5 Steps to Take in a Dental Emergency in West Los Angeles, CA

A dental emergency can be very painful and very serious. Oftentimes, a dental emergency is due to a chipped tooth, a broken crown, a toothache, or even an abscess. But whatever your dental emergency, Dr. Suzanne Haeri in West Los Angeles can help!

Here are five steps to take in a dental emergency in West Los Angeles, CA.

Step One: Rinse out your mouth.

Use alcohol-free mouthwash to rinse out your mouth. An alcohol-free product will be gentler on your teeth and gums. If alcohol-free mouthwash is unavailable, use warm saltwater. Rinsing out your mouth will disinfect it.

Step Two: Manage the pain.

Take over-the-counter pain medication such as Advil or Tylenol as directed. This will ease the pain, help with swelling, and prevent fever in case you have an infection.

Step Three: Alternate between applying heat and cold compresses.

Use a hot compress for a few minutes against the sore area, and then repeat with a cold compress to relieve the pressure in your mouth. This will help, especially if your mouth is throbbing.

Step Four: Apply pressure.

Use a clean gauze or tissue to put pressure on the affected area in your mouth. This will help reduce the pain you are experiencing.

Step Five: Call Dr. Haeri.

Dr. Haeri of West Los Angeles, CA can help you with your dental emergency. So, don’t wait.

For more information about what to do in a dental emergency in West Los Angeles, CA, contact Dr. Haeri at (310) 657-2200, or (310) 854-0600. Dr. Haeri can also be reached via email at haeridds@aol.com.

Diode Laser Gum Surgery

At Dr. Suzanne Haeri's dental practice, our dentist offers diode laser gum surgery to Los Angeles, CA, residents. This laser has several purposes, and patients can benefit from the use of it more so than when compared to traditional surgery.

What's a Diode Laser?

A diode laser uses laser energy emitted through a semiconductor. The end result is that this device creates a precise, concentrated light beam directed at the surgical area. Nowadays, diode lasers come in a variety of powers and wavelengths.

Dental Procedures That Use a Diode Laser

At our Los Angeles, CA, office, Dr. Haeri uses a diode laser for a few different gum procedures, mainly for aesthetic purposes.

For example, our practitioner may recommend a diode laser gum surgery if you have excessive gum tissue that interferes with the aesthetics of your smile. Our dentist may use the diode laser to contour the gums to improve the appearance of your smile, such as if you have gum tissue that's covering your teeth more than you'd like.

Besides cosmetic reasons, our practitioner may use a diode laser gum surgery to help an impacted tooth erupt, especially a wisdom tooth. This prevents the need to wait months for the tooth to erupt on its own or the need for a surgical extraction.

Some other possible reasons for a diode laser gum surgery include the following:

• Sulcular debridement (periodontal disease treatment)


• Labial frenectomy


• Abscess excision


• Implant placement


• Hemostasis

Benefits of Diode Laser Gum Surgery

In general, lasers tend to cause less pain than a traditional surgical procedure.

When compared to a traditional surgical procedure, using a laser has its share of advantages. For example, rather than using any type of sedative, with a laser gum procedure, you only need to have a local anesthetic applied to the surgical area.

You'll have less bleeding with a laser procedure than you would with a traditional surgical procedure. Additionally, the laser tends to irritate the sensitive gum tissue less, which in return, decreases the amount of inflammation.

Typically, if a patient has dental anxiety, laser treatment can reduce some of the stress since there isn't a drill or scalpel involved in the procedure.

Because a laser enhances accuracy, you tend to experience an easier and quicker recovery from a laser surgery than a traditional one.

At Dr. Haeri's practice in Los Angeles, CA, our dentist uses diode laser gum surgery for various purposes. The use of lasers makes the procedure much easier for you as a patient, especially if you desire a less invasive approach to dental care.

Book an appointment with us to see if a laser procedure is right for you by calling 310-657-2200.

SNAP Instant Dental Imaging

A picture is worth a thousand words, right? If you are considering having a cosmetic dental procedure, the way you will ultimately look can be explained to you a thousand times, but that explanation will not be nearly as impactful as seeing a picture of what you can expect. This is why Dr. Suzanne Haeri in Los Angeles, CA is thrilled to use SNAP instant dental imaging for her patients in deciding where or not to have a cosmetic dental procedure. SNAP instant dental imaging technology provides patients with an instant digital smile makeover. This technology produces a picture of a side-by-side before and after image.

You can take this picture home with you to consult friends and family for their opinions on whether to go through with the procedure. It takes less than a minute to generate a picture of what the new 'you' will look like so you can make a more informed decision.

What procedures can SNAP technology show me the final results of?

Fixing chipped, cracked or stained teeth and refreshing your smile can change your life, literally. Doing so will cause you to be more confident in social situations and happier overall. SNAP instant dental imaging used by Dr. Suzanne Haeri in Los Angeles, CA can give you before and after images showing just how great you will look for many different procedures. These include but are not limited to:

• Dental crowns


• Bridges


• Dental bonding and white filling


• Replacement of silver fillings


• Implants


• Veneers


• Teeth whitening


• Smile makeovers

The above list is not exhaustive. SNAP can be used to show the result of almost any cosmetic dental procedure!

How does it work?

In just minutes, you will have a side by side comparison 'before and after' photo showing the difference in your smile after the cosmetic procedure you are considering. There are three easy steps to this process.

1. A 'before' photo is taken of your smile using the clinic's digital camera. This camera is connected to the SNAP instant dental imaging software.


2. The 'before' image can then be altered by Dr. Haeri to give you an idea of how wonderful you will look after the procedure.


3. Lastly, a 'before and after' image is generated on a single photo that is printed out and yours to keep!

Contact us

When you have a brand new, beautiful smile, you'll want to show it off. This will lead to smiling more. This by itself will make you feel happier, causing you to smile more. It's a virtuous cycle! This digital makeover could be turned into a reality! Schedule a consultation today with Dr. Suzanne Haeri in Los Angeles, CA to use SNAP dental imaging services by calling (310) 657-2200.

Bonding and White Fillings

If you are unhappy with your smile, the procedure consisting of bonding and white fillings may be the solution. This option can fix certain cosmetic issues with your teeth just as well as more costly procedures. It is not an overstatement to say that a new smile can be life-changing. A brand new, refreshed, healthy smile will make you more confident and happy overall. Dr. Suzanne Haeri in Los Angeles, CA uses bonding and white fillings to dramatically improve your smile.

What is bonding?

Dental bonding is a very common procedure used to correct smaller aesthetic concerns, such as gaps or cracks in teeth. It consists of a tooth-colored resin chosen to closely match the shade of your teeth. A liquid bonding agent is applied to your teeth to which the composite resin adheres. After bonding the resin to your teeth, it is then shaped and sculpted. Once the shape of the resin is exactly the way we want it to look, ultraviolet light is applied to harden the resin. When all of this is done, the new resin is polished and you leave our office with a new, beautiful smile.

What are some common dental issues that bonding and white fillings are used to correct?

Smaller concerns that do not encompass the entire tooth may be appropriate for bonding and white filling. This procedure can be used to correct a multitude of issues by Dr. Suzanne Heri in Los Angeles, CA. Bonding and white fillings are appropriate for the following:

• Filling in a gap between teeth


• Repairing a chipped or cracked tooth


• Strengthening and repeating worn down teeth


• Restoring a brighter color to stained teeth


• Altering the shape of malformed or crooked teeth


• Protection of the root of teeth that may be exposed due to a receding gumline

Are there any maintenance routines to be aware of after the procedure?

While maintaining the look of your new smile may require subsequent visits to the dentist, general upkeep of your corrected teeth will require little more than a good oral hygiene routine. From time to time, you may need to visit your dentist to remove a stain or for the adhesion of new bonding material that may have chipped away. But if you practice proper oral hygiene consisting of brushing at least twice a day, flossing once a day, using mouthwash and having regular checkups with your dentist, the bonding material on your teeth should last for many years.

Contact us

When you look better, you feel better. Improve your overall well-being with us by exploring the option of bonding and white fillings in Los Angeles, CA with Dr. Suzanne Haeri. Schedule a consultation with her by calling (310) 657-2200.

Teeth Whitening at Home

At Dr. Suzanne Haeri's Los Angeles, CA, practice, patients may come to beautify their smiles. And one way to do so is through teeth whitening. You may choose to have an in-house whitening session or use an at-home kit. We'd like to take a moment to educate you about what the at-home kit entails.

Whitening Agent

You'll receive a solution that contains a whitening agent, either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. These are the same active ingredients as the over-the-counter kits. However, the dentist can provide them at a higher potency. The potency is still within a safe range.

The whitening agent works by breaking down the pigment in the staining on your teeth. As a result, the stain then becomes less concentrated and not as noticeable.

How the At-Home Kits Work

Although the actual whitening is done at home, you'll need to visit our Los Angeles, CA, office to be a fitted for a whitening tray. Using a dental-safe putty, our practitioner will make an impression of your top and bottom teeth. The impression is sent to the lab and turned into multiple dental trays.

You receive the teething whiten agent and dental trays to take home.

As directed, you apply the agent into the trays and leave them rest of your teeth for the designated amount of time.

Once you finish the kit, we'll ask that you return to our office so our practitioner may view the results. If any areas didn't take as well as others, our practitioner may touch them up. You'll then have an evenly white smile.

Benefits of an At-Home Kit

Firstly, you don't have to make a visit to our office for each session. You can also whiten at a time that's convenient for you.

In terms of the whitening agent, you benefit from a solution that's stronger than the over-the-counter options. Additionally, unlike the over-the-counter options, the trays are customized for your mouth. Therefore, you're much less likely to have your gums exposed to the bleaching agent that can irritate them.

Teeth whitening in general has its share of benefits. For example, it can boost your confidence. If you once hid your teeth when you smiled, you can smile proudly. When compared to other teeth whitening methods, like veneers, it's a more cost-efficient solution. And we want to mention that teeth whitening can give you a more youthful appearance.

When you visit Dr. Haeri in Los Angeles, CA, you can benefit from a whiter smile. And you can complete the process almost entirely at home on your own time.

Book an appointment for an at-home whitening kit by calling us at 310-657-2200.

Same Day Veneers

If you want to restore the natural, youthful appearance of your smile in as few dental appointments as possible, consider same day veneers in Los Angeles, CA and Dr. Suzanne Haeri, a cosmetic & general dentistry specialist. If you have teeth that are stained, chipped or have large gaps, find out how veneers can help.

Veneers Explained

Veneers are thin tooth-colored materials dentists use to cover the front of your teeth. Along with enhancing strength and resilience, veneers improve the appearance of your teeth. Dentists customize veneers to the shape of your original teeth. During the procedure, your dentist bonds them to the natural enamel on your teeth, giving you long-lasting results.

Compared to crowns and bridges, veneers are less invasive. Additionally, many people choose veneers for their ability to enhance a smile quickly and painlessly. A veneer almost instantaneously brightens your smile, closes gaps and fills chipped or cracked teeth.

In most cases, it takes three scheduled visits to see results when you visit a cosmetic & general dentistry specialist like Dr. Suzanne Haeri in Los Angeles, CA. Same day veneers are popular because you see instant results in one day.

Difference Between Same Day Veneers and Traditional Veneers

Although all veneers are custom-made to fit your teeth, traditional veneers require several weeks for an outside lab to fabricate the design before they're ready for placement. However, advancements in technology now make it possible for dentists to use in-office computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing to design and create veneers on the same day.

Computer software makes impressions of your teeth, and then the impressions are sent to an in-office unit to fabricate the design. So, you'll see a whiter and straighter smile in one day. Keep in mind your dentist may want to schedule a follow-up appointment to ensure the bond between your veneers and your enamel is holding strong.

If you want to improve your smile with instant, lasting results, consider the convenience of same day veneers by visiting a cosmetic & general dentistry expert like Dr. Suzanne Haeri in Los Angeles, CA. Call (310) 657-2200 today to learn more about your veneer options.

Do I Need a Root Canal?

If you're experiencing persistent pain in your mouth, you might need root canal therapy from Dr. Suzanne Haeri in Los Angeles, CA. A specialist in cosmetic & general dentistry, Dr. Haeri is ready to get your teeth and gums looking and feeling their best.

When you hear the term root canal, it may invoke apprehension, tension – and sometimes fear. However, the procedure isn't the same – or nearly as painful – as it was years ago. Advancements in treatment and technology now make a root canal the equivalent of getting a cavity filled. So, do you need a root canal (endodontics)?

What Are Endodontics?

Endodontics deals with your teeth's nerves, and a root canal is the most well-known treatment in this field. When one of your teeth becomes infected, the nerves in your teeth are typically the culprit. To eliminate the infection, a cosmetic & general dentistry specialist in Los Angeles, CA, like Dr. Suzanne Haeri, may perform a root canal to remove the infected nerves.

When Is the Procedure Necessary?

The only way to determine for certain if you need the procedure is to schedule an appointment with your dentist. However, you should know some of the warning signs.

Recurring Toothache/Swelling

If you have a horrible, persistent toothache with swelling, it may be a sign you need the procedure. However, not all tooth pain requires the procedure. In some cases, incorporating meaningful oral hygiene into your daily routine can eliminate pain. If that doesn't work, it's time to schedule an appointment with Dr. Haeri.

Bumps Around Your Gums

If you see a pimple-like bump around your gumline, it may be a sign you have a dental abscess. The bumps typically indicate a severe infection requiring immediate attention. Not only does an abscess induce incredible pain, but it also indicates pockets of pus are forming around your teeth – and it's also a sign your teeth are starting to rot.

Discolored/Darkened Teeth

If one of your teeth recently changed colors to a gray or black shade, it could indicate tooth decay is occurring because of an infection. In some cases, internal tissues around the root of your teeth are starting to break down, requiring your dentist to go in and remove the damaged nerves.

If you're unsure if you need a root canal in Los Angeles, CA, contact Dr. Suzanne Haeri, a specialist in cosmetic & general dentistry, by calling (310) 637-2200.