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...(Read More) 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...(Read More) 
What Is Oral Conscious Sedation?
February 28, 2013
For some patients, going to the dentist takes courage. Sometimes that’s because of one or more bad experiences in the past. Other times it’s because of neck, back, or jaw pain. Whatever the cause, no dentist ever wants his or her patients to avoid care.
That’s why many dentists offer a service called oral conscious sedation. The point of oral conscious sedation is to create a soothing sense of relaxation in patients without putting them fully to sleep. Being able to respond to questions during a procedure is important.
Oral conscious sedation isn’t the only kind of sedation that can help patients find this balance, but it is one of the most popular. It...(Read More) 
Diagnosing Cavities Early with DIAGNOdent
February 25, 2013
So far this month we’ve been talking about gum disease and how our Los Angeles team treats it. All of this can be thought of as fitting under the category of preventive dentistry. Through regular visits, we can monitor your smile for signs of gum disease and provide treatment early if we find anything. With more developed cases, Arestin can help you prevent gum disease from affecting your overall health.
Given our recent focus, there’s another preventive service we’d like you to be aware of. It’s a simple device known as DIAGNOdent. Using this tool, Dr. Latner is able to diagnose signs of decay very early on, when it can be hard...(Read More) 
Treating Gum Disease with Arestin
February 20, 2013
In our last post, we talked about the connection between your heart and your gums. Today, we’d like to talk about an effective service our Los Angeles dental office is using to treat gum disease. The service is called Arestin.
Arestin is an antibiotic, but it’s not a pill, like other antibiotics. Instead, Arestin is applied directly to the part of your gum line that needs to be treated. Once applied, Arestin’s small particles of medicine go to work right where they’re needed, targeting bacteria. By itself, Arestin cannot be more effective than scaling and root planing (SRP) alone. Combined, Arestin and SRP can deliver dramatic results that greatly improve oral health and well-being.
Not only...(Read More) 
The Connection between Your Heart and Your gums
February 13, 2013
Valentine’s Day is almost here. That means people everywhere will soon have hearts on their minds. But Valentine’s Day isn’t the only heart-related thing about February. It’s also Heart Health Month.
How does that relate to dentistry?
At first glance, it doesn’t seem as if it should. However, some studies have indicated that a common oral health condition like gum disease is not to distantly related to heart disease, among other health conditions. The extent of the connection isn’t entirely understood yet, but just hearing this can force you to think about dentistry in a new way.
The main concern of dentistry is your smile, of course. But when you consider that the plaque...(Read More) 
Pediatric Dentistry and Your Child
January 31, 2013
We understand the importance of dental care for adults, but it’s equally important to care for the health of your child’s teeth as well. Pediatric dentistry is an important dental specialty recognized by the ADA. Dentists in this field are skilled and practiced at caring for the health of children’s teeth.
Your child should first go to a dentist when they are one year old. This may seem rather young, but cavities can occur at any age, and it’s important to get started on a health routine early.
When taking your child to the dentist, make sure you’re taking them to a pediatric dentist. They’re prepared and experienced at handling young children and their...(Read More) 
Cosmetic Dentistry in time for Valentine’s Day
January 28, 2013
Valentine’s Day is just a couple of weeks away. If you’re looking for a way to enhance your confidence and look your best this February 14th, consider cosmetic dentistry. The cosmetic dentistry services Dr. Latner provides can help you whiten and straighten your teeth, creating a smile you’ll want to share with others.
Our cosmetic dentistry services include:
- Teeth whitening
- Invisalign clear braces
- Porcelain veneers
- Cosmetic bonding
- Contouring
- Six Month Smiles
How Old Is the Toothbrush?
January 21, 2013
Even though you use one everyday—or at least you should—you may not have ever thought about how long the toothbrush has been around. It’s hard not to see them as a modern invention. And they are, in a way. The modern toothbrush didn’t come into being until 1938.
But that doesn’t mean that no one brushed their teeth before that. It’s known that people living as far back as 3000 BC cleaned their teeth with frayed twigs. It’s also known that the first bristle toothbrush was invented in 15th century China. All of which means that brushing has been an important part of daily life for centuries, and it continues to be.
Why...(Read More) The Rising Popularity of Dental Implants
January 14, 2013
Recently, the American Academy of Implant Dentistry found that close to 30 million Americans are missing all the teeth in one or both of their jaws. The group also found that 15 million Americans are using a crown and bridge to replace a missing tooth. Given all that, restorative dentistry is one of the most important services a dentist can offer.
Crowns, bridges, and dentures have long been used to fill gaps and restore a smile’s appearance and function. But traditional forms of each have their limitations. While they can restore your appearance, they can’t give you back the functionality you once had. They also can’t stop the bone loss you’ll experience....(Read More) 
Teeth Whitening for Los Angeles and Beyond
December 27, 2012
Are your teeth not as white as you’d like to be? Have you tried whitening toothpaste or other drugstore whitening treatments and aren’t satisfied with the results? Try the professional teeth whitening treatments from Westside Dental Associates!
Teeth frequently become stained from wine, tobacco, tea, coffee, and aging. These stains can cause you to lose confidence in yourself and your smile. We’re here to help you remove these stains and have beautiful, white teeth once again.
We offer two different whitening treatments to meet your unique needs. One option is Zoom! Whitening, which is an in-office procedure that gives you noticeably whiter teeth in just over an hour. If you want immediate...(Read More) 