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....(Read More) 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....(Read More) 
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...(Read More) 
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,...(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