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Care Dental Huntington Park
Dentist reviewing a patient’s dental X-rays during an exam
Dental Exams & X-Rays

Catch problems
before they hurt.

Prevention comes first. A thorough exam, digital X-rays, and an oral cancer screening help us stay ahead of small issues — so they never grow into painful, costly ones. Gentle, careful care from a UCLA-trained dentist.

What is a dental exam?

The checkup that keeps your smile healthy.

A dental exam and X-rays are the diagnostic tools we use to evaluate your oral health. Alongside a hands-on look at your teeth and gums, we use digital X-rays — including panoramic and 3D cone-beam (CBCT) scans when needed — to see what the eye can’t: a clear view of your teeth, gums, and jaw for early detection and careful planning.

Why it helps

What a regular checkup does for you.

Catches problems early

Finding a cavity, infection, or gum issue in its early stage means a simpler fix — before it becomes severe or costly.

A plan built for you

What we find shapes a treatment plan tailored to your own mouth, your goals, and your priorities.

Protects your whole health

Oral health is tied to your overall well-being, so a regular checkup helps keep more than just your teeth healthy.

What to expect

Your visit, step by step.

01

Review & exam

We update your health history, then carefully inspect your teeth, gums, and oral tissues for anything that needs attention.

02

Cleaning & gum check

We remove plaque and tartar, polish your teeth, and check for early signs of gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis).

03

X-rays & screening

Digital X-rays reveal hidden cavities, infections, or bone loss, and an oral cancer screening looks for early warning signs.

04

Your plan

We walk you through what we found and, if anything needs care, lay out a clear plan so you can make an informed decision.

How we plan your care

We see the whole picture before we begin.

Intraoral 3-D scanner capturing a live digital model of a patient’s teeth

Digital 3-D scanning

A comfortable handheld wand maps your teeth in minutes — no goopy molds — for precise, custom-fit treatment.

Cone-beam CT (CBCT) scanner used for 3-D imaging and treatment planning

3-D cone-beam imaging (CBCT)

A low-dose 3-D scan shows the bone and nerves, so we can see what the eye can’t — for early detection and careful planning.

Dr. Bradley, UCLA-trained implant and surgical dentist
Dr. Bradley
Why Care Dental

Planned and performed in one place.

Dr. Bradley is a UCLA-trained, surgically-proficient dentist who plans, places, and restores your treatment himself — so the dentist who knows your mouth is the one doing the work, start to finish.

Surgically trained dentist

Four UCLA degrees and a decade of education and training, plus advanced surgical and implant fellowships and a faculty appointment at the UCLA School of Dentistry.

Everything under one roof

Surgery, implants, and restorations handled in-house — no being referred across town.

Affordable, explained up front

Most major insurance accepted and monthly payment plans available, reviewed with you up front.

Trusted by Huntington Park families

“Dr. Bradley really cares for your teeth — his philosophy is to keep as much of the natural tooth as possible. He explained everything clearly, calmed my nerves, and did the procedure perfectly.”

Z. Chen

“The best dentist in town. They really helped me with my fillings — completely pain-free — and made me feel at home through the whole process. Highly recommend.”

Joseph K.

“My oral health has improved a lot with Dr. Bradley. He listens to my concerns and explains exactly what he’s doing and why — he even shows me the X-rays. He handles my cleanings and put on my adult braces himself, and the whole team is stellar.”

Lyr C.
Common questions

Exam questions, answered.

How often should I come in for an exam?

Most adults do well with an exam and professional cleaning every six months. If you have a condition like gum disease or diabetes, we may suggest coming in more often — usually every three to four months.

Are exams and X-rays covered by insurance?

Most dental plans cover routine exams and X-rays as preventive care, and we offer monthly payment plans if you’re uninsured. We review your options at your appointment — no surprises.

What’s the difference between an exam and a cleaning?

The exam is the diagnostic part of your visit — the dentist evaluates your teeth, gums, bite, and tissues and reviews your X-rays. The cleaning, done by a hygienist, removes plaque and tartar and polishes your teeth.

What happens if I skip my dental exams?

Many problems develop silently, without pain. Without regular checkups, small cavities can grow, early gum disease can advance, and serious conditions like oral cancer can go undetected until they’re harder to treat.

Reviewed by Dr. Bradley Salvatore, DDS · Updated July 1, 2026

Due for a checkup? Let’s take a look.

Most major insurance accepted · monthly payment plans available.

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