Marina del Rey Archives - Page 8 of 8 - Westside Dental Associates

Offering Preventive Care with DIAGNOdent and Tooth-Colored Fillings

February 19, 2014

Preventive care is the cornerstone of dentistry, and few tools today are as helpful with preventive care as a tool called DIAGNOdent. Dr. Latner uses DIAGNOdent every day during regular checkups to look for cavities that are just beginning to form. Every time it comes across one, it lets us know by making a sound. If we find anything, we can start working on a treatment plan immediately, because our goal is to conserve as much of your natural smile as possible.

To preserve smiles we use tooth-colored fillings, which are more supportive of your smile’s natural structure than metal fillings. They also blend in with teeth to provide discreet results. All of which means you can smile with greater confidence as you continue enjoying your natural smile throughout life.

Do you want to learn more about preserving and restoring your smile with DIAGNOdent and tooth-colored fillings? Dr. Latner would be happy to talk to you about both of these during a consultation at his Los Angeles office.

Your smile is in good hands at Westside Dental Associates. We serve patients from Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West LA, Mar Vista, Culver City, Rancho Park, Westwood, Brentwood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Playa Vista, and nearby communities.

How Can Oral Conscious Sedation Help You?

February 15, 2014

Do you avoid going to the dentist because of anxiety? So do many others. That’s why Dr. Latner of Westside Dental Associates offers oral conscious sedation, a common form of sedation dentistry. With oral conscious sedation, we can help patients in the Los Angeles area stamp out anxiety and have a new kind of dental experience.

Oral conscious sedation works using a safe and effective prescription, in combination with nitrous oxide. What’s more, Dr. Latner has been certified to offer oral conscious sedation by the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS). That means you can trust our team to safely and effectively offer care with oral conscious sedation.

Here’s what you can expect.

First, you’ll take a small pill when you arrive at our Los Angeles office for your appointment. Once the pill has taken effect and you’re resting comfortably, we’ll begin your procedure. Under the influence of oral conscious sedation, your appointment will pass like a dream. When it’s over you won’t remember any significant details from your appointment.

Will your next appointment be your first using oral conscious sedation? Keep in mind that you’ll need a friend or family member with you to drive you home afterward; it can take several hours for the effects of oral conscious sedation to wear off.

Call Westside Dental Associates if you’d like to learn more about oral conscious sedation, or if you just want to set up an appointment with Dr. Latner. We offer this great service to patients from Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West LA, Mar Vista, Culver City, Rancho Park, Westwood, Brentwood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Playa Vista, and beyond.

The Connection between Oral Health and Heart Health

February 7, 2014

oral and overall health On February 14, couples across the country celebrated another Valentine’s Day. Given how important the heart is to that day—or at least cartoonish version of one—we decided to use our first post of the month to talk about the connection between heart health and oral health.

You might be surprised to hear that your smile and your heart are connected, but recent data indicates that they are. How exactly? That’s not entirely clear, but it seems to involve gum disease, a very common oral health problem.

Gum disease is caused by the accumulation of bacteria and plaque around the gum line. If left untreated, pockets can form between your teeth and your gums, giving bacteria and plaque a way into your bloodstream and other parts of the body as well, like the heart. Once there, they can contribute to clotting and even heart attack.

But heart health isn’t the only thing gum disease can affect. Other health problems include:

Alzheimer’s
Stroke
Diabetes
Pre-term birth
Pneumonia

If you struggle with gum disease, or you want to prevent it, there are a couple of steps you can take to protect your smile and your overall wellbeing. First, make sure you’re brushing and flossing on a regular basis. An antibacterial mouthwash will also help you control bacteria and stop gum disease from forming. Second, make sure you’re visiting Westside Dental Associates for regular appointments with Dr. Latner. During a regular checkup, Dr. Latner can look for gum disease and help you treat it if he finds anything. Treating gum disease early is important for enjoying good oral and overall health.

Call Westside Dental Associates today to schedule your next appointment with Dr. Latner. We serve patients from Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West LA, Mar Vista, Culver City, Rancho Park, Westwood, Brentwood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Playa Vista, and beyond.

Crown and Bridgework

January 31, 2014

Are you missing one or more teeth in a row? Dr. Latner can help you restore your smile’s appearance and functionality with a crown and bridge, sometimes referred to as a fixed bridge. Dr. Latner can help you restore your smile’s appearance and functionality with a bridge, sometimes referred to as a fixed bridge. If you’re missing the last tooth on either arch, it’s possible to secure a cantilever brigde with just one crown.

Your replacement teeth will be designed just for you, based on an impression we take of your smile. Then, a ceramist will carefully fabricate your bridge according to your impression and the instructions Dr. Latner draws up. In between appointments you’ll wear a temporary bridge, and then return to our Los Angeles dental office when your customized crown and bridge is finally ready. In some cases, it may be possible to get a bridge that is anchored by one or more dental implants.

Why is replacing missing teeth important?

When teeth aren’t replaced, remaining teeth will shift out of alignment over time. This can affect your bite, leading to TMJ dysfunction or teeth grinding. It can also give bacteria and plaque new places to hide, increasing your risk of developing gum disease. What’s more, patients who have missing teeth can have more difficulty speaking and eating. With a full smile, you can look forward to better health and wellbeing, plus an improved sense of confidence.

Call Westside Dental Associates if you want to fill the gap in your smile with a crown and bridge. During your visit, we can explain exactly how the process works and answer any questions you might have. We offer restorative care to patients from Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West LA, Mar Vista, Culver City, Rancho Park, Westwood, Brentwood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Playa Vista, and beyond.

The Convenience of Take-Home Whitening

January 21, 2014

teeth whitening

You might already know that Dr. Latner can whiten your smile in one appointment with Zoom! Whitening, but did you know that our Los Angeles office also has a second whitening option? Take-home whitening is a convenient alternative to in-office whitening, and one that works especially well for patients with sensitive teeth. It’s also a good option for patients who want to give their smile an extra boost several weeks after an initial treatment with in-office whitening. Combining in-office whitening with take-home whitening is a good way to make your dazzling results last even longer.

Here’s how take-home whitening works.

First, you’ll come to see Dr. Latner of Westside Dental Associates for a special consultation. As part of that consultation, we’ll take impressions of your teeth so that a set of custom whitening trays can be made. When your trays are ready, we’ll also give you a supply of professional whitening gel.

To whiten your teeth at home, simply line your trays with your whitening gel and wear them for 30 minutes a day for between one and two weeks. Over that time, the stains on your teeth will fade, revealing a more dazzling smile. While you whiten, you can take care of some chores around the house, or you can relax with a book or in front of the TV.

If in-office whitening has made your teeth sensitive in the past, take-home whitening may be more comfortable. If you still experience sensitivity, follow-up your daily treatment by lining your liners with a toothpaste like Sensodyne and wearing them for half an hour.

Are you ready to transform your smile with take-home whitening? Call us today for an appointment. We whiten smiles from Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West LA, Mar Vista, Culver City, Rancho Park, Westwood, Brentwood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Playa Vista, and beyond.

Make 2014 a Transformative Year for Your Smile

January 10, 2014

cosmetic dentistry

Do you have ambitious goals for your smile this year? Then let the team at Westside Dental Associates in Los Angeles be your guide to better oral health and improved confidence. Besides offering general and preventive dentistry, we offer a wide range of cosmetic and restorative services as well.

Maybe your big goal for 2014 is to . For that, Dr. Latner offers in-office whitening with Zoom! and also take-home whitening option.

Alternatively, you might have teeth you want to straighten. With Six Month Smiles or Invisalign, Dr. Latner can help you correct misalignment in just a matter of months.

If you have missing teeth you want to replace, we can provide excellent help with dental implants. Unlike other restorative services, dental implants have a structure similar to natural teeth, with a replacement tooth on top and a prosthetic root underneath. With one or more implants, patients can enjoy a smile that looks and feels natural again.

A list of our other cosmetic and restorative services includes:

Are any of these services right for you? Dr. Latner can help you decide with a simple consultation visit at his Los Angeles dental office. Call us today if you live in Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West LA, Mar Vista, Culver City, Rancho Park, Westwood, Brentwood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Playa Vista, and beyond. We can help you make 2014 a momentous year for your smile.

Schedule Your First Appointment of 2014 Today

January 2, 2014

Enjoying a beautiful, healthy smile begins with regular care from Dr. Les Latner and the team at Westside Dental Associates. We recommend that patients of all ages come to us for a checkup and cleaning at least twice in a single year. That might sound like a lot, but there’s a good reason for it. The quicker we can diagnose issues like gum disease, tooth decay, teeth grinding, TMJ dysfunction, or oral cancer, the sooner we can offer care—which is exactly what general and preventive dentistry is all about. With early care, we can help you preserve the smile you have and prevent new issues from developing in the future.

Gum disease in particular is a very common issue and can dramatically affect oral health and overall wellbeing. Besides the swelling, bleeding and persistent bad breath that come with it, gum disease also causes tooth loss and may increase your risk for other kinds of health problems, like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and preterm birth. By offering a service like periodontal therapy, in addition to regular cleanings and exams, we can help our Los Angeles-area patients in a wide variety of ways.

But before we design any kind of advanced treatment plan, we have to know what your oral health is currently like. During your visit, Dr. Latner will look closely for signs of gum disease or tooth decay. We’ll also look for wear and tear that might indicate a struggle with bruxism or TMJ dysfunction. We’ll even look for signs of oral cancer. For every patient, we want to make an early diagnosis so we can provide truly preventive care.

Has it been more than six months since your last visit with Dr. Latner? Call Westside Dental Associates for an appointment. We’re happy to offer excellent general and preventive dental care to patients from Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West LA, Mar Vista, Culver City, Rancho Park, Westwood, Brentwood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Playa Vista, and beyond.

Dr. Latner Detects Cavities Early with DIAGNOdent

June 20, 2012

In our last post, we talked about how tooth-colored fillings can help us restore smile affected by decay. In this post, we’re going to introduce you to a unique tool Dr. Les Latner is using every day to catch decay before it becomes a serious problem. It’s called DIAGNOdent.

How Does DIAGNOdent Work?

Using a laser, DIAGNOdent examines the surfaces of teeth for signs of decay, matching what it finds against a health baseline reading. When it finds something that differs from that initial healthy reading, a sound is emitted, indicating that decay may be present.

As a benefit for you, finding decay early means shallower, simpler fillings that let you preserve more of your natural smile. And when used in combination with X-rays, it provides Dr. Latner with a clearer understanding of your total oral health so that we can make even better treatment decision for you going forward.

Learn More About DIAGNOdent Today

Want to learn more? You can do so in a couple of ways. First, you can visit the official page for DIAGNOdent. You can also our own website, where you can learn more about DIAGNOdent and all our great services. And lastly, you can give our office a call. We’d be happy to answer any of your questions, in addition to scheduling a visit for you with Dr. Latner.

Westside Dental Associates is located in Los Angeles and serve patients from West Los Angeles, Westwood, Santa Monica, Rancho Park, Culver City, Beverly Hills, Venice, Marina del Rey, and surrounding areas.

Stop Decay and Restore Your Smile with Tooth-Colored Fillings from Westside Dental Associates

June 13, 2012

Most patients have trouble with tooth decay at some point. That’s why fillings are a standard part of any dental office. But even with so many offices offering fillings, not every office offers tooth-colored fillings.

Tooth-colored fillings are a cosmetic alternative to traditional amalgam fillings. Instead of using a combination of metals, including mercury, to repair teeth and stop decay, tooth-colored fillings use strong composite resins to restore smiles.

What does that mean for you?

It means a healthier smile that also looks completely natural. That’s because composite resins can be custom-shaded to match the color of your smile. As a result, no one but you and Dr. Latner will ever have to know that you’ve had fillings.

As an added benefit, you can look forward to your tooth-colored fillings last just as long as amalgam fillings would. What’s more, tooth-colored fillings actually bond to teeth, supporting their natural structure instead of just acting as a barrier to decay. This keeps teeth stronger and helps prevent bacterial reinvasion.

Would you like to learn more about how tooth-colored fillings can help you restore your smile? Call Westside Dental Associates today with your questions or to schedule an appointment. Dr. Latner serves patients from Los Angeles, West Los Angeles, Westwood, Santa Monica, Rancho Park, Culver City, Beverly Hills, Venice, Marina del Rey, and surrounding areas.

Creating New Smiles with the Give Back a Smile Program

June 6, 2012

As a dedicated Los Angeles cosmetic dentist, Dr. Les Latner takes great pride in creating beautiful smiles for his patients. But as important as every smile is, some are more precious than others. That’s why Dr. Latner is proud to participate in the Give Back a Smile program from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Restoring Vulnerable Smiles, Free of Charge

If you’ve never heard of it before, the Give Back a Smile program is dedicated to helping survivors of domestic abuse reclaim their lives and their smiles with free cosmetic dentistry treatment. Because a beautiful, functional smile is important for more than just self-confidence, Dr. Latner is happy to provide treatment to those in need.

Our cosmetic dentistry services include:

These are some of the most popular and effective cosmetic dentistry services available anywhere, and through the Give Back a Smile program, domestic abuse survivors have access to them completely free of charge.

What’s more, in honor of all of his work in the Los Angeles area, Dr. Latner was recently given a special award from the AACDCF for his work with domestic abuse survivors.

Would you like to learn more about the Give Back a Smile program? Visit them at their website here or call them at (800)773-4227. You can also explore Dr. Latner’s cosmetic dentistry options by exploring our site, or you can give us a call with your questions or to schedule a visit. Dr. Latner serves patients from Los Angeles, West Los Angeles, Westwood, Santa Monica, Rancho Park, Culver City, Beverly Hills, Venice, Marina del Rey, and surrounding areas.