New Hanover County · Since 1987
Cosmetic Dentistry in Castle Hayne, 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.
- Three doctors, one location
- Sedation available
- Most major plans accepted
- Written estimates before treatment
The basics of 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.
Full detail on cosmetic dentistry ›
Patients from Castle Hayne
Castle Hayne runs on shift work, the nuclear campus, the airport and the rail corridor, and employer dental benefits go unused every year.
Employer dental benefits often include an allowance that goes unspent every year, and it will cover more cosmetic-adjacent treatment than most people assume.
River Bluffs has added a different resident profile to what was a rural community a decade ago.
ILM airport sits just south of Castle Hayne, and the NC-133 run to N. 23rd Street avoids the worst of the city traffic.
GE Vernova Hitachi is the anchor employer, and shift patterns there shape how we schedule Castle Hayne appointments.
We see patients from across Castle Hayne and the surrounding area, including GE Vernova Hitachi, ILM airport, River Bluffs and the 28429 ZIP code.
New Hanover County is the built-out core of the region, growing around one percent a year, with roughly 21 percent of residents over 65 and the highest concentration of employer dental coverage in southeastern North Carolina.
We will be direct about how many days a physical job needs after surgical treatment, and we will schedule around a rotation rather than pretending it does not exist.
Early morning appointments starting at 8:00 so a cleaning does not cost you a shift.
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
How the treatment runs
- 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.
Afterwards
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.
Follow-up appointments are brief and we open at 8:00, so they rarely cost more than the start of a shift.
What it costs
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.
Employer dental benefits reset annually and unused balance does not carry over. If you have not used yours this year, it is worth checking what is left before December.
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
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.
How far is your office from Castle Hayne?
About 11 miles, or roughly 20 minutes via NC-133 South (Castle Hayne Road) to N. 23rd Street. We are at 1301 Physicians Dr in Wilmington, with parking at the door.
Do you see patients from Castle Hayne?
Regularly. Castle Hayne is part of our core service area in New Hanover County, and early morning appointments starting at 8:00 so a cleaning does not cost you a shift.
What are your hours?
Monday through Thursday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, and Friday, 8:00am to 12:00pm. Outside those hours, leave a message or use the appointment request form and we will come back to you with the first available time.
Cosmetic Dentistry · Castle Hayne, NC
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.
