Digital X-rays & CBCT

Modern Dental Imaging in Mooresville

At Drake Cosmetic and Family Dentistry, we offer both digital X-rays and CBCT (cone beam) imaging right here at our office on Kendra Drive in Mooresville. That matters because good pictures are the foundation of good decisions. Dr. Matt Drake and our team use these images not just to spot problems, but to walk you through exactly what's going on in your mouth. Whether you're coming from Mooresville proper, Davidson, or one of the other Lake Norman communities, you get clear answers in one place — no guessing, no "just trust us."

What Digital Dental X-rays Show

Digital X-rays give us a look at the parts of your teeth and jaw we can't see just by looking in your mouth. They catch decay hiding between teeth, show us the bone levels supporting your teeth, and help us spot trouble early — often before you'd ever feel it. The big difference from the old film X-rays? The images pop up on a screen almost instantly. That means we can turn the monitor toward you and actually point to what we're talking about. You're not sitting there wondering what the dentist is frowning at. You see the same picture we do, and we explain it in plain terms.

What a Cone Beam (CBCT) Scan Is

A CBCT scan, sometimes called a cone beam scan, is a step beyond a regular X-ray. Instead of a flat, two-dimensional image, it captures a three-dimensional view of your teeth, jawbone, nerves, and the structures around them. Think of a standard X-ray as a photograph and a CBCT as more of a model you can look at from different angles.

Why does that extra detail matter? For certain treatments, seeing depth and position makes all the difference. A flat image can only tell us so much about how much bone you have or exactly where a nerve sits. The 3D view fills in the gaps, which means less guesswork and a clearer plan for you. And no, it doesn't involve anything uncomfortable — you'll sit or stand still for a moment while the scanner moves around your head. That's it.

CBCT and Implant Planning in One Place

Here's something worth knowing if you're considering a dental implant. We offer both CBCT imaging and implant placement here at the same Mooresville office. That means the scan that maps out your jawbone and helps us plan the implant is taken and reviewed by the same team doing the work. You're not sent across town to an outside imaging center, then bounced back with a disc of files nobody explains.

Everything stays under one roof. The images inform the plan, the plan informs the treatment, and you get to see how it all connects. For folks in Mooresville, Cornelius, Huntersville, and the surrounding Lake Norman area, that keeps things simple and keeps the people who took your scan involved in every step after it.

If you've been told you might need a scan before implant work, we're happy to answer your questions before you commit to anything. Call us at (704) 660-3540 and we'll walk you through what to expect.

X-rays for Children: What Parents Ask

Parents ask us about X-rays all the time, and it's a fair thing to wonder about. How often does my child really need them? Are they necessary this visit? Because we offer pediatric dentistry here, you can ask the very team treating your child — not a stranger, not a call center. The timing of a child's X-rays varies quite a bit depending on their age, how their teeth are coming in, and their individual risk for cavities. There's no one-size-fits-all schedule, and honestly, there shouldn't be. If you have concerns, bring them up at the visit. We'd rather have that conversation than have you sit there worrying about it.

Getting Your Imaging Questions Answered

If a scan or X-ray is on your radar and you'd like to understand it better before you're in the chair, just reach out. You can ask about imaging when you book, or bring your questions to your next visit and we'll take the time to go through them. Give Drake Cosmetic and Family Dentistry a call at (704) 660-3540, and we'll make sure you walk in knowing what's coming and why.