Westside Dental Associates Blog

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.

What Problems Can Wisdom Teeth Cause?

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...

(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...

(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.

What Are Six Month Smiles?

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.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign,...

(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 for preventive care as a tool called DIAGNOdent.

What is 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.

What Are Tooth-Colored Fillings?

To preserve smiles, we use tooth-colored fillings, which are more supportive of your smile’s natural structure...

(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.

What is Oral Conscious Sedation?

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...

(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 the 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.

How Are the Heart & Mouth Connected?

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....

(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 bridge with just one crown.

What is the Process for Crown & Bridgework?

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...

(Read More)

The Convenience of Take-Home Whitening

January 21, 2014

You might already know that Dr. Latner can whiten your smile in one appointment with Zoom! Whitening, but did you know that our Los Angeles office also has a second whitening option? Take-home whitening is a convenient alternative to in-office whitening, and one that works especially well for patients with sensitive teeth. It’s also a good option for patients who want to give their smile an extra boost several weeks after an initial treatment with in-office whitening. Combining in-office whitening with take-home whitening is a good way to make your dazzling results last even longer.

How Does Take-Home Whitening Work?

First, you’ll come to see Dr. Latner of...

(Read More)

Make 2014 a Transformative Year for Your Smile

January 10, 2014

Do you have ambitious goals for your smile this year? Then let the team at Westside Dental Associates in Los Angeles be your guide to better oral health and improved confidence. Besides offering general and preventive dentistry, we offer a wide range of cosmetic and restorative services as well.

Which Services Should You Consider?

Maybe your big goal for 2014 is to brighten your smile. For that, Dr. Latner offers in-office whitening with Zoom! and also a take-home whitening option.

Alternatively, you might want to straighten your teeth. With Six Month Smiles or Invisalign, Dr. Latner can help you correct misalignment in just a...

(Read More)

Schedule Your First Appointment of 2014 Today

January 2, 2014

Enjoying a beautiful, healthy smile begins with regular care from Dr. Les Latner and the team at Westside Dental Associates. We recommend that patients of all ages come to us for a checkup and cleaning at least twice in a single year. That might sound like a lot, but there’s a good reason for it. The quicker we can diagnose issues like gum disease, tooth decay, teeth grinding, TMJ dysfunction, or oral cancer, the sooner we can offer care—which is exactly what general and preventive dentistry is all about. With early care, we can help you preserve the smile you have and prevent new issues from developing in the future.

...

(Read More)