Pender County · Since 1987
Dental Crowns in Surf City, 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
A closer look at crowns
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.
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.
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.
Surf City patients generally choose us over closer options because sedation, oral surgery and restorative work happen in the same building.
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.
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.
Off-season appointments are easier to get and the drive is quicker. If it is not urgent, October through April is the better window.
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
- 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
The sequence of appointments
- 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
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.
My temporary crown came off. Is that an emergency?
Call us and we will get you in. Keep the temporary if you can, avoid chewing on that side, and do not leave the prepared tooth uncovered for long.
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.
Dental Crowns · Surf City, 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.
