Early Detection
Images reveal small cavities, early bone loss, and impacted teeth while they are still completely asymptomatic and simple to treat with a small filling.
Accepting New Patients
Digital X-Rays in West Hollywood, CA
What is hiding where our dentist cannot see? Spaces inside your teeth, around the roots, and between teeth stay invisible to the naked eye. High-resolution, low-dose digital X-rays in West Hollywood, CA, give us an accurate picture of your anatomy so problems like bone loss and decay do not go undiagnosed.
Understanding Your Treatment
What Are Digital X-Rays?
A dental X-ray is an image of your teeth and supporting bone that reveals damage and disease a clinical exam cannot detect. Today’s digital images take only a moment to capture, need no chemical processing, and use as much as 90% less radiation than the conventional films used a few decades ago.
The Benefits
The Benefits of Digital X-Rays
Lower Radiation
Digital sensors use only a fraction of the exposure that older films required, and lead aprons protect sensitive tissues even further during every exposure.
Faster Appointments
Images appear on screen instantly, so diagnosis and treatment planning happen during the same visit rather than several days later after you leave.
Better Planning
Panoramic views map implant sites, wisdom tooth position, and orthodontic development that individual images simply cannot capture in a single image.
What to Expect
Our Step-by-Step Imaging Process
Taking dental X-rays is quick and comfortable, and the type of image we capture depends on what our dentist needs to evaluate.
Request an Appointment- 01
Needs Review
Our dentist considers your age, health history, and current symptoms to determine which images are genuinely appropriate for this visit and which are not.
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Protective Setup
We place a lead apron to shield sensitive tissues, then position the sensor or panoramic arm for the specific image being taken.
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Image Capture
You bite gently on a small sensor, or a panoramic unit circles your head, and each exposure lasts only a small fraction of a second of a single second.
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On-Screen Review
Images appear immediately on the monitor, where our dentist evaluates decay, bone levels, root anatomy, and your existing dental work in careful detail.
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Findings Discussion
We walk you through what the images show and explain which findings need treatment now and which ones we will simply keep monitoring at future visits.
X-ray Types
Types of Dental X-rays
Our dentist uses specific types of X-rays for certain circumstances. Each one is different than the others and only used in specific scenarios or treatments, depending on your oral health needs. The most common types of X-rays that we take at West Hollywood Dental Studio include:
Bitewing X-rays
Usually taken in sets of four or more, bitewing X-rays are specifically used to check for cavities between teeth (primarily the back molars). Most people have bitewing X-rays taken once a year during their periodic dental exam and cleaning appointment.
Periapical X-rays
These X-rays show the entire length of the tooth, including all of the bone structures around the root. They are needed when a tooth has been injured, and there is a suspected abscess or nerve damage, or during root canal treatment.
Occlusal X-rays
Occlusal X-rays are typically used on smaller children to evaluate eruption patterns of their front teeth.
Panoramic X-rays
A panoramic film shows an entire overview of the oral anatomy, including jaw structures and sinuses. Panoramics are useful for mapping out dental implant therapy, evaluating wisdom teeth, during orthodontic evaluations, and intermittent analysis of the mouth as a whole. They are usually taken every 3-5 years or as needed.
FMX (Full Mouth Series)
An FMX includes a combination of bitewings and periapicals of all teeth throughout the entire mouth. Most dentists use the FMX series as a baseline reading to evaluate oral changes and perform first-time comprehensive exams. FMXs are typically updated every 3-5 years.
Is It Right for You?
Signs You May Need Dental X-Rays
Imaging is part of routine diagnostics, and certain situations make it especially important to look beneath the surface.
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Overdue Imaging — A year or more has passed since your last set, which is the standard interval for screening between the back teeth for decay between your back teeth.
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Tooth Pain — Discomfort in one specific tooth may come from decay, a crack, or an abscess that shows up only on a periapical image taken of that root.
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Visible Swelling — Puffiness along the gumline or the jaw can indicate an infection whose true extent is impossible to judge without an image from the outside alone.
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Traumatic Injury — A blow to the mouth can fracture roots or damage nerves in ways that leave the visible part of the tooth looking perfectly normal in the mirror.
Why Choose Us for Digital X-Rays in West Hollywood, CA
Low-Dose Digital Technology
Our high-resolution sensors deliver detailed diagnostic images with dramatically less radiation than the traditional film systems that many offices still rely on for their imaging.
The Right Image Type
Bitewing, periapical, occlusal, panoramic, and full-mouth series are each used for the specific clinical question we are trying to answer for you about your teeth.
Strict Radiation Safety Protocols
Lead aprons cover reproductive tissues at every exposure, and our staff steps outside the room each time to limit their own cumulative exposure over the years across a long career.
Included in Preventive Care
Screening images are built into our regular checkup schedule, and current special offers help uninsured patients stay on track with their diagnostics each year.
Real Patients, Real Stories
Real Results, Real Smiles
Patient Reviews
What Our Patients Say
- ★★★★★
I've been going to Dr. Rivas for two years now for my cleanings and X-rays, and I couldn't be happier with the care I've received. Dr. Rivas and the entire team are always professional, friendly, and make every visit comfortable and stress-free. The office is clean and welcoming. Dr. Rivas is thorough and genuinely cares about my dental health, taking the time to explain everything and answer any questions I have. I never feel like I'm being pressured into procedures I don't need, which is big for me and anyone with medical professional trust issues. Parking in the building is expensive so make it a point to arrive early to find street parking. I'll be recommending this place to everyone!
- ★★★★★
Thank you to Weho Dental studio and Dr Rivas for helping me get over my fear of going to the dentist. Felt immediately at home with her and her lovely staff. From the front desk to the hygienist, I really felt like they genuinely cared about my dental health, rather than some of the other offices I’ve been to that immediately tried to push tons of treatments. Dr Rivas and her staff took care of me, happy to call this my dental home. Thank you for making fillings and a crown a pleasant experience!
- ★★★★★
Dr. Rivas was awesome! Staff are great and friendly. I was surprised that my filling took less than an hour and I did not feel any inch of pain. The procedure was so smooth and appreciate that Dr. Lisa walked me through to every step. Highly recommended!
- ★★★★★
really lovely, kind staff— i felt at ease and taken care of! everything was explained to me, and the environment was serene. thank you dr rivas!
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Don't see the answer you're looking for? Call us at (310) 278-9121.
Are dental X-rays safe?
Yes. Digital images use extremely low radiation, less than you absorb on a transcontinental flight or a day at the beach, and lead aprons add further protection.
Why does staff step out of the room?
Our team is around radiography equipment five days a week. Stepping out at each exposure prevents cumulative radiation over decades of practice.
Can treatment be done without an X-ray?
No. Without an image, our dentist cannot tell how deeply decay reaches into the tooth, which makes it impossible to distinguish a filling from a root canal.
My teeth do not hurt, so why do I need an image?
Decay and abscesses do not always hurt. Screening finds infection before a painful toothache develops, while correction is simpler and less invasive.
Why take more images if I had some recently?
Each type answers a different question. Bitewings cannot screen for abscesses or wisdom teeth, and panoramic images cannot reliably show cavities between teeth.
How Often Should I Get Dental X-rays?
There are various types of X-rays that our dentist uses to evaluate your oral structures. Depending on your age, health history, and any specific issues at hand, we may recommend certain X-rays once a year, others on an as-needed basis, and some every 3-5 years. Catching Problems Early: With X-rays, we’re able to identify early symptoms that are easier to treat early on, rather than waiting for them to evolve into complex oral health issues later on. Early Bone Loss: Early bone loss can be treated before aggressive periodontal disease leads to tooth loss. Small Cavities: Small cavities can be treated with a small filling before a root canal and crown are required.
Take the First Step
Reserve Your Digital Imaging Appointment
We use safe digital imaging technology to screen for oral conditions at every age. If you have not had dental X-rays taken in the last year or two, now is a good time. Let us know when your last images were taken, and we will schedule the right series for you.
Request a time using the form, or prefer to talk it through? Call us at (310) 278-9121.
- Low-dose, high-resolution digital sensors
- Images shared on screen during your visit
- Bitewing, panoramic, and full-mouth series available
Request Your Appointment
We'll reach out to confirm your time.
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About Our Dentistry
Trusted Local Care in West Hollywood, CA
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- Insurance: We work with most insurance providers.
- No Insurance? No problem! Call (310) 278-9121 for more information.
- Financing Options: We offer a wide range of dental financing options — learn more.
- We serve patients from the following cities: West Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Sunset Strip, Beverly Hills.