Cosmetic · Since 1987
Cosmetic Dentistry in Wilmington, NC
Cosmetic dentistry is the part of our practice we are known for. It covers everything from a single chipped front tooth to rebuilding an entire smile.
About cosmetic dentistry
Most cosmetic cases are a combination rather than one procedure. Whitening first so the shade is set, then veneers or crowns matched to it, sometimes gum contouring to even out the line where tooth meets tissue.
The planning is the part that decides the result. We photograph, measure and mock up before any enamel is touched, so you approve the shape and shade before it becomes permanent.
How it works
- Smile consultationWe talk about what bothers you, take photos, and look at how your teeth meet.
- Design and mock-upYou see the proposed shape and shade before treatment starts.
- PreparationConservative where it can be. We remove as little tooth structure as the case allows.
- TemporariesYou wear the shape for a week or two and tell us what to change.
- Final placementThe lab builds to the approved design and we bond it in.
Recovery and aftercare
Porcelain does not stain the way enamel does, so the shade holds. Night grinding is the main threat to cosmetic work, and we will make you a guard if your wear pattern calls for one.
Cost and coverage
Cosmetic work is quoted per tooth and per procedure, and the range is wide because the cases are. Whitening is a few hundred dollars. A full set of veneers is a different conversation. We price the plan at the consultation and never start work before you have seen the number.
You may be a candidate if
- Teeth that are stained, worn short, chipped or uneven
- Gaps you have never liked in photographs
- A gum line that shows too much or sits unevenly
- Old bonding or crowns that no longer match
- A bite that has worn down over the years
Cosmetic Dentistry by town
We see patients from across New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and Onslow counties.
In their own words
Hear from Dr. Carter Lee
Dr. Lee on fixing only what needs fixing, and what it is like to hand a patient the mirror after a smile transformation.
Questions we get asked
Will it look obviously fake?
Only if it is designed that way. We work from your face, not from a catalogue shade. Most patients want to look like themselves on a good day.
How long does cosmetic work take?
A whitening case is two weeks. Veneers usually run three to four appointments over a month. Full mouth rehabilitation can span a year.
Does insurance cover any of it?
Purely cosmetic treatment usually is not covered. When a crown is also restoring a broken tooth, it often is. We check your benefits before we quote.
Can I see what it will look like first?
Yes. We do a mock-up, and for larger cases you wear temporaries in the proposed shape before anything final is made.
I hate my smile but do not know what is wrong with it. Can you help?
That is most consultations. Bring photos of smiles you like and we will work out which parts apply to you.
Cosmetic Dentistry
See the result before it is permanent.
Every cosmetic case is mocked up and worn in temporary form before anything final is made. You approve the shape and the shade.
- Cosmetic dentistry is the practice's stated specialty
- Digital design and trial smile before preparation
- Shade-matched lab work with in-person verification
- 50,000+ patients treated since 1987
Afraid of the overdone look? So are we. The brief on nearly every case here is to look like yourself, rested.
Request an appointment
We reply the next business day.
Please do not include Protected Health Information. For anything urgent, call (910) 762-0958.
