A Brighter Dental Experience
iTero Scanning and Panoramic X-Rays in Beverly Hills
Good treatment starts with a clear picture of what is going on in your mouth. At Applemint in Beverly Hills, we use two kinds of digital imaging to get it. The iTero scanner is a small handheld wand that captures your teeth and gums in 3D, with no trays of goopy impression material. A panoramic X-ray takes a single wide image of your whole mouth, including the parts we cannot see during an exam, such as your jawbone and the roots of your teeth. Together, they help us plan treatment precisely and show you exactly what we see.
Benefits
- No impression trays or goopy impression material
- Precise 3D digital model of your teeth and bite
- See your own scan on screen as we talk it through
- One panoramic image shows your whole mouth and jaws
- Very low radiation dose for the panoramic X-ray
- Used to plan Invisalign and custom Perio Protect trays
What the iTero Scanner Does
The iTero is an intraoral scanner, a slim handheld wand. As we move it over your teeth, it captures a large number of images and stitches them together into a detailed 3D model of your teeth and gums. The model appears on a screen as we scan, so you can watch it build and see your teeth from angles you never get in a mirror.
Because there is no impression material to set in your mouth, scanning is comfortable for most people, including patients with a strong gag reflex. If we miss a spot, we simply rescan that area instead of starting over.
How We Use Your Scan
At Applemint, iTero scans are part of how we plan several treatments:
- Invisalign. Your scan is the starting point for your Invisalign plan. iTero can also show a simulation of how your teeth could look after treatment, which helps you decide whether Invisalign is right for you.
- Perio Protect. Your custom Perio Protect trays are made from your iTero scan so they seal closely against your gums.
- Crowns and veneers. Digital scans can be used to design crowns and veneers that fit your teeth and bite.
- Night guards. A scan can be used to make a guard that protects your teeth if you clench or grind.
Saved scans also give us a record to compare against at future visits, which can help show changes such as tooth wear or shifting over time.
What a Panoramic X-Ray Shows
A panoramic X-ray is a single wide image that wraps around your whole mouth. You stand still while the machine slowly circles your head for a few seconds. Nothing goes inside your mouth except a small bite piece to keep you in position. One image shows:
- All of your teeth, including their roots
- Both your upper and lower jaws
- Your jaw joints
- Part of your sinuses
- Wisdom teeth, including ones that have not come in
That wide view is especially useful for planning dental implants, checking impacted or crowded wisdom teeth, looking at the bone that supports your teeth and spotting problems in the jaw that may not cause symptoms yet.
Panoramic and Close-Up X-Rays Work Together
A panoramic X-ray gives the big picture, but it is not as detailed as close-up X-rays. Small cavities between teeth are best found with bitewing X-rays, which show the crowns of your back teeth in fine detail. Depending on what we need to see, we may use a panoramic image, bitewings, a close-up of a single tooth or a combination. Your iTero scan adds a precise view of the surfaces of your teeth and gums, but it does not show what is under the gumline.
X-Ray Safety
Digital panoramic X-rays use a very low dose of radiation, less than a traditional full-mouth X-ray series. We do not take X-rays on a fixed schedule. We take them based on your individual needs and risk, such as your history of cavities, gum health, symptoms and any treatment you are planning.
If you are pregnant or think you might be, please let our team know before any X-rays are taken. The iTero scanner uses no X-rays at all.
The Process, Step by Step
Exam and conversation
We talk about your concerns and goals, review your health history and examine your teeth and gums to decide which images you actually need.
iTero 3D scan
We move the iTero wand over your teeth for a few minutes while your 3D model builds on screen.
Panoramic X-ray, if needed
You stand in the panoramic unit, bite gently on a small guide and hold still for a few seconds while it circles your head.
Review together
We go over your scan and X-rays with you on screen and explain what we see in plain language.
Treatment planning
Your images become the foundation for your plan, whether that is Invisalign, implants, Perio Protect or a simple filling.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the iTero scan comfortable?
- Yes. It is a small wand that glides over your teeth, with no goopy impression material. Most people find it easy, and you can take a short break any time.
- How long does an iTero scan take?
- It usually takes just a few minutes, depending on what we are scanning for. You can watch your 3D model build on screen as we go.
- Does the iTero scanner use radiation?
- No. iTero uses light to capture images of your teeth, not X-rays.
- Are panoramic X-rays safe?
- Yes. Panoramic X-rays use a very low dose of radiation, less than a traditional full-mouth X-ray series. We only take X-rays when they are needed for your care.
- How often will I need X-rays?
- It depends on you. We take X-rays based on your individual needs and risk, not on a fixed schedule. Someone with frequent cavities or gum disease may need them more often than someone with a long history of healthy teeth.
- Can a panoramic X-ray find cavities?
- It can show some problems, but it is not the best tool for small cavities between teeth. For those, we use close-up bitewing X-rays.
- Can I have X-rays while pregnant?
- Please tell us if you are pregnant or might be. We will talk through whether any X-rays are needed now or can wait, and take extra precautions if they cannot.
- Can iTero show my Invisalign results before I start?
- iTero can show a simulation of how your teeth could look after Invisalign treatment. It is a helpful preview, though your actual results depend on your teeth and how closely you follow your plan.
Ready to get started?
Schedule a consultation to discuss your iTero & Panoramic X-Ray options.