At the Los Angeles dental practice of Dr. Les Latner, we provide our patients with the thorough instruction and accurate information they need to ensure lasting oral health. The success of any surgical procedure, including the placement of dental implants relies largely on how well the body is cared for. An important aspect of the recovery process is nutrition in the days and weeks following surgery.
The Importance of Diet Following Dental Implant Surgery
The tissues located in your mouth are among the most rapidly healing in the entire body. In order to heal properly and completely after any type of surgery, the body requires quality nutrition and sufficient rest. For...(Read More) Dental Implant Post-Op Diet: Must-Know Tips from Dr. Les Latner in Los Angeles
April 2, 2014
At the Los Angeles dental practice of Dr. Les Latner, we provide our patients with the thorough instruction and accurate information they need to ensure lasting oral health. The success of any surgical procedure, including the placement of dental implants relies largely on how well the body is cared for. An important aspect of the recovery process is nutrition in the days and weeks following surgery.
The Importance of Diet Following Dental Implant Surgery
The tissues located in your mouth are among the most rapidly healing in the entire body. In order to heal properly and completely after any type of surgery, the body requires quality nutrition and sufficient rest. For...(Read More) 
Root Canal Therapy for Los Angeles and Beyond
March 28, 2014
Our teeth are made up of multiple layers. On the outside you have a protective layer of enamel, beneath that is a sensitive layer of dentin, and at the very center of the tooth is the nerve. When a tooth has been fractured or is severely decayed, this inner chamber can become damaged, making the patient vulnerable to an infection and other uncomfortable symptoms.
To treat these symptoms and prevent tooth loss, Dr. Latner can recommend a root canal. The purpose of a root canal is to save a compromised tooth, and the root underneath, by removing the damaged nerve and any infected material from the center of the tooth. What’s removed...(Read More) 
Visit Our Patient Education Pages
March 20, 2014
Has a question about one of our services ever come to you when our office wasn’t open? If it has, you may still be able to find the answers you need by browsing through our patient info section. Looking through this section, you’ll find helpful answers to question about the kinds of payment we accept, new patient forms, a range of articles and links, and a special Q&A page.
For instance, maybe you have a question like, “I’m unhappy with my smile. What can Dr. Latner do to enhance it?” We have an answer for you.
Or maybe you want to know something about the technologies we use at our office....(Read More)
Important Care for Wisdom Teeth
March 14, 2014
You have probably heard about wisdom teeth, but do you know what they are or why they need to be removed? Wisdom teeth are sometimes called third molars, but whatever purpose they once served, our bodies no longer have any use for them—or any room, for that matter.
Unfortunately, they’ll start emerging anyway between the ages of 15 and 25. If wisdom teeth are allowed to come through, patients can experience painful crowding that pushes teeth out of alignment, or they can experience impaction. An impacted tooth will get stuck or emerge in whatever way it can. In both cases, it’s possible for an infection, a cyst, or a tumor to develop around the tooth....(Read More)
Over the Counter Whitening vs. Professional Whitening
March 3, 2014
Many patients want to have a white smile because of the message it sends to others. When others see a white smile, they see someone who looks confident and happy. A smile that has stains can send the opposite message, often because a patient with stained teeth can be afraid to share his or her smile with others.
Thankfully, it’s possible to cut through stains with a cosmetic dentistry service like teeth whitening. But with both professional and over-the-counter teeth whitening options available today, you might not know what’s right for you. Should you invest in professional whitening at Westside Dental Associates, or should you go to your local grocery store or...(Read More) 
Cosmetic Braces Options for Los Angeles and Beyond
February 28, 2014
A 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...(Read More) 
Offering Preventive Care with DIAGNOdent and Tooth-Colored Fillings
February 19, 2014
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...(Read More)
How Can Oral Conscious Sedation Help You?
February 15, 2014
Do 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...(Read More) 
The Connection between Oral Health and Heart Health
February 7, 2014
On 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...(Read More) 
Crown and Bridgework
January 31, 2014
Are you missing one or more teeth in a row? Dr. Latner can help you restore your smile’s appearance and functionality with a crown and bridge, sometimes referred to as a fixed bridge. Dr. Latner can help you restore your smile’s appearance and functionality with a bridge, sometimes referred to as a fixed bridge. If you’re missing the last tooth on either arch, it’s possible to secure a cantilever brigde with just one crown.
Your replacement teeth will be designed just for you, based on an impression we take of your smile. Then, a ceramist will carefully fabricate your bridge according to your impression and the instructions Dr. Latner draws up. In between...(Read More)