New Hanover County · Since 1987
Crown Repair & Replacement in Carolina Beach, NC
A crown that has come off, cracked, chipped or started to hurt needs looking at soon. Sometimes it can be recemented the same day. Sometimes the tooth underneath is the real problem.
- Three doctors, one location
- Sedation available
- Most major plans accepted
- Written estimates before treatment
Understanding crown repair
Crowns fail in a handful of predictable ways. The cement washes out and the crown comes loose. Decay gets in at the edge where it meets the gum. The porcelain chips. Or the tooth underneath fractures. Each one has a different fix, and an x-ray tells us which one we are dealing with.
Carolina Beach patients and this treatment
Nearly half the housing on Pleasure Island is seasonal, so the year-round community here is smaller and often skips routine care for years at a time.
Year-round residents in a seasonal town often go years between visits because the summer is too busy and the winter feels like the wrong time to start. Restorative work planned in the off-season avoids both problems.
A significant share of the island's year-round workforce is in hospitality without employer dental coverage, and we handle those cases with payment plans rather than assumptions.
Pleasure Island's year-round community is roughly a third the size of its summer population, and dental care here is often deferred through the busy months.
Snow's Cut Bridge is the single point of access, so we schedule Carolina Beach appointments with the season in mind.
We see patients from across Carolina Beach and the surrounding area, including the Boardwalk, Carolina Beach State Park, Snow's Cut and the 28428 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.
Off-season appointments are easier to get and the drive is quicker. If it is not urgent, October through April is the better window.
We keep same-day slots open for Pleasure Island because a chipped tooth on a Saturday should not wait until the season ends.
You may be a candidate if
- A crown that has come off, whole or in pieces
- A crown that feels loose or moves when you chew
- Chipped or cracked porcelain
- A dark line or gap at the gum edge of an old crown
- Pain, sensitivity or a bad taste around a crowned tooth
What the process looks like
- Exam and x-rayWe check whether the crown, the cement or the tooth underneath has failed.
- Recement or repairA sound crown on a sound tooth is cleaned and cemented back on. A small porcelain chip can sometimes be smoothed or bonded.
- Replacement if neededDecay is removed, the tooth is built back up if necessary, and a new crown is made from a digital scan.
- Bite checkWe adjust the contacts and bite so the new or recemented crown carries load evenly.
Afterwards
If the crown comes off before you can get here, keep it, keep the tooth clean, and avoid chewing on that side. Do not glue it back yourself with household adhesive; it traps decay under the crown and makes the eventual repair harder.
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
Recementing a crown that is still in good condition is a small visit. A replacement is priced as a new crown, and most dental plans cover it at their crown percentage once the original is past the plan's replacement window, commonly five to seven years. We check that window before quoting.
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
Why does my crowned tooth hurt?
Common causes are decay at the margin, a crack in the tooth, a high bite, or a nerve that is failing. An x-ray and a bite test usually tell which.
How long should a crown last?
Ten to fifteen years is typical. If yours failed much sooner, there is usually a cause worth finding, such as grinding.
How far is your office from Carolina Beach?
About 15 miles, or roughly 28 minutes via US-421 North over Snow's Cut Bridge. We are at 1301 Physicians Dr in Wilmington, with parking at the door.
Do you see patients from Carolina Beach?
Regularly. Carolina Beach is part of our core service area in New Hanover County, and we keep same-day slots open for Pleasure Island because a chipped tooth on a Saturday should not wait until the season ends.
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.
Crown Repair & Replacement · Carolina Beach, NC
Call. Do not wait it out.
We keep time open each morning for urgent cases. Monday through Thursday, 8:00 to 5:00, and Friday, 8:00 to 12:00.
- Same-day appointments where the schedule allows
- Emergency patients seen whether or not you are established here
- Extractions and oral surgery on site
- Pain relief first, permanent plan second
Not sure it counts as an emergency? Call and describe it. We will tell you.
Request an appointment
We reply the next business day.
Please do not include Protected Health Information. For anything urgent, call (910) 762-0958.
