When you think of Halloween you likely think kids in costumes with buckets of candy, but what most dental practitioners see is a one way ticket on the cavity express. Many holiday favorites are high in sugar and lead to tooth decay. This is especially true for our littlest smiles. Children’s teeth are still developing, and kids are not as coordinated as adults which makes cleaning teeth a challenge. That’s why it’s essential to protect kids’ teeth from decay with thorough at-home care, and six month checkups and cleanings at Westside Dental Associates.
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Your Los Angeles Dentist Helps Fight Halloween Cavities
October 1, 2015
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The Los Angeles Dentist for Optimal Oral Hygiene – Dr. Les Latner
September 20, 2015
Your Los Angeles dentist, Dr. Les Latner, strives to help patients achieve optimal oral health. The Westside Dental Associates team helps patients develop at-home care routines to remove bacteria, prevent tartar, and keep smiles healthy and naturally beautiful. While many patients assume the building block of excellent dental health is twice daily tooth brushing, flossing may just have the upper hand when it comes to removing hard to reach, stuck-on plaque and preventing tooth decay and gum disease. Find out more about essential oral hygiene habits from the Dentist Los Angeles residents rely on, Dr. Les Latner. Call Westside Dental Associates to find out more today.
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Get Straighter Teeth With Los Angeles Invisalign Dentist Dr. Les Latner
September 15, 2015
High school can be brutal. Gym class, pop quizzes, lunchtime — you don’t miss it, do you? Thankfully, once we leave those halls, the list of “embarrassing” things we have to endure gets a lot shorter. For one thing, you don’t need to worry about bulky, noticeable metal braces. That’s because metal braces for adults are… well, they’re just not a thing anymore.
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Dr. Les Latner, DDS: Your Trusted Los Angeles Dentist
September 8, 2015
When you choose a dentist, you want to make sure he or she is someone you can trust — someone with experience, and compassion. Not only that, but you want to feel at home with the whole team so that from the very moment you walk through the door, you feel relaxed and comfortable.
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There Are Many Reasons for Why Anyone Experiences a Toothache
September 1, 2015
At some point in our lives, we’ve all had at least one bad experience involving a toothache. If you were lucky, the pain wasn’t too excruciating. For others, the throbbing was too much to bear. Whether it was a decently pleasant experience or one you’d rather forget, a toothache can cause all sorts of problems. A common question we hear is, “Why do I have a toothache?” The truth is, there are many reasons for why tooth pain happens. You could have something major going on in your mouth or it could be nothing at all. What’s important is that you see Dr. Latner for any tooth pain. He will know if there are additional problems happening that you can’t see by looking in the mirror.
Our Los Angeles, CA office specializes in bringing harmony back to patients’ oral health. Any tooth pain may be an indicator of something serious, so it’s important that we get to work on treating whatever it is that is causing pain. Dr. Latner’s true passion is general dentistry, and he can apply the methods he’s learned to help bring maximum comfort back to your mouth. Dr. Latner is the general dentist Los Angeles residents can go to for relief.
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Dr. Les Latner, Sedation Dentist in Los Angeles
August 20, 2015
I’ve worked on a lot of teeth over the past thirty-plus years.Yes, I’ve seen (literally) millions of them, and dealt with a number of oral problems. I’ve helped care for the mouths of everyone from linebackers on the UCLA Bruins football team to your neighborhood paper boy. In this process, I’ve learned that we all have a few things in common. We all feel the desire for healthy teeth and a beautiful smile. We also all share a fear of the dentist.
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Dr. Les Latner, Your Los Angeles Cosmetic Dentist, Straightens Teeth with Innovative Six-month Smiles
July 23, 2015
Fast, comfortable and practically invisible, the Six-month Smiles system is the orthodontic solution for teens and adults with teeth that are crooked, overlapping or poorly spaced. Cosmetic dentist Dr. Les Latner utilizes the system to move teeth in the “smile zone” into more attractive positions.
Straighten teeth in six months
What keeps you from straightening your smile? Do you think you are too old, braces detract from your appearance, treatment takes too long, and orthodontics are too costly? Los Angeles cosmetic dentist Dr. Les Latner addresses these concerns with Six–month Smiles. By wearing clear brackets and tooth-colored wires, older teens and adults can confidently achieve amazing dental aesthetics in just half a year–and at a price that’s easier on the budget.
Doesn’t orthodontic treatment take years?
Unfortunately, some people have complex orthodontic problems. Difficult issues with how teeth come together may put a patient through treatment with traditional wire and bracket braces for years. Tooth rotation, crossbite, overbite, underbite–correction of these conditions may be long, complex and at times, uncomfortable–to say nothing of how braces can change personal appearance and self-confidence.
However, for older teens and adults who have healthy teeth and only desire a straight, even look to their smiles, your 90064 cosmetic dentist, Dr. Les Latner, offers Six-month Smiles, braces that are practically unnoticeable and deliver excellent results in just 6 months. This means an individual could begin treatment in the winter and have a totally refurbished smile by a June graduation or wedding.
Move teeth in the smile zone
The beauty of Six-month Smiles lies not only in the aesthetic results but in the strategy. These clear braces treat only the teeth that actually show when a person smiles–in other words, the upper and lower teeth in the “smile zone.” This kind of treatment does not address occlusion issues, or how teeth bite together, the part of orthodontics that is usually so time consuming.
Instead, as a qualified Six-month Smiles dentist, Dr. Latner can apply clear brackets and tooth-colored wires which exert low vector forces to change tooth position from uneven and crooked to straight and balanced. He can effectively close gaps and smooth crowding.
Is moving teeth quickly risky?
Again, the Six-month Smiles system uses gentle physical forces to reposition front teeth. The 90064 cosmetic dentist does not extract teeth as part of the treatment plan. Cosmetic results are quite predictable. Plus, because the patient wears the brackets and wires for such a short period of time (Typical orthodontic treatment averages 2 years or more.), tooth enamel is far less likely to wear thin or develop cavities.
Take a step to learn more
Dr. Les Latner at Westside Dental Associates can evaluate your smile and tell you if the Six-Month Smiles system is right for your teeth. These inventive orthodontics are just part of a wide array of cosmetic services Dr. Latner and his team deliver to create a super smile that’s healthy and expressive of the real you. Why not contact your Los Angeles, CA dentist today for a consultation?
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Flossing Is One of the Most Beneficial Preventive Dentistry Techniques
July 21, 2015
We have our eye on you, floss floppers. You know who you are. You can’t hide from us! Did you honestly think that brushing alone could rid your mouth of all the bacteria that needs to go? We sure hope not. While brushing is a helpful tool and a necessity in keeping diseases and harmful bacteria at bay, it isn’t the end-all be-all of practices. Flossing is just as important, if not more when it comes to keeping your oral health in tip-top shape. We’ve heard tons of excuses on why patients aren’t flossing, and we always try explaining why flossing is so vital. Our office in Los Angeles, CA wants you to know that incorporating flossing into your daily dental hygiene regimen is the smart thing to do. All that food from the night before that didn’t make it into your stomach is sitting in between your teeth, just waiting for other bacteria to join so they can throw a party in your mouth. Squash the party and start treating your teeth like your best friends. Start flossing!
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Gum Disease Therapy form the Dentist Los Angeles, CA Trusts
July 20, 2015
Some leve of periodontal (gum) disease affects nearly 80% of adults over 30 in the United States. It has been called an epidemic by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yet, many patients still aren’t aware of the number of people affected by this preventable disease. In order to prevent periodontal disease visit the Los Angeles, CA dental practice of Dr. Les Latner twice a year, brush twice a day, and floss at least once a day. If you are currently suffering from periodontal disease or believe you might be, call Westside Dental Associates to schedule an appointment today. Early treatment can help prevent more detrimental effects associated with gum disease including tooth sensitivity.
Gum Disease Causes & Symptoms
Our bodies are made up of numerous interconnected systems that work together to maintain health. Gum disease is caused by the buildup of bacteria beneath and around the gums. When sugary or starchy foods come in contact with the bacterial build up they become acidic. These acids are typically neutralized by basal nutrients from saliva, but when the amount of saliva produced is unable to neutralize the acids potential for tooth decay and gum disease increases.
When plaque and tartar build up below the gum line, the gums can become irritated or inflamed. This is a condition commonly referred to as gingivitis. When not treated by a dentist, gingivitis is difficult to get rid of because the buildup below the gums cannot be removed with regular brushing and flossing alone. Eventually, the buildup of tartar can lead to periodontitis the more serious form of gum disease. The irritation and inflammation of gingivitis develop into pockets of infection that can destroy the fibers and bone that connect your teeth to the gums. Eventually, infection can lead to the recession of gum tissue which exposes the roots of teeth to damaging plaque and other debris.
Gum Disease & Tooth Sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity is not always caused by gum disease, but periodontitis leads to tooth sensitivity for several reasons. Gum disease and the related infection expose your tooth enamel to bacteria that can cause damage, gum recession that exposes the roots of teeth which contain sensitive nerves, and the pockets of infection can cause your teeth to loosen and shift.
Teeth exposed to the bacterial infection associated with gum disease for an extended period of time are more likely to decay. Decaying teeth are sensitive to hot and cold, become painful or uncomfortable while chewing, and may begin to ache constantly. Gum recession occurs when periodontitis breaks down the fibers connecting teeth and gums. When this happens, gums often shift upwards exposing more of the roots of teeth. These roots contain the sensitive nerves and increased or prolonged exposure causes tooth sensitivity especially to heat and cold. Finally, the breakdown of fibers that connect teeth and gums and connect your teeth to your jawbone allow teeth to shift within the socket. This shifting can lead to tooth sensitivity and pain when chewing.
Call to Schedule a Checkup and Cleaning with Your Dentist, Los Angeles
At every six month checkup, you will receive a thorough oral health examination that includes a screening for periodontal disease. As many of the early indicators of gum disease go unnoticed by those suffering from the disease, regular checkups are essential to early treatment. Our hygienists will thoroughly clean your teeth and gums removing plaque, tartar and calculus that can lead to gum disease over time. With regular checkups and thorough at-home care, gum disease is almost entirely preventable. Call to schedule an appointment with Dr. Latner and the Westside Dental Associates team today.
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Your Los Angeles Pediatric Dentist – Dr. Les Latner
June 25, 2015
If you’ve ever asked a child to help you clean up, you may have noticed that they’re not so great at it. Teaching children how to care for their dental hygiene is not easy. At Westside Dental Associates, we emphasize regular checkups and teeth cleanings for our younger visitors, as well as providing oral hygiene education. In Los Angeles, Dr. Les Lanter is the dentist you can trust to care for the whole family. If you need pediatric, general, restorative, or cosmetic dentistry in Los Angeles, call to schedule an appointment today.
Dr. Latner Knows Children’s Teeth
Every smile is different, and our smiles change during throughout our lives. Caring for children’s teeth presents different obstacles than adult treatment. Dr. Latner completed a two year dental residency at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. While he has become a leader in esthetic dentistry and names general dentistry as his passion, there no denying his years of hand on training make him an ideal pediatric dentist as well.
Why Teeth Cleanings Matter
Because of his years of training and experience, Dr. Latner full understand the unique needs of children from the time their primary (baby) teeth begin to emerge, through loss of primary teeth, and development of permanent (adult) teeth. One of the best ways to help your child retain healthy primary teeth is to schedule regular dental hygiene visits every six months. We all know that children are still learning to be effective cleaners. You can’t count on them to do a better job cleaning their teeth than they do making their bed. A thorough cleaning by our outstanding hygienists, and a reminder about at home care tips is essential in build a child’s oral health.
Because primary teeth are weaker than permanent teeth, they are more susceptible to caries (cavities). At regular cleanings, the bacteria on your child’s tooth is thoroughly removed just like your own teeth cleaning. Additionally, primary teeth are checked thoroughly for signs of decay, or problem areas. Sealants and fluoride treatments can also be applied to offer your child additional protection.
Keeping primary teeth strong is more important than you might think. Baby teeth, like adult teeth, help your child to chew, but they are also important as children develop speech. Our teeth allow us to speak clearly. Children whose primary teeth do not develop well, are more likely to have impeded speech. Caring for primary teeth also lays the ground work for healthy adult teeth. If your child’s primary teeth and gums are healthy, they will prepare the way for healthier adult teeth.
Find Out More
If you’re interested in learning more about the outstanding family dentistry offered by Dr. Latner and the knowledgeable Westside Dental Associates team, our convenient “ask the doctor” tool allows you to gather information between visits. Call our Las Angeles practice to schedule an appointment. Westside Dental Associates welcomes patients from surrounding areas including Santa Monica, Marina Del Ray, Beverly Hills, Calabasas, and Burbank.
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