Pender County · Since 1987
Cosmetic Dentistry in Surf City, 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 ›
This treatment in Surf City
Six in ten homes on this stretch of Topsail Island are seasonal, but the year-round population has grown quickly since the new bridge opened.
Cosmetic treatment is best started in autumn, so the work is finished and settled before the season picks up again.
The high-rise bridge that replaced the old swing bridge in 2018 changed the drive off Topsail Island considerably.
Six in ten homes here are seasonal, and the year-round community is small but growing quickly.
Surf City patients generally choose us over closer options because sedation, oral surgery and restorative work happen in the same building.
We see patients from across Surf City and the surrounding area, including the Topsail Island high-rise bridge, Surf City Ocean Pier, Soundside Park and the 28445 and 28443 ZIP codes.
Pender County is the second fastest-growing county in the state and it has the highest share of under-18s in the region at over 22 percent. Family scheduling and preventive care carry more weight here than anywhere else we serve.
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.
Fifty minutes down US-17 buys you a practice with three doctors, sedation and oral surgery under one roof instead of three referrals.
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
The sequence of appointments
- 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
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.
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 far is your office from Surf City?
About 33 miles, or roughly 50 minutes via NC-210 off Topsail Island to US-17 South. We are at 1301 Physicians Dr in Wilmington, with parking at the door.
Do you see patients from Surf City?
Regularly. Surf City is part of our core service area in Pender County, and fifty minutes down US-17 buys you a practice with three doctors, sedation and oral surgery under one roof instead of three referrals.
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 · Surf City, 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.
