Start Setting Goals for Your Smile Now

November 26, 2013

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry,General Dentistry,Restorative Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , — Les Latner @ 7:24 am

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 solid information about what we offer and how we can help.

To understand which service (or services) is truly right for you, though, you’ll need to visit Westside Dental Associates in person for a consultation with Dr. Latner. Our promise, to every patient, is to create a personalized treatment plan that addresses your individual needs. What’s more, we can explain how every service works, so that you’re completely comfortable with what we recommend. We don’t want any patient to agree to a treatment plan they don’t understand or aren’t fully comfortable with.

Call us today for an appointment with Dr. Latner. Our Los Angeles team is looking forward to helping you.

Use Your Dental Benefits Before You Lose Them

November 12, 2013

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Les Latner @ 1:16 pm

dental benefitsAs 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, they can cause cavities and gum disease. Regular checkups give Dr. Latner of Westside Dental Associates a chance to get rid of this buildup so teeth are better protected. Routine visits also make it possible for Dr. Latner to diagnose common oral health problems before they have a chance to become serious.

Do you have dental benefits you haven’t used yet? Call Westside Dental Associates today to schedule one more appointment for 2013. We serve patients from Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West LA, Mar Vista, and surrounding areas.

Advanced Care with DIAGNOdent

October 31, 2013

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , — Les Latner @ 7:14 am

general dentistryIn 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 your exam, this useful tool will make a sound, alerting us to an area that needs our attention.

Why is this beneficial for your oral health? Because treating any oral health issue early on will prevent the need for more invasive care later on.

We recommend that our patients visit us twice a year for regular checkups, including exams with DIAGNOdent. With this kind of regular care, Dr. Latner and his Los Angeles dental team can help you stay a step ahead of one of the most common oral health problems any patient can face.

To experience a checkup with DIAGNOdent, call Dr. Latner’s Los Angeles dental office today for an appointment. We serve patients from Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West LA, Mar Vista, and beyond.

Why Is Flossing Important?

September 20, 2013

Filed under: Flossing — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Les Latner @ 7:13 am

general dentistryYou’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 treated with fillings, dental crowns, root canal therapy, and gum disease therapy. Failure to floss on a regular basis may lead to you needing one or more of these services to help you reclaim good oral health.

So, how can flossing help?

Flossing will help you support your oral health by getting leftover pieces of food away from teeth. As a result, one’s chance of developing cavities or gum disease is significantly lower.

At Westside Dental Associates, we recommend that patients floss at least once a day to keep teeth at their cleanest. Floss is inexpensive and comes in a wide variety of types: waxed, unwaxed, and flavored. Patients should also brush at least twice a day, if not three times.

Do you have questions about flossing, or do you want to schedule an appointment? Call Dr. Latner’s Los Angeles dental office. We offer care to patients from Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West LA, Mar Vista, and surrounding areas.

Is It Time for Your Home-Stretch Checkup?

August 15, 2013

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , — Les Latner @ 7:44 am

general dentistryIf you had a checkup with Dr. Latner earlier this year, it may already be time for your second annual visit with Westside Dental Associates. That’s because we’re past the half-way point in 2013 and are entering the home-stretch. Over the next few months, you can only expect life to get busier as the kids return to school, and major holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the hustle and bustle of December gets underway.

Right now, with summer vacation slowly winding down, is the perfect time for you to see our Los Angeles team for regular care. During your appointment, Dr. Latner will take a close look at your smile and assess your current health. If we see any signs of tooth decay or gum disease, we can put a treatment plan together right away to help you address whatever your needs are.

Dr. Latner can also talk to you about the cosmetic and restorative services he offers. With cosmetic and restorative care, you can enjoy better oral health and better confidence—and sometimes in as few as one or two visits. We’ll develop a personalized plan to help you with your specific needs.

Is it already time for your second checkup? Call Westside Dental Associates today to schedule your appointment. Dr. Latner provides excellent general, cosmetic, and restorative care to patients from all around the Los Angeles area, including Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West LA, and Mar Vista.

Diabetes and Gum Disease

August 8, 2013

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Les Latner @ 7:41 am

general dentistryWe’ve said it before—gum disease doesn’t just affect your oral health, it has an impact on your overall wellbeing. That even goes for patients with diabetes.

What’s the connection? Though it’s not entirely understood, it would appear that the relationship between gum disease occurs two ways.

Here’s what we know:

Gum disease forms when bacteria and plaque accumulate around the gum line. This causes the tissue to become irritated, resulting in an infection. The body responds to this infection by raising blood sugar levels, in turn raising a patient’s risk of experiencing diabetic complications.

Now, consider the other side. Patients who are diabetic are already more susceptible to developing an infection, because of the differences with their blood sugar—and that includes a greater susceptibility to gum disease.

All of which means that diabetic patients should make regular dental care a priority—in fact, all patients should make regular care a priority. With checkups and cleanings twice a year, Dr. Latner will have a chance to watch your smile for changes, even very small ones. If we find anything that requires extra care, we can put together a treatment plan immediately.

Call us today if you’re ready to schedule an appointment. Dr. Latner serves patients from Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West LA, and Mar Vista. Helping you enjoy good oral and overall health throughout your life is our highest goal.

Risk Factors for Cavities

August 1, 2013

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , — Les Latner @ 12:41 pm

general dentistryYou’ve heard all your life that keeping your teeth healthy means avoiding sugary foods and brushing twice a day. But in fact, when it comes to cavities, there are other risk factors besides sugary foods and not brushing that you should be aware of. In today’s post, we’d like to go over some of those. We hope you find them informative, and if you have any questions about what you see, don’t hesitate to give our Los Angeles dental office a call.

Already having cavities

All patients face a risk of developing cavities, but patients who have had cavities in the past are more likely to develop new ones in the future. That’s because cavities weaken the protective outer layer of teeth, known as enamel. If you’ve had cavities in the past, make good oral habits a priority to protect your smile going forward.

Lack of fluoride

Why is fluoride added to toothpaste and community water supplies?  Because it supports oral health. Specifically, it attracts important minerals, ensuring that the enamel stays strong in the face of bacteria and acid. Not getting enough fluoride means your enamel will be weaker and more vulnerable to decay. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste, drinking tap water, and including a fluoride mouthwash into your daily routine will all help you prevent cavities.

Family history

Not every family makes brushing and flossing a priority, but that’s not the only way family history can contribute to cavities. For some patients, an increased risk of cavities comes down to genetics. If the members of your family seem to be naturally susceptible, make regular home care and checkups a priority.

Dry mouth

Saliva has at least two important functions: it helps us flush bacteria out of our mouths, and it neutralizes acid to protect teeth from decay. If you struggle with dry mouth, it’s important that you stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the day, or you may want something like xylitol mints or gum, which promotes a neutral pH.

These are just a few of the possible risk factors associated with cavities. To learn more, or to come in for a consultation, call Westside Dental Associates to reserve an appointment. Dr. Les Latner provides comprehensive dental care to patients from Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West LA, and Mar Vista.

How Saliva Protects Your Smile

July 30, 2013

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Les Latner @ 7:19 am

general dentistryAs we indicated in our last post, saliva can play an important role in protecting teeth from decay. Specifically, saliva helps neutralize the acid created by bacteria in the mouth. But that’s not all it does.

Saliva is 99% water, and water—as we said last time—helps keep teeth clean. The other 1% of saliva is made up of electrolytes, mucus, glycoproteins, enzymes, and antibacterial compounds. As you eat, saliva breaks down food particles around teeth and offers your enamel special protection. What’s more, because saliva contains calcium and phosphates, it helps with the re-mineralization process, too.

It’s because of saliva’s benefits to oral health that dentist will recommend chewing gum after a meal. Not only will it help you clean your teeth, but it will prevent bacteria from getting out of control and creating destructive acid.

Want to know more about how saliva can help you support your oral health? Call Westside Dental Associates today for an appointment with Dr. Latner. We provide great general, cosmetic, and restorative care from patients in and around Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West LA, and Mar Vista.

Improving Your Oral Health with Food

July 23, 2013

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , — Les Latner @ 7:14 am

general dentistryYou 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 have a negative effect on oral health, there are other foods that 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? Because saliva is known for neutralizing acid, which is what 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 to stick to teeth. That will help you protect your teeth from acid and decay.

Dairy foods, like milk, cheese, and yogurt

These foods provide the body with calcium, which strengthens the bones and teeth. They’re also a source of casein, which provide additional protection from decay and cavities.

Beverages like water and tea

Drinking water throughout the day will help you keep your teeth clean, and it will prevent dry mouth. Avoiding dry mouth is one way of preventing bad breath and cavities. As for tea, it contains important antioxidants plus polyphenols, which help prevent inflammation and the growth of bacteria.

Do you have questions about what foods you should add to your diet? Let Dr. Latner talk to you. At Westside Dental Associates, we’re committed to offering great care. Call us today to schedule an appointment. We serve patients from Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West LA, Mar Vista, and beyond.

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

July 16, 2013

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Les Latner @ 7:12 am

general dentistryIt’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 help patients prevent gum recession and the sensitivity related to it.

Brushing Techniques

Are you brushing correctly? If you’re not, that could be what’s causing your tooth sensitivity. Brushing aggressively with a hard-bristled brush can harm both your teeth and your gums. If you have questions about how to brush correctly, Dr. Latner would be happy to demonstrate the next time you come to our Los Angeles dental office.

Teeth Damaged by Grinding or Clenching

Bruxism, a stress-induced condition that involves teeth grinding, can lead to cracked teeth. When that happens, bacteria can get inside the tooth to the nerve, causing tooth sensitivity. Clenching, biting your teeth extremely hard, can do similar damage as bruxism and cause tooth sensitivity. An oral appliance can help patients stop teeth grinding and prevent cracks from forming.

Age

Some patients who are between the ages of 25 and 30 will experience an increase in sensitivity. If you are between these ages and have noticed a change, talk to Dr. Latner.

Don’t live with uncomfortable tooth sensitivity. Call Westside Dental Associates today to schedule an appointment with our Los Angeles team. We provide care to patients from Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West LA, Mar Vista, and beyond.

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