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.
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 exploring our cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry pages. Here, you’ll find...(Read More)
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.
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 visit will be over and you can leave our...(Read More) 
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 only seen Dr. Latner once, or not at all, this year should especially think about setting up an appointment.
Why are regular appointments so important?
Because when bacteria and plaque are allowed to build up around teeth,...(Read More) 
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 provide patients with forward-thinking care—DIAGNOdent.
As a preventive tool, DIAGNOdent lets Dr. Latner diagnose decay early, before a serious cavity has had a chance to form. 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 come across any amount of decay during...(Read More) Air Abrasion—An Alternative to Drilling
October 25, 2013
Many patients avoid care because of a fear of needles or drills. But unique technique is helping Dr. Les Latner deliver care without having to use 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.
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 more comfortable, and more relaxing, experience. However, if you’re...(Read More)
Plan Your Holiday Care Now
October 23, 2013
You want to put your best food 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.
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 orthodontic care through Invisalign and Six Month Smiles. A...(Read More) 
Substitute Sugar for Xylitol This Holiday Season
October 18, 2013
As Halloween and the rest of this year’s holidays get closer, the temptation to indulge in a variety of treats will grow. But sugar, as you know, can negatively affect your oral health.
In today’s post, we want to explain how sugar can cause cavities and let you know about an alternative to sugar that will let you enjoy all of your favorite holiday goodies.
How Sugar Damages Your Smile?
For as long as you’ve been going to the dentist, you’ve been told that sugar is bad for your teeth. But why is that? It’s because of how sugar interacts with your teeth.
When certain bacteria in the mouth come into contact with sugar,...(Read More) 
Tackle Stains and Misalignment with Porcelain Veneers
September 30, 2013
Are you so embarrassed of your smile that you hide it when you talk or laugh? Do the beautiful smiles you see on TV, at the movies, or in your favorite magazines just seem to make your feelings even worse? At Westside Dental Associates, a unique cosmetic solution can help you overcome these feelings to enjoy a better sense of self-confidence. It’s called porcelain veneers.
With porcelain veneers, Dr. Latner can help you tackle two common cosmetic issues: staining and flaws like misalignment or cracks and chips. What’s more, you can see fully customized results in just two appointments.
Here’s how the process looks.
First, Dr. Latner will talk to you...(Read More) 
Correcting Overbites, Underbites, and Crossbites with Invisalign
September 27, 2013
How confident are you about the appearance of your smile? If you’re answer to that is, “Not very,” Dr. Latner of Westside Dental Associates offers Invisalign, an excellent cosmetic solution for treating overbites, underbites, and crossbites.
Invisalign isn’t the only cosmetic braces option available today, but it’s among the most popular and effective. And for adults who want to project a professional, mature appearance, the major benefit of Invisalign is that it doesn’t rely on brackets or wires to move teeth. Instead, Invisalign uses a series of clear trays to gradually move teeth into their ideal position.
Why should you straighten your smile? Because outside of making you feel less confident,...(Read More) Why Is Flossing Important?
September 20, 2013
You’ve probably heard throughout your life that flossing is important, but do you understand why? In today’s post, we’d like to look at how flossing can help and what can happen if you don’t floss on a regular basis.
First, why should you floss?
Flossing is important because of how it can help your oral health. When food is allowed to build up around teeth, the amount of harmful bacteria in the mouth will go up as well. Those harmful bacteria increase one’s vulnerability to decay and gum disease. If left untreated, they can lead to serious oral health problems, including advanced gum disease and tooth loss.
Serious oral health problems are most commonly...(Read More) 