New Hanover County · Since 1987
Dental Implants in Carolina Beach, NC
A dental implant replaces the root of a missing tooth with a titanium post, then a crown on top of it. It is the only replacement that keeps the jawbone working the way a natural tooth does.
- Three doctors, one location
- Sedation available
- Most major plans accepted
- Written estimates before treatment
What to know about implants
When a tooth comes out, the bone that held it starts to shrink. That is why a face changes shape years after a loss, and why a bridge or partial that fit well in 2019 rocks by 2024. An implant stops that process because the post loads the bone every time you chew.
Why Carolina Beach patients come to us for this
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.
Snow's Cut Bridge is the single point of access, so we schedule Carolina Beach appointments with the season in mind.
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.
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.
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.
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
- You are missing one tooth, several teeth, or all of them
- A bridge or partial denture has started to move, click or trap food
- You want to stop wearing something removable
- You have enough bone, or are willing to have it built up first
- You are healthy enough for a routine outpatient procedure
How the treatment runs
- Consultation and 3D scanWe look at bone, bite and gum health, then show you the scan on screen and talk through what is realistic.
- Extraction or grafting, if neededSometimes a failing tooth comes out and the site is grafted the same day. Sometimes we place immediately.
- Implant placementA single implant takes under an hour. You are numb, and sedation is available if you want it.
- HealingThree to six months while bone grows onto the post. You leave with a temporary so nobody sees a gap.
- Final crownWe take records, the lab builds the crown to match your other teeth, and it goes on.
Afterwards
Most patients take ibuprofen for a day or two and go back to work the next morning. Once the final crown is on, you brush and floss it like a tooth. The maintenance that matters is your cleaning schedule, since the gum around an implant needs the same attention as gum around a root.
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
Implant cost depends on how many you need, whether a tooth has to come out first, and whether the site needs bone grafting. Some plans cover part of the restoration even when they exclude the implant itself. We give you a written number before you commit to anything, and we go through financing at the consultation.
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. Barry Frazelle
Dr. Frazelle on why the injection is nothing to dread, and a cheap whitening habit he gives patients.
Questions we get asked
Am I too old for dental implants?
Age on its own is not a disqualifier. We place implants for patients in their eighties. Healing capacity and medical history matter more than the number.
What is the alternative if I am not a candidate?
A fixed bridge or a well-made partial denture. We will tell you plainly if we think an implant is the wrong call for your situation.
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.
Dental Implants · Carolina Beach, NC
You have probably been told several different things about this.
Bring the opinions you have already been given. We will look at your scan with you and say which parts we agree with.
- Three doctors, 50+ years of combined experience
- Implant surgery and restoration in one building
- Sedation available for longer appointments
- Written, phased treatment plans with costs attached
Worried it is too much work at your age? Health matters far more than the number, and we will tell you if we think a smaller plan serves you better.
Request an appointment
We reply the next business day.
Please do not include Protected Health Information. For anything urgent, call (910) 762-0958.
