Brunswick County · Since 1987
Dental Crowns in Oak Island, NC
A crown covers a tooth that has lost too much structure to hold a filling. It is what keeps a cracked or heavily restored tooth in your mouth.
- Three doctors, one location
- Sedation available
- Most major plans accepted
- Written estimates before treatment
crowns, explained
Teeth that have been filled and refilled over decades eventually run out of enamel to grip. A crown wraps the whole tooth and puts the chewing forces back through the root instead of through a fracture line.
Patients from Oak Island
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.
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 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.
It is the longest regular drive in our service area, so Oak Island treatment plans are built around minimizing the number of visits.
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.
Off-season appointments are easier to get and the drive is quicker. If it is not urgent, October through April is the better window.
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
- A cracked tooth, or one that hurts on release when you bite
- A large old filling that keeps breaking away at the edges
- A tooth that has had a root canal
- A worn-down back tooth that no longer meets its opposite
- A front tooth that needs both strength and appearance
What the process looks like
- Exam and x-rayWe confirm the tooth is restorable and the nerve is healthy.
- PreparationThe tooth is shaped, we take a digital scan, and a temporary crown goes on.
- Lab fabricationThe permanent crown is built to your bite and shade.
- Fit and cementWe check contacts and bite, adjust, then cement it.
Afterwards
Sensitivity to cold for a week or two is normal. Floss it, do not skip it, because the margin at the gum is where a crowned tooth fails. Come to your cleanings and we will watch that margin for you.
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
Most dental plans cover crowns at a percentage after the deductible, often around half. Cost varies with the material and whether the tooth needs a build-up first. We run the estimate through your benefits before scheduling so the number you hear is the number you pay.
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 like my other teeth?
Modern porcelain and zirconia match well. For front teeth we take shade photographs and involve the lab directly.
Do I need a root canal before a crown?
Only if the nerve is already damaged or dying. Plenty of crowns go on teeth with perfectly healthy nerves.
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.
Dental Crowns · Oak Island, NC
Honest dentistry, since 1987.
We will tell you what needs doing now, what can wait, and what we would leave alone.
- Over 50,000 patients treated since 1987
- Comprehensive new patient exam including oral cancer screening
- Three doctors and a long-tenured team
- Most major dental plans accepted
Been told you need a lot of work somewhere else? Second opinions are welcome and we give them straight.
Request an appointment
We reply the next business day.
Please do not include Protected Health Information. For anything urgent, call (910) 762-0958.
