Pender County · Since 1987
Dental Implants in Surf City, 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.
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.
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
- 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
Your treatment, start to finish
- 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
Does getting an implant hurt?
Placement is done under local anesthetic and most people describe it as easier than the extraction that preceded it. Soreness for two or three days is normal. Sedation is available if the idea of the appointment is the hard part.
Can I get an implant if I have been missing the tooth for years?
Often yes, though longer gaps mean more bone loss. That is what the 3D scan tells us. If there is not enough bone, grafting is usually an option.
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 Implants · Surf City, 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.
