Brunswick County · Since 1987
Cosmetic Dentistry in Oak Island, 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
Understanding 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 ›
Oak Island patients and this treatment
Oak Island holds about 8,400 year-round residents and swells toward 50,000 in July, with roughly a third of the permanent population over 65.
Cosmetic treatment is best started in autumn, so the work is finished and settled before the season picks up again.
It is the longest regular drive in our service area, so Oak Island treatment plans are built around minimizing the number of visits.
A third of the permanent population is over 65, which is why so much of what we do here is restorative rather than preventive.
Oak Island's year-round population of around 8,400 swells toward 50,000 in July, and the practical dental needs of those two populations are completely different.
We see patients from across Oak Island and the surrounding area, including the Oak Island Lighthouse, Fort Caswell, Ocean Crest Pier and the 28465 ZIP code.
Brunswick County is the fastest-growing county in North Carolina and the sixth fastest in the country, up about a quarter since 2020, and 35 percent of residents are 65 or older. That combination, rapid in-migration and an older population, is why so much of our Brunswick caseload is restorative.
Start large treatment in the autumn. The planning and provisional phases run through the quiet months and the finished result is in place before the season picks up.
It is the longest drive in our service area, so we consolidate: consults, records and treatment planned to minimize the number of trips.
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
What the process looks like
- 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.
If you are away for part of the year, tell us your dates at the start and we will build the schedule around them.
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.
If your income is seasonal, say so at the consultation. We can time treatment phases to the part of the year that suits your cash flow.
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.
How far is your office from Oak Island?
About 39 miles, or roughly 55 minutes via NC-211 to US-17 North, then US-74/76 over the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. We are at 1301 Physicians Dr in Wilmington, with parking at the door.
Do you see patients from Oak Island?
Regularly. Oak Island is part of our core service area in Brunswick County, and it is the longest drive in our service area, so we consolidate: consults, records and treatment planned to minimize the number of trips.
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 · Oak Island, 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.
