Westside Dental Associates

The Importance of Bringing Your Child to the Dentist Starting at a Young Age

May 16, 2013

When the thought of having to visit a dentist sends chills down the spines of many adults, it is easy to see how terrifying the idea can be to small children. It may not be easy, but it is important to teach your little one that there is nothing to be afraid of, and that the dentist is there to help them and their teeth to grow healthy and strong. If you can establish a healthy and hygienic oral care routine in conjunction with regular dental check-ups, your child is much more likely to go through life without the need for extensive dental work later.

Tips to Ease the Fear of Your Child

The best advice to help your child learn not to be afraid of the dentist is to start taking them while they are still very young. A child’s first dental check-up should take place as soon as their first tooth emerges or by the age of one at the latest. Setting regular dental exams as your child grows allows them to see the process as a fact of life. Regular dental exams also allows your child to grow up knowing their dentist personally, so they won’t be so frightened when one day you take them to a stranger who wants to poke around in their mouth.

Another thing to keep in mind when preparing your child for a dental appointment is your word choice. A small child will not understand terms like “cavity,” “filling,” or “root canal,” but others such as “shots” or “drilling” sound downright scary. Try to explain to your child in simple terms what the dentist does. One example is to explain to a child with a cavity that they have a “sick tooth” that the dentist needs to make better. By putting the procedure into terms that your child can relate to they will feel more comfortable during their visit.

Dr. Les Latner is Great with Children

Dr. Les Latner of Westside Dental Associates has more than 30 years of experience in dentistry. A graduate of the Washington University – St. Louis School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Latner completed his two year residency in pediatric dentistry at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. In addition to this educational experience, Dr. Latner also served as the president of the Southern California Society of Dentistry for Children from 1995-1996 and as editor from 1992-1998, and is associated with the Academy of Pediatric Dentistry as well as the California Society of Pediatric Dentists. Dr. Latner understands the special needs and fears of children when they are visiting the dentist— especially for the first time—and is able to help calm them as he provides care to their teeth. Schedule a visit today and get your young one started on the path to a lifelong healthy smile.

What Is Root Canal Therapy?

April 25, 2013

In most cases, when dental care is needed, it’s the protective outer layer of enamel that’s being treated. In some cases, though, the inner pulp, commonly referred to as the “nerve,” needs special attention. This is typically the case after an injury or tooth fracture, or because of a deep cavity. In any of these cases, the tooth could develop an infection. If left untreated, the infection will kill the pulp, putting the tooth in danger of being lost.

To prevent this, it’s important to see your local dentist early. That’s because a tooth in danger of getting infected can be saved with a service known as a root canal.

For many, the words root canal may inspire anxiety, but today’s advances in technology and technique have made the process more comfortable, especially when paired with oral conscious sedation. With oral conscious sedation, patients of different ages and backgrounds can experience a soothing level of relaxation. What’s more, a root canal procedure can be completed in just one appointment.

Here’s what you can expect.

Once you’re comfortable and your sedation has taken effect, your doctor will clean out the canal in question and fill it with a biologically-inert substance. Then, the tooth will be sealed with a crown to prevent another infection in the future.

For patients who feel sore following their root canal, over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol or Advil can help. It’s also important, following a root canal, to make regular checkups, plus daily brushing and flossing, a routine part of your life.

Do you need to schedule a root canal procedure? Call us today to reserve a consultation appointment.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

April 18, 2013

Earlier this month, we talked about our preference for white fillings, especially in connection with a tool like air abrasion. We cited their resiliency and appearance as key reasons for this; not only can the bond between a tooth and a white filling last for many years, white fillings support the natural structure of teeth in a way that metal fillings don’t, and they look completely natural.

Here’s what you can expect from treatment with white fillings.

First, Dr. Latner will remove the decay from your tooth, using air abrasion if possible. Then, when the tooth has been prepped, Dr. Latner will take the composite resin he’ll be using and tint it to match the shade of your tooth. When the right color has been achieved, the resin will be put in place and hardened with a curing lamp. Afterwards, Dr. Latner will sculpt and polish your white filling until it looks perfect and fits your bite correctly.

In some cases, we may still need to rely on metal fillings, or on a more advanced service like crowns, inlays, or onlays, but when possible, we prefer to use white fillings.

Call Westside Dental Associates to restore one or more teeth with a white filling. We serve patients from Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West LA, Mar Visa, and surrounding communities.

More Comfort and Convenience with Air Abrasion

April 11, 2013

Next to local anesthetic, the drill is one of the most dreaded tools of dentistry. Today, though, dentists like Dr. Latner of Westside Dental Associates can provide important care without always relying on a needle or a drill. Using a contemporary tool like air abrasion, our Los Angeles patients can enjoy a more comfortable visit that also leaves more of their natural smile intact.

Air abrasion is a drilling alternative that uses a high-powered stream of air or powder to remove small amounts of decay from back teeth. Because of this, no drilling and no needles are necessary.

After Dr. Latner has used his air abrasion tool to remove decay, a white filling can easily be bonded in place. Our team at Westside Dental Associates favors white fillings for their resiliency and their appearance. With a white filling, our Los Angeles patients can enjoy results that look natural.

Do you want to learn more about how air abrasion is making dental visits more comfortable for patients? Dr. Latner would be happy to answer your questions. Call Westside Dental Associates today to reserve an appointment. Our team serves patients from communities all around the Los Angeles area, including Culver City, Mar Vista, Palms, Westwood, and Brentwood.

Restoring Teeth with Inlays and Onlays

April 4, 2013

Our last post focused on all-porcelain crowns and the benefits that come with them. Today, we’d like to focus on two similar but slightly different services: porcelain inlays and onlays.

These restorative services are similar to crowns in that they restore fractured or badly decayed teeth, but they’re also slightly different. Inlays are made to restore that small area between a tooth’s rounded cusps. Onlays, on the other hand, are made to fit over one or more cusps.

Dr. Latner will determine your needs during a consultation appointment as his Los Angeles dental office. Not every situation demands an inlay or onlay, but if your situation does, what you need will depend a lot on the results of your tooth-by-tooth exam.

Based on what Dr. Latner sees, he can design a restoration that will match the shape and size of your existing cavity, fracture, or filling. Our lab will then fabricate your restoration based on an impression of your tooth and any other information Dr. Latner sends. The result will be a natural-looking product that restores your smile’s functionality and encourages you to share your smile with others instead of hiding it.

Do you need help restoring one or more teeth with an inlay or onlay? Call Westside Dental Associates today to reserve an appointment. Dr. Latner serves patients from Los Angeles, West LA, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and surrounding communities.

The Benefits of All-Porcelain Crowns

March 31, 2013

When teeth become damaged or badly decayed, restorative care becomes essential. For a single tooth in need of help, dentists often turn to all-porcelain crowns. With an all-porcelain crown, it’s possible to provide patients with restored functionality, as well results that blend in with the rest of their smile and look natural.

How is that possible?

It has to do with the way all-porcelain crowns reflect light. Instead of looking unnatural, they reflect light the way natural tooth enamel does. Compare this with the more opaque look at a porcelain-covered metal crown.

Crown Placement

An all-porcelain crown can be placed in just a couple of visits. During the first, your dentist will prep the tooth by numbing area with a gel and a local anesthetic. Then, when the damaged portion of the tooth has been removed and an impression has been taken, a temporary crown will be put in place.

Based on the impression and your doctor’s unique plan for you, a trained ceramist will carefully create a custom-made crown. When it’s finished the patient will return for a second appointment, during which the final crown will be put in place.

Do you need to repair a decayed or broken tooth with an all-porcelain crown? Call us today to learn more or to schedule a consultation.

Get Ready for Summer with Six Month Smiles

March 29, 2013

Spring is here and that means spending more time outdoors with friends and family. With that being the case, the last thing you want to do is worry about how your smile looks. After all, not everyone has a naturally straight smile.

That’s why Dr. Latner and his team at Westside Dental Associates in Los Angeles offer a service like Six Month Smiles. With Six Month Smiles, patients have a simple, fast orthodontic solution that makes treatment more discreet.

That’s because Six Month Smiles uses clear brackets and tooth-colored wires instead of traditional brackets and wires, which can stand out and mar a professional image. Within just a few months, Dr. Latner can help you move your teeth into their ideal alignment, giving you the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted.

Are you curious about how Six Month Smiles can help you? During a consultation at Westside Dental Associates in Los Angeles, we can help you understand your needs and whether Six Month Smiles is right for you.

Call us today to reserve an appointment. We can help you create happy, smiling memories that you’ll cherish for years to come.

Improved Functionality with Dental Implants

March 22, 2013

In our last post, we mentioned that dental implants may one day be replaced by bioengineered teeth grown from stem cells. Until that day, however, dental implants will be one of the best ways to replace missing teeth and enjoy improved functionality.

That’s because dental implants use a prosthetic root to anchor teeth to the jaw. What’s more, your prosthetic root is made from titanium, a biocompatible metal. Over time, your implant(s) will bond with the bone in your jaw to create a stable foundation.

Why is all this important?

Because missing roots lead to bone loss, which can eventually lead to the loss of other teeth. Dental implants try to prevent all that by replacing the missing root and preserving the jaw.

Not every patient is a candidate for dental implants though. To find out about your restorative dentistry options, call Westside Dental Associates to reserve an appointment with Dr. Latner. We’re happy to provide care to patients of all ages from all around the Los Angeles area.

Is It Possible To Grow New Teeth? It May Be In the Future

March 15, 2013

Right now, one of the best ways for a dentist to restore the natural functionality of his or her patient’s smile is with dental implants. But that could be changing very soon.

Recently, the Journal of Dental Research published research revealing that stem cells taken from a patient’s own gum tissue can be used to bioengineer new teeth. The result is a new tooth more effective than what dental implants can provide.

The process involves taking gum tissues, isolating a particular combination of cells, and then implanting them in the patient’s jaw. From there, those cells will develop into a new tooth.

You won’t find too many dentists offering this service just yet, though. Bioteeth are still just a matter of research. But with the passage of time, it’s not unreasonable to expect that this process could become the new standard, giving patients a genuinely natural smile again.

To learn more about this revolutionary discovery, click here to read the article. And to find out how Dr. Latner of Westside Dental Associates can help you with a missing tooth, call our office. We serve patients from all around the Los Angeles area.

Cosmetic Dentistry for the Look You Want

March 8, 2013

You’re on your lunch break, quickly visiting the local coffee shop for your midday pick-me-up. And then you see her: the girl of your dreams, standing directly across the shop from you. Your eyes meet and she smiles. Instinctively, you start to smile back, then snap your mouth shut, embarrassed of your yellowed, crooked smile. Don’t be embarrassed—it’s not just you. Millions of Americans suffer from various confidence-killing dental issues. But we have news for you: if your teeth are taking a serious toll on your confidence, you have options. Fight back against the demoralizing effects of a crooked, chipped, or misaligned smile.

For many, personal oral care will not fix the issues in your mouth. From teeth grinding to missing or chipped teeth to unsightly fillings, some issues need more than general care, they need a specialist. Research shows that not only can smiling actually improve your mood, but suppressing a smile can ruin your mood. All this refusing to smile is actually making you feel worse. Solution: let’s get started on creating a confident smile, ASAP! If you wanted a face-lift, you’d seek the best cosmetic surgeon in Los Angeles, right? So why not find a first rate cosmetic dentist in Los Angeles to help you find the confidence you need to make new connections in life?

Have no more tight-lipped smiles at birthday parties, and no more fear of smiling at the cutie in the coffee shop. Many of us have issues with our smiles, but Dr. Les Latner, an Accredited Member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, has options for whichever problems you seek to fix. Practicing cosmetic and general dentistry in Los Angeles since 1984, Dr. Latner knows that in this city, confidence is everything. He knows you want to look good, and offers various procedures to help you achieve the look you want. Your smile is a serious investment in your future, so go with the best. Trust Dr. Latner to get you there.