Venice Archives - Page 5 of 7 - Westside Dental Associates

The Cosmetic Dentistry Boom

September 10, 2014

187872302 It’s hard to think of dentistry without thinking of teeth whitening, veneers, or natural looking porcelain crowns. However, dental treatments weren’t always focused on improving both the health and appearance of your teeth. In the not so distant past, dental treatment only concerned itself with the treatment and cure of dental maladies like tooth decay and gum disease. Today, having good-looking teeth has merged with having a healthy mouth, and cosmetic dentistry is now a part of an all-inclusive dental treatment package. Although not an official branch of dentistry according to the ADA, cosmetic dentistry has fast become one of the most popular type dental solutions. Dr. Latner works to provide Los Angeles, CA, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Hills, Marina del Rey, Rancho Park, Mar Vista, West LA, and the surrounding communities with comprehensive treatment plans, each designed to address both the health and appearance of their teeth.

What is cosmetic dentistry?

Cosmetic Dentistry encompasses any procedure that improves the appearance of your teeth. This includes: removing teeth stains, professional teeth whitening, reshaping teeth, filling gaps and cracks, placing crowns, veneers, bridges, dentures, dental implants and oral restorations through dental fillings. Advancements in technology have made it possible to get these restorations done and enhance the appearance of your teeth in a single dental visit. Whitening or bleaching is by far the most popular cosmetic dental procedure in the United States.

Why is cosmetic dentistry so important?

Many surveys have shown that tooth loss and decay can significantly deteriorate quality of life for most people. Improved appearance is directly proportional to improved self-esteem. Imperfect smiles can effect personal self esteem and diminish confidence. This can affect your ability to form healthy personal relationships, and can also affect school and work productivity. Simply put, your smile is important.

Representing approximately 41 percent of the total population, Baby Boomers are the first generation to realize the importance of a great smile. The appearance of our teeth naturally changes as we get older. They may stain, yellow or decay. Baby Boomers made the move from hygiene to image enhancement. This desire to improve appearance — partnered with significant advances in the cosmetic dental industry itself — has contributed to the rise of cosmetic dentistry.

Quality Cosmetic Dentistry in Los Angeles, CA

Although having a great looking smile is important, your first priority should be to have a healthy smile. Dr. Latner will work with you to achieve this goal while also addressing your aesthetic concerns. In this case, health and beauty go hand in hand. Continuing advancement in biomimetics (mimicking nature) and biocompatibility (implants that match perfectly with the body and work permanently without causing any harm) have set the stage for the future of cosmetic dentistry industry. Contact Dr. Latner today to achieve your perfect smile. Dr. Latner proudly serves all of Los Angeles, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Hills, Marina del Rey, Rancho Park, Mar Vista, West LA, and the surrounding communities.

Brighten Your Smile with Teeth Whitening

August 27, 2014

103801783 One thing that many people strive for is the smiles they see in the magazines or on television, and one thing all of those smiles have in common is the fact they are dazzling white. Having a beautiful white smile is definitely a lasting, positive first impression, and many people are willing to do whatever they have to in order to accomplish that. Unfortunately, our smiles are not resistant to stains, causing them to really affect the overall aesthetic of our smiles as time goes on. Luckily, Dr. Les Latner is able to brighten your smile using teeth whitening at his Los Angeles, CA dental office.

We offer two forms of teeth whitening. The first is in-office teeth whitening, which is able to completely revolutionize your smile in as little as an hour. When you come in for your appointment, Dr. Latner will apply the Zoom! Whitening gel onto your smile and activate it with a lamp. As you sit and wait, years of stains are effortlessly being lifted off of your smile! At the end of the appointment, your smile is up to ten shades brighter!

The second option is at-home teeth whitening, which is favorable to our patients who wish to have a gradual change in their smile. With this, Dr. Latner will make impressions of your smile in order to have your custom whitening trays made. Not only does this ensure amazing results, but it also allows you to have a cosmetic procedure completely tailors to you and your needs. We will also be able to supply you with the whitening gel that you use to fill the trays. All you do is follow the instructions, wear the trays for an allotted amount of time each day, and in about two weeks, your smile is drastically whiter! If you would like Dr. Latner’s assistance brightening your smile with teeth whitening, schedule your appointment today!

Call us today to reserve your appointment for Dr. Latner. We offer general and preventative care to patients from Los Angeles, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Hills, Marina del Rey, Rancho Park, Mar Vista, West LA, and the surrounding communities.

Restore Your Smile with Dental Implants

August 19, 2014

177232118 There are many reasons why someone would be insecure about their smiles, and living with a smile you feel as though you are settling for is never easy. Having teeth missing from your smile can have detrimental effects on the way you feel about yourself as well as the way you interact with the people around you. Because many people consider a smile a first impression, not being able to be one hundred percent confident is an awful feeling to have. Fortunately, Dr. Les Latner is able to restore your smile using dental implants to his patients in the Los Angeles, CA community.

The important first step to dental implants is making sure you have a consultation with Dr. Latner. There, he will be able to evaluate your smile in its current condition, evaluate your bone density, and determine whether or not dental implants are right for you. You can also take that opportunity to bring up any questions or concerns you may have, as we think it is important you remain as comfortable and knowledgeable throughout this entire process as possible.

If you are a candidate for dental implants, a titanium post will embedded into your jaw. Not only does this replace the missing tooth root, but it also fuses with your jaw bone over time, generating new and healthy bone growth as well as establishing a strong bond. With proper time and healing, the crown is then added. The crown resembles a tooth exactly, so your new smile will look natural and beautiful! At the end of the procedure, you have the smile you have always wanted that you cannot wait to show off! If you would like Dr. Latner’s help restoring your smile using dental implants, contact our office today!

Love Your Smile Again with Cosmetic Bonding

August 8, 2014

137110504 As much as we would like for things to stay in the same pristine condition that we got it, life does not work that way. From a scratch on your car to a stain on your favorite shirt, life definitely has a way of leaving evidence, and it is not always pretty. Unfortunately, the same goes for your smile. Throughout the years, your smile will stain and chip, causing the overall appearance to be less than appealing. If you feel as though there is nothing you can do to bring back the life your smile once had, you are in luck! Dr. Les Latner is able to rejuvenate the smiles of his patients by offering cosmetic bonding at his Los Angeles, CA dental office.

One of the main reasons why cosmetic bonding is so wonderful is because it is able to effortlessly cover up years of wear and tear on your smile in a single appointment. Being able to cover stains, cracks, chips, misalignments, gaps, and more, there is virtually nothing cosmetic bonding cannot take care of! All you have to do is contact our office today and reserve your appointment to have the smile you felt as though you lost.

Cosmetic bonding works by applying a tooth-colored composite onto your smile. The color of the composite is determined by the color of your original smile, allowing for your transformation to look as natural as possible. Once the desired shape is accomplished, Dr. Latner will polish the area, making your new smile shine! At the end of the procedure, your smile is beautiful, and definitely a smile people will envy!

Calm Your Fears with Oral Conscious Sedation

August 4, 2014

478126661 One thing that many people have in common is a fear. Whether it is a fear of heights or they squirm at the sight of a spider, there are many different fears that people have, and they all affect them differently. One fear that many people share is a fear of the dentist. Though the fear may be slight for some, for others the fear can be crippling, causing them to put off the dental work they so desperate need performed. Though you may feel as though there is nothing you can do, Dr. Les Latner is able to calm the fears of his patients by offering oral conscious sedation at his Los Angeles, CA dental office.

Aside from having a fear of the dentist, there are many other people who can benefit from this form of sedation, such as those who suffer from TMJ, and people who find it difficult to keep their mouths open for extended periods of time. Dr. Latner has his certification is sedation dentistry from DOCS, the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation, so you are sure to be in excellent hands.

Oral conscious sedation means simply taking a prescribed pill before your appointment. Throughout your dental appointment, you will feel extremely relaxed and absolutely no pain. Dr. Latner will also give your nitrous oxide in order to ensure your complete comfort. While you are sitting and relaxing, Dr. Latner will be able to perform your dental work with ease. At the end of the procedure, you are left having a healthier smile and better peace of mind. It is important to have a trusted loved one bring you home after your appointment, as the effects of the sedation will still be in your system. If you would like Dr. Latner’s help calming your fears with oral conscious sedation, contact our office today!

Have You Scheduled Your Second Annual Visit Yet?

July 31, 2014

How many times should you see Dr. Latner in a single year? We recommend coming in twice for a checkup and dental cleaning. Why twice? Because our goal isn’t just to help you treat common oral health problems—we want, as much as possible, to help you prevent them too.

Dental cleanings are a preventive measure; they let us clean away plaque and bacteria you couldn’t clean away on your own. Checkups are also preventive in that they let us diagnose conditions early, when we can provide more conservative care for them. Conservative dentistry is all about preserving as much of your natural smile as possible.

How many times have you visited Westside Dental Associates this year? If you had your first appointment back in January or February, now is the perfect time to consider seeing Dr. Latner for a follow-up.

Call us today to reserve your appointment for July or sometime in the coming months. We offer general and preventive care to patients from Los Angeles, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Hills, Marina del Rey, Rancho Park, Mar Vista, West LA, and surrounding communities.

The Connection between Oral and Overall Health

July 24, 2014

Would it surprise you to learn that there’s a connection between your oral and overall health? We tend to think that what happens with our mouths is separate from what happens with our total health and wellbeing, but it’s not.

Medical studies have shown that there’s a link between a common oral health problem like gum disease and a range of health problems in the rest of the body. These health problems include:

Heart disease
Stroke
Alzheimer’s
Diabetes
Pre-term birth or low birth weight

But how does gum disease increase your vulnerability to these conditions? It may be a result of bacteria entering the bloodstream via the pockets between the teeth and gums. Once bacteria gains access to the bloodstream, it can travel to the heart and all around the body.

To protect your oral and overall wellbeing, make sure that you’re brushing and flossing on a daily basis. You should also visit Westside Dental Associates twice a year for checkups and dental cleanings. By committing to a healthy smile, you can protect your smile and support your total wellbeing.

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

Advanced Care for Gum Disease with Arestin

July 17, 2014

In our last post, we talked about the connection between bad breath and gum disease. We also talked about other symptoms of gum disease. Today, we want to highlight one of the most effective tools in the fight against gum disease and its unpleasant symptoms today—an antibiotic known as Arestin.

Arestin is a topical antibiotic that’s placed below the gumline, in the pockets that have formed between the teeth and gum as a result of gum disease. It’s often administered at the same time as a deep cleaning procedure, but not always. Since Arestin is a topical treatment, it can be placed exactly where it’s needed, giving it a big advantage over treatment with antibiotic pills.

What’s more, Arestin keeps working for days after it’s been applied. That’s because Arestin is made up of many tiny microspheres that gradually release the powerful antibiotic instead of releasing it all at once. Over a period of days, the medicine inside will kill bacteria and promote healing, so you can enjoy good oral health and wellbeing again.

Don’t let gum disease ruin your smile. If you’re struggling with any of the symptoms of gum disease, visit Westside Dental Associates for help. We will be happy to assess your needs during a consultation.

Call us today to schedule your appointments. We serve patients from Los Angeles, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Hills, Marina del Rey, Rancho Park, Mar Vista, West LA, and all surrounding areas.

Bad Breath and Gum Disease

July 10, 2014

Do you struggle with bad breath on a regular basis? Your diet may not be the culprit. Other causes of bad breath include sinus trouble, dry mouth, and smoking. A few medications can also play a role. The specific cause we want to address today, though, is gum disease.

Gum disease is caused by the accumulation of bacteria and plaque around your teeth and gums. When gum disease is first developing, you may not have any noticeable symptoms. When they do start developing, though, one that you may experience is frequent bad breath, also known as halitosis.

Other gum disease symptoms include:

Red, swollen, or tender gums
Gums that bleed when brushed
A receding gumline
Loose teeth

When gum disease becomes more advanced, it can lead to tooth loss. Studies have also shown that it can make you more vulnerable to other kinds of health problems, including stroke, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and pre-term birth or low birth weight.

Have you experienced any of these symptoms? Dr. Latner can help you treat them. At Westside Dental Associates, we’re happy to provide customized care to help you enjoy good health and wellbeing again. For some patients, treatment may only involve spending more time brushing and flossing each day. Other patients may need more advanced help, which may involve treatment with Arestin.

Call our Los Angeles dental office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Latner. We’re happy to serve patients from Brentwood, Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Hills, Marina del Rey, Rancho Park, Mar Vista, West LA, and all surrounding areas.

Visit Our Patient Info Section

June 30, 2014

Forms Are you going visiting our Los Angeles dental office for the first time? Do you have questions about some of the services we office? Do you want to read up on the latest in dentistry? Visit our website’s Patient Info section. When you visit this section, you’ll find helpful links that will help you answer your questions, in addition to our new patient forms.

Downloading and filling out our new patient forms before you come in will let us get started on your paperwork as soon as you arrive at our office. If you have any trouble printing our forms, let us know and we’ll be happy to send or fax them to you.

For your questions about our office, such as what insurances we accept and whether we take referrals, see our Your Questions page. Here you’ll find basic information about how our office operates and what you can expect from our office.

On our page for Articles & Links, you’ll find information specifically related to the services we offer, including information on dental implants, porcelain veneers, Invisalign, Zoom! Whitening, and so much more.

Do you still have questions? Call our Los Angeles dental office. Our team would be happy to answer any questions you might have. We serve patients from Brentwood, Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Hills, Marina del Rey, Rancho Park, Mar Vista, West LA, and all nearby areas.