Westside Dental Associates Blog

Enjoy a Diverse Range of Foods with Dental Implants

December 23, 2013

One of the biggest downsides to losing one or more teeth is that it becomes difficult to enjoy your favorite foods. And even with conventional restorative services, there are still foods you may have to avoid. Besides taking some of the fun out of eating, this can also mean that you’re not enjoying the kind of diverse diet you probably should be.

What Are Dental Implants?

There is one restorative service that will let you enjoy a comprehensive diet without fear—dental implants. This revolutionary restorative dentistry service uses metal implants as prosthetic roots, creating a stable foundation for a new crown, bridge, partial, or full denture.

Your...

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Didn’t Get All Your Appointments In? Make a Resolution to Do It Next Year!

December 16, 2013

To enjoy good oral health, our dental team at Westside Dental Associates recommends coming in for care at least twice a year for regular exams and cleanings. But we understand how hard it can be to fit multiple visits in during the year. For some patients, seeing the dentist takes courage. For others, it may be that a busy schedule makes it difficult to plan far in the future.

Whatever your situation, the good thing about the brand new year coming up is that you can make a fresh commitment to seeing us for regular care at least twice. Don’t live with your frustrations of missing an appointment this year—but...

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Give Your Smile a Fresh Start in 2014

December 9, 2013

When we think of January and the New Year holiday, we think of fresh starts. Very often, those fresh starts are thought of in terms of resolutions. But what about the idea of giving your smile a fresh start? Using any combination of Dr. Latner’s general, cosmetic, and restorative services, the team at Westside Dental Associates can help you create a healthy, beautiful smile for the beginning of 2014.

How to Prepare for a Healthier Smile in 2014

Whatever kind of treatment you’re seeking, your plan will begin with a consultation and oral exam at our Los Angeles dental office. Your appointment will let Dr. Latner...

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Remember to Brush and Floss Every Day

November 30, 2013

You know that taking care of your smile is important, but do you know what a good oral health routine should look like? In today’s post, we’d like to take a moment to explain what a really good oral health regimen looks like, and encourage you and your family to follow it.

How Often Should You Brush Your Teeth?

At least twice a day, but after every meal, if possible. Brushing removes bacteria and plaque, which are what cause common oral health problems, like cavities and gum disease. We understand that it’s not always possible to brush after every little snack, but at least make a habit of starting and ending your...

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Start Setting Goals for Your Smile Now

November 26, 2013

We still have some time before 2014 arrives, but now is still a good time to start thinking about your smile goals for next year.

What Kind of Goals Should You Set?

Your goals could be simple, or they could be more complex. For example, maybe you haven’t been very good in the past about coming to see Dr. Latner for regular checkups and cleanings. In that case, your goal might be as simple as seeing our team at Westside Dental Associates twice a year.

But maybe you’d like to make more extensive cosmetic or restorative changes to your smile. To plan extensive care, you can start by...

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Zoom! Whitening In Time for Christmas

November 19, 2013

Do you want to have a whiter smile in time for the December holidays? At Westside Dental Associates, we’re happy to help you with that goal.

How Does Zoom! Whitening Work?

Teeth whitening is among the most popular services we offer, and that includes single-visit whitening with Zoom! Whitening. This in-office bleaching method is designed to help patients penetrate stains caused by foods, beverages, and other causes to reveal a brighter, more dazzling smile in a single hour.

Zoom! uses a professional-strength whitening gel, plus a special light to activate it, and can be used safely to ease the appearance of stains. In just a short time, your...

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Use Your Dental Benefits Before You Lose Them

November 12, 2013

As the clock ticks down on 2013, you have less and less time to use your current dental benefits for important care. Once 2014 arrives, your current benefits will be replaced by a fresh deductible and yearly maximum, and possibly new co-pays and premium too.

But right now, there’s still time to take advantage of the benefits you have left to get help paying for an important general or restorative service. Patients who have seen Dr. Latner only once this year, or not at all, should especially consider scheduling an appointment.

Why Are Regular Appointments Important?

Because when bacteria and plaque are allowed to build up around...

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Advanced Care with DIAGNOdent

October 31, 2013

In our last post, we talked about air abrasion, a unique tool that lets Dr. Les Latner treat decay without needles or a drill. Today, we want to focus on another innovative tool that’s helping us deliver forward-thinking care to patients—DIAGNOdent.

How Does DIAGNOdent Work?

As a preventive tool, DIAGNOdent enables Dr. Latner to diagnose decay early, before a serious cavity has formed. It does this using a laser diode to look for weaknesses in the chewing surfaces of teeth.

An exam with DIAGNOdent begins with Dr. Latner taking a reading of healthy enamel, which the rest of your smile will be measured against. If we detect...

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Air Abrasion—An Alternative to Drilling

October 25, 2013

Many patients avoid care because of a fear of needles or drills. But a unique technique is helping Dr. Les Latner deliver care without using either. With air abrasion, our Los Angeles dental team can help patients overcome decay simply with a combination of air and a very fine powder.

What is Air Abrasion?

Air abrasion was made specifically for treating small cavities. The high-powered stream of air and powder emitted by Dr. Latner’s tool will remove slight decay from the chewing surfaces of back teeth so that a white filling can be applied.

Because air abrasion doesn’t use needles or drilling, patients can look forward to a...

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Plan Your Holiday Care Now

October 23, 2013

You want to put your best foot forward this holiday season, with a beautiful, healthy smile. But for that to happen, you have to give your dentist enough time to plan your care.

When Should You Start the Process?

Often, transforming a smile takes cosmetic or restorative help. Many services can be completed in one or two visits, but other services will take more time. Maybe you just want a whiter smile, or maybe you need help with an all-porcelain crown or a fixed bridge. Dr. Latner can help you with both in time for the holidays.

We can also help you with...

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