the culprit. Other causes of bad breath include sinus trouble, dry mouth, and smoking. A few medications can also play a role. The specific cause we want to address today, though, is gum disease.

What is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is caused by the accumulation of bacteria and plaque around your teeth and gums. When gum disease is first developing, you may not have any noticeable symptoms. When they do start developing, though, one that you may experience is frequent bad breath, also known as halitosis.

What Are Other Symptoms of Gum Disease?

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Visit Our Patient Info Section

June 30, 2014

Are you going visiting our Los Angeles dental office for the first time? Do you have questions about some of the services we offer? Do you want to read up on the latest in dentistry? Visit our website’s Patient Info section. When you visit this section, you’ll find helpful links that will help you answer your questions, in addition to our new patient forms.

New Patient Forms

Downloading and filling out our new patient forms before you come in will let us get started on your paperwork as soon as you arrive at our office. If you have any trouble printing our forms, let us know, and we’ll...

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Root Canal Therapy for Los Angeles and Beyond

June 20, 2014

In our last post, we talked about abscessed teeth and listed some of the most common signs and symptoms of them. Today, we want to talk about root canals–the restorative service Dr. Latner uses to help patients enjoy good oral health and well-being again.

What Is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a common procedure designed to help patients treat infection. The process involves removing the infected pulp that makes up the tooth’s nerve and cleaning the interior chamber. Then we’ll fill the tooth with a biologically inert substance and seal it with a custom-made dental crown. Your crown will protect your tooth...

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What Is an Abscess?

June 11, 2014

Our teeth have multiple layers, with the inner layer containing the tooth’s nerve. Most dental problems involve the protective layer of enamel on the outside of teeth, but sometimes, because of an injury or deep decay, an infection can develop inside the tooth, where the nerve is.

What Are the Signs of an Abscessed Tooth?

Treating an infected tooth is important. If it’s not treated, an abscess can develop, resulting in a range of uncomfortable symptoms. Signs of an abscessed tooth include:

Toothache
Sensitivity to hot or cold
Redness and swelling
A sore or pimple on the side of the gums
Pain when chewing
A bitter taste in the...
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Foods That Are Good for Your Smile

June 10, 2014

When it comes to your oral health, nothing is more beneficial than good brushing and flossing combined with regular dental cleanings and checkups. And yet, there’s more to having a healthy smile than just these. What you eat makes a difference too. That’s why we want to use today’s post to highlight certain foods that can help you support your oral health and overall well-being.

Milk, Cheese, and Yogurt

All three of these are high in calcium, which is essential for building strong bones and healthy teeth. Dairy foods also help you produce saliva, which has a neutralizing effect on any acid in the mouth. If acid isn’t neutralized, teeth...

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