A clear 3D view of your teeth and jaws
3D scans and X‑rays that help your dentist plan implants, wisdom tooth removal, root canals and braces, and check jaw joints and sinuses. There is no tunnel: you stand or sit while the machine turns around your head.
What is this machine?
It is a special X‑ray machine for your teeth, jaws and face. It moves around your head and takes many pictures from different sides. A computer puts them together. You get one flat picture of all your teeth, or a 3D model your dentist can spin and view from every side.
Your referral may say:
No tunnel, no lying down
You stand or sit in an open machine, with no tunnel and no mask. You rest your chin and bite gently on a small holder. If you use a wheelchair, you can stay in it.
Will it hurt? →Less radiation
We scan only the area your dentist asks for, on the lowest setting that still gives a clear enough picture.
How safe is it? →Clear pictures, fewer repeats
The machine’s software can correct small movements and reduce streaks from metal fillings. This helps avoid a second scan.
About the machine →How it helps you
Your dentist sends you for a scan when they need to see more than a normal check-up shows. These are the most common reasons.
“My dentist says I need an implant”
It shows how much bone you have and where the jaw nerve and sinus are. Your dentist can then try out the new tooth on screen first.
3D scan · implant area“My wisdom tooth needs to come out”
If a flat X‑ray shows the roots may be close to the jaw nerve, a 3D scan shows exactly where they are. Your dentist can then plan how to take the tooth out safely.
3D scan · one area“My tooth still hurts after a root canal”
A very detailed scan of a small area shows the roots, the thin channels inside them and changes in the bone that can mean infection. A flat X‑ray can miss these.
3D scan · finest detail“My child’s tooth isn’t coming through”
It shows where the hidden tooth is and how close it is to the roots of nearby teeth. The dentist or braces specialist can then decide what to do.
3D scan · child modeGetting braces, for you or your child
A side or front X‑ray of the head. Your braces specialist (orthodontist) uses it to measure the face and jaws and plan treatment.
Braces X‑ray · ceph“My jaw clicks or hurts”
Pictures of the jaw joint (the hinge just in front of your ear) show its bones from different sides. This helps your dentist look into the cause.
Jaw joint · 2D or 3DBlocked nose or sinus problems
A 3D scan shows your sinuses (air spaces in the bones of your face), your nose and the space you breathe through, for your dentist or ear, nose and throat doctor.
3D scan · sinus areaAn X‑ray of all your teeth, without gagging
For a picture of all your teeth or your back teeth, nothing goes into your mouth except a small holder you bite with your front teeth. So there is nothing to gag on.
2D panoramic · bitewingPlanmeca ProMax 3D Mid
One machine, three kinds of pictures: 3D scans, a flat picture of all your teeth, and the head X‑rays used for braces. It is made by Planmeca in Finland, a company that has built dental equipment for decades.
What it can do
Ordinary X‑ray or 3D scan?
A normal X‑ray is a flat picture, so teeth and bone can hide behind each other. A 3D scan lets your dentist look at every part separately.
Scans and prices
Your dentist decides which scan you need, and we scan only that area. If your referral is confusing, call us and we'll explain it.
Prices are in US dollars. We’re in-network, so with dental insurance you pay your plan’s contracted rate. Bring your insurance card and we’ll check your benefits before the scan.
Also on request [if offered]: a 3D face photo taken by cameras (no X‑ray) and a 3D scan of plaster models of your teeth.
Is it safe?
Every X‑ray uses a small amount of radiation. We scan only the area your dentist needs, on the lowest setting that still gives a clear enough picture for their question.
The machine has an extra-low radiation setting (Planmeca calls it Ultra Low Dose). Planmeca says a 3D scan on it can use less radiation than a normal picture of all your teeth. In a published study (Ludlow and Koivisto) it used 77% less radiation on average than standard settings, with no significant loss of picture quality.
This setting suits many scans, but not all. Very fine detail, for example for a root canal, needs a higher setting.
Pregnant, or might be? Tell us before the scan, so your dentist can decide whether it should go ahead or wait.
Other settings use more radiation, so your dose depends on the scan your dentist asks for.
µSv (microsievert) is a unit of radiation dose; 1 mSv = 1,000 µSv. Natural background radiation is about 2.4–3 mSv a year on average worldwide, or roughly 7–8 µSv a day. Sources: Planmeca’s 3D imaging brochure (200 × 170 mm field on Ultra Low Dose); Ludlow & Koivisto study; ICRP 2007 values cited by Prof. A. Bumann.
Your visit, step by step
- 1
Book a time
Call (310) 954-6117 or use the form below. Bring your dentist's referral if you have one.
- 2
Get ready
Tell us if you are or might be pregnant. Glasses, jewelry, piercings, hairpins, hearing aids and false teeth that come out can blur the picture, so you’ll take them off. Only exception: if your dentist asked you to wear your denture or a plastic guide for the scan, bring it and tell us.
- 3
The scan
You stand or sit in the open machine. Thin lines of light and a quick test picture help us get you in the right spot. Then you keep still for [scan time] while the machine turns.
- 4
Your results
Your pictures are ready in [time]. We [give them to you / send them to your dentist] by [disc, USB stick or download link]. Your dentist then explains what they show.
Questions people ask
Can't find your answer? Call us and we'll explain, in plain words.
Call us todayMon–Fri, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (310) 954-6117 Tap to callMy referral says CBCT, pano or ceph. What does that mean?
CBCT (cone beam CT) is a 3D scan of the teeth, jaws and face. Some referrals just say “CT”. That can mean this 3D scan or a different hospital scan, so we’ll check with you. A pano (panoramic X‑ray) is one flat picture of all your teeth. A ceph is an X‑ray of the head that helps plan braces. Not sure? Choose “I’m not sure” in the form below or call us, and we’ll go through your referral with you.
Will it hurt? Is it a closed tube like an MRI?
No. The scan is painless and there is no tunnel. You stand or sit in an open machine, rest your chin and bite gently on a small holder while the arm turns around your head. If you use a wheelchair, you can stay in it. If you feel nervous, just tell us and we’ll go at your pace.
How long will it take? Can someone come with me?
The scan itself takes [scan time]. Plan about [visit length] for the whole visit. [Clinic to confirm: a parent can stay with their child / you can bring someone with you]
Is it safe for my child?
We only scan a child when their dentist or braces specialist decides it is really needed. Children are more sensitive to radiation than adults, so we use the child mode and scan the smallest area that answers the question. If your child moves a little, the software can often fix the picture afterwards, but they should still keep as still as they can.
Do I need a referral from my dentist?
[Clinic to confirm: “Yes, please bring it” or “No, you can come without one. We’ll ask about your symptoms and only scan when it is clearly needed.”] A referral tells us exactly which area to scan, so we don't scan more than you need.
How much does it cost?
A picture of all your teeth costs [price] and a 3D scan of one or a few teeth costs [price]. Bigger areas cost more. See the price list above, or call us with your referral. If you have dental insurance, bring your card and we’ll check your benefits first.
When will I get my results, and who gets them?
Your pictures are ready in [time], and we [give them to you / send them to your dentist]. The files open in the programs dentists normally use, so your dentist can look at them on their own computer. If you are a patient of MD Dental Group, Jahn De Khudikine goes through the pictures with you and explains what he sees. If another dentist sent you, they will explain the results. [Clinic to confirm: whether you also add a written report]
I have braces, crowns or metal fillings. Is that a problem?
In most cases you can still have a scan. The machine has a special setting for people with braces. It can also clean up streaks that metal and root fillings leave on the picture. Just tell us about any metal before the scan.
Book a scan or visit us
Leave your details and we’ll call you back. We’ll agree on a time and check which scan you need.
1103 S Central Ave,
Glendale, CA 91204
Mon – Fri: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sat & Sun: Closed