Westside Dental Associates

Improving Your Oral Health with Food

July 23, 2013

general dentistry

You already know how important brushing, flossing, and regular checkups are for a healthy smile, but what about your diet? While foods high in sugar can negatively affect oral health, other foods are more beneficial. Some of those include:

Fruits, veggies, nuts, and more

Vegetables that take some considerable chewing, like carrots and celery, are good for your smile because the more you chew, the more saliva your body produces. Why is that good? Saliva is known for neutralizing acid, which causes decay.

Meanwhile, foods like garlic, apples, grapes, cocoa, and nutmeg are beneficial for another reason. Instead of increasing saliva production, they make it more difficult for bacteria...

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Have You Ever Wondered What Causes Tooth Sensitivity? Here Are Four of Them

July 16, 2013

general dentistry

It’s not uncommon for patients of Westside Dental Associates to ask us about tooth sensitivity. Many experience it, but few know why. In today’s post, we’d like to look at the topic of tooth sensitivity and explain just a few of the things that can cause it.

Gum Disease/Gum Recession

One of the primary causes of tooth sensitivity is gum recession, which itself if caused by gum disease. When gum disease isn’t treated, it can cause the gums to recede, exposing more of the tooth and increasing one’s sensitivity to things that are hot or cold. Treating gum disease early, before it has time to become more developed, will...

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Xylitol: A Sweetener that Will Actually Help Your Smile

July 9, 2013

xylitol

Dentists are always encouraging their patients to avoid sweets and eat healthy foods, but there’s one sweetener that’s actually good for your smile—xylitol.

What is Xylitol?

Xylitol is derived from the fibers of plants and promotes a neutral pH when consumed. Compare that to what happens with normal sugar. When bacteria in the mouth come into contact with sugar, a feeding frenzy ensues, producing harmful acid. But bacteria don’t interact with xylitol the way they do with sugar. In fact, xylitol makes it more difficult for bacteria to cling to teeth, resulting in an overall reduction of bacteria in the mouth.

The benefits of xylitol don’t stop there, though....

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One-Appointment Cosmetic Bonding

June 13, 2013

cosmetic bonding

Many patients dream of a more beautiful smile. For some, though, the expense or the inconvenience of multiple visits can be off-putting. But there’s one service that allows you to get the cosmetic care you’re looking for at a lower price and in just one appointment—it’s called cosmetic bonding.

What is Cosmetic Bonding?

Cosmetic bonding is a great solution for patients who have a chipped or slightly misaligned tooth that they want restored. To do that, Dr. Latner will apply a putty-like material known as composite resin to the surface of the tooth. To ensure your restored tooth matches the rest of your smile, the resin will be...

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A Brighter Smile Goes the Extra Mile

June 10, 2013

Dr. Latner DIAGNOdent Los Angeles

A Brighter Smile Goes the Extra Mile – Teeth Whitening with Les Latner

On a first date or in a job interview, first impressions are everything. Not just in your demeanor but in your appearance as well. In the first few seconds of meeting someone, that person will formulate an opinion of you based on body language. If you want it to be a positive one, you’d be remiss without flashing a smile. Smiling puts others at ease and makes you seem friendly. Now, everyone wants to be the best they can be, and you should strive for quality in every aspect of yourself. So when it comes to a smile,...

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What If Dental Implants Aren’t Right for Me?

June 6, 2013

restorative dentistry

For patients who are missing one or more teeth, dental implants can do a lot to restore natural functionality and appearance. But as effective as they are, they aren’t right for everyone. It takes a certain amount of bone to support the implant posts that anchor a dental implant restoration. If that isn’t there, dental implants may not be an immediate option. So what might your alternatives be?

How Can I Become a Candidate for Dental Implants?

In some cases, it may be possible for you to become a candidate through bone grafting. The bone grafting process involves the transplant of bone tissue to where you need it, or...

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Is There a Difference between a Children’s Dentist and a Pediatric Dentist?

May 30, 2013

pediatric dentistry

Regular dental care isn’t just important for adults—children need it too. But are all dentists the same when it comes to offering dental care to kids? For instance, if one doctor says he’s a children’s dentist but another says he’s a pediatric dentist, are they saying different things?

Are Pediatric Dentists & Children’s Dentists Different?

In short, the answer is yes. Even though a children’s dentist is perfectly suited to providing kids with care, in most cases, that means children who are three years old or older. Pediatric dentistry, on the other hand, is a specialty recognized by the American Dental Association and requires special knowledge of how to...

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Two Options for Cosmetic Braces, But Which Is Right For Me?

May 23, 2013

Invisalign

If you’ve explored our site before, you may have noticed that Dr. Les Latner offers two options for cosmetic braces: Six Month Smiles and Invisalign. Both offer discreet care and are made to work quickly. But how can you know which one is right for you? Are they even comparable? That’s a question we’d like to look at for this post so you can have a clearer understanding of how both work.

What is the Difference Between Invisalign & Six Month Smiles?

Invisalign and Six Month Smiles can’t do the work of traditional braces. They’re cosmetic systems and are designed to fix crowding, slight misalignment, and...

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

May 16, 2013

shutterstock_18045289When 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

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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 a tooth fracture, or due to a deep cavity. In any of these cases, the tooth could develop an infection. If left untreated, the infection will destroy the pulp, putting the tooth at risk of loss.

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.

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