Westside Dental Associates

Dazzle Your Friends and Family with a Whiter Smile from Westside Dental Associates

February 10, 2012

When you feel confident about your teeth, you feel more confident about sharing your smile with others. But if you have stained teeth, smiling may be the last thing on your mind.

Teeth stains have a variety of causes. Chief among them are tobacco smoking, aging, and drinks like coffee, tea, soda, or red wine. Certain medications like tetracycline can even contribute to the formation of stains.

You don’t have to live with teeth stains, though. General, restorative, and cosmetic dentist Dr. Latner provides teeth whitening services for patients in Los Angeles and surrounding areas through Zoom! Whitening.

With Zoom! Whitening, patients can enjoy a smile that’s as much as 6 to 10 shades brighter, and all after just a single one-hour visit to Westside Dental Associates. And with occasional touch-ups with your custom-fitted take-home trays, it’s possible for patients to enjoy their dazzling smile indefinitely. In addition to supplying you with custom-fitted trays, Dr. Latner will also give you a supply of professional whitening gel, and all the information you’ll need in order to touch-up your smile on your own time and in your own home.

Find out more about teeth whitening from Westside Dental Associates, Dr. Latner, and Zoom! Whitening by scheduling an appointment with our Los Angeles dental office. You can also see our other cosmetic dentistry services by visiting our cosmetic dentistry page.

We can help you have a smile you can feel confident about and will want to share with others. Call us today!

No Braces Necessary

August 9, 2011

Many children growing up get braces to straighten and realign their teeth. If you missed out on straight teeth when you were a child, you’re not likely to want braces now, because the appearance of a “metal mouth” isn’t a plus for adults. However, in Los Angeles, Westside Dental Associates provides a way to get the same results you’d get from braces without anyone even realizing you’re wearing them. For people living in Los Angeles, Invisalign is a very popular solution for adults to obtain the smile they’ve always wanted.

What is treatable with Invisalign?

Anyone who has spaces between the teeth or crowded teeth are prime candidates. Invisalign can space your smile correctly, giving you beautiful, straight teeth. Patients with a crossbite, underbite, or overbite will also benefit through the use of Invisalign.

How does Invisalign work?

Instead of metal and wires, Invisalign uses a series of clear aligners that are custom-made for you that will slowly and gently move your teeth to their right position. The aligners are usually switched out every two weeks or so, as your teeth progress to their ideal place, ultimately creating a gorgeous smile. For best results it is recommended that the aligners are worn twenty four hours a day, only removed for eating and drinking, after which you immediately brush and re-insert the aligners.

Although results vary for each individual, in approximately a year, most adults have received the smile they’ve always wanted, without the hassle of metal constantly scraping the inside of their mouths and showing off a “tin grin” to the world. This is what Los Angeles cosmetic dentistry is all about!

To your dental health,

Les Latner, DDS

Save Money: Floss!

June 19, 2011

Do you understand the importance of flossing? Judging by the patients who come into my office, I’d estimate that about 90% of you aren’t flossing. I’m guessing that’s because you really don’t understand why you need to. After all, you can whiten your teeth, either here in our Los Angeles dental office, or take home whitening kits. You brush, at least at night, right? So why not just add a round of flossing and save your teeth (not to mention save money–see below).

Here are the reasons why you should be flossing:

Flossing makes your breath sweeter!
Flossing gets the food out of your teeth: duh!
Flossing prevents cavities: the floss gets in the areas where the brush doesn’t; leftover food builds up bacteria and that causes cavities.
Flossing prevents gingivitis (gum disease): keeps your gums healthy. Flossing keeps irritating bacteria away from your gums. Bacteria are like sandpaper to the gums. The irritation sets up a chain reaction that results in tenderness and bleeding which is a sign that your gums are suffering!
Flossing will save your teeth! The biggest reason for tooth loss? Gum Disease. You can prevent tooth loss by flossing.

How much does a floss container cost? $3. I’ll give ’em to you free if you come in for your 6-month checkups!

Here are the prices for dental work if you don’t floss:

Regular surface filling runs around $300.
A root canal runs around $750-900
A crown runs around $1200
If you lose your tooth and need a dental implant, that runs around $3500.

As you can plainly see, it’s much less expensive to floss!

Floss comes in many varieties: waxed and unwaxed (which I prefer, it’s more efficient at cleaning but if you have really tight contacts between teeth, try Glide floss). You can also enjoy flavored floss. Whatever makes you floss, do it.

How often should you floss?

Minimum: At least once a day.

Brush 3 times a day and floss once.

Like I always say: Beverly Hills quality at West LA prices…and free parking!

Les Latner, DDS

Welcome to Dr. Latner’s Blog!

March 23, 2011

Consider this blog your news resource for information about oral health, dental procedures and technology, and what’s happening at your dentist’s office. We believe communication is key to building great doctor-patient relationships, and this dental blog is intended to keep us in touch with you. The best part is, you can simply bookmark this page in your browser, then visit whenever you like! Stay tuned for regular posts that will keep you informed.

If you need to schedule an appointment or are “interviewing” us as your potential new dental provider, call today! You may also want to review information about us here.