New Hanover County · Since 1987
Dental Sealants in Wrightsville Beach, NC
A sealant is a thin coating over the grooves of a back tooth. It takes a few minutes per tooth, needs no drilling, and prevents most of the cavities children get.
- Three doctors, one location
- Sedation available
- Most major plans accepted
- Written estimates before treatment
A closer look at sealants
The chewing surfaces of molars have grooves narrower than a toothbrush bristle. Food and bacteria get in, the brush does not, and that is where the majority of childhood decay starts.
Why Wrightsville Beach patients come to us for this
Wrightsville Beach has the highest household incomes in the region and a resident base that treats a good smile as part of the package.
Consistent six-month attendance is the norm here, which means we are usually catching problems at the stage where a filling is still an option.
Summer traffic on Eastwood Road is worth planning around; a morning appointment is a different journey from a four o'clock one in July.
The island's year-round population is small, so almost everyone here already drives into Wilmington for medical appointments.
Harbour Island and the Banks Channel side send us most of our Wrightsville Beach patients, and the drawbridge is the only real variable in the trip.
We see patients from across Wrightsville Beach and the surrounding area, including Johnnie Mercer's Pier, the Loop, Banks Channel and the 28480 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.
This is a low-commitment place to start, and it is often the appointment that tells us whether anything larger is worth discussing.
Twenty minutes over the drawbridge puts you in a chair with a doctor who does this work every week, not a cosmetic clinic that sees veneers twice a year.
You may be a candidate if
- Children whose six-year or twelve-year molars have just erupted
- Deep grooves in molars that trap food
- A history of cavities in the family
- Adults with unrestored molars and deep anatomy
- Anyone at higher decay risk from medication-related dry mouth
How the treatment runs
- Check the toothSealants go over healthy grooves. If there is already decay, it needs a filling instead.
- Clean and prepareThe surface is cleaned and conditioned. No drill, no injection.
- Apply and cureThe sealant flows into the grooves and is set with a light.
- Check the biteA quick adjustment so it does not feel high.
Afterwards
Eat and drink normally straight away. We check sealants at every hygiene visit and repair them if they chip, which is quick and often included.
Follow-up visits are short and we will schedule them at the start or end of the day if that works better around your week.
What it costs
Most dental plans cover sealants for children on permanent molars, frequently at 100 percent. A sealant costs a fraction of what a filling on the same tooth costs later.
We can sequence larger cases across two benefit years where the clinical situation allows it, which puts two annual maximums against the same plan of treatment.
In their own words
Hear from Dr. Josh Winneberger
Dr. Winneberger on getting you numb without you noticing, and helping nervous patients get comfortable in the chair.
Questions we get asked
How long do sealants last?
Several years commonly. We check them at each visit and top them up as needed.
Do sealants contain BPA?
Modern dental sealants are not made from BPA. Trace exposure at application is far below any level of concern, and it is a fair question to ask us at the appointment.
How far is your office from Wrightsville Beach?
About 10 miles, or roughly 20 minutes via Eastwood Road (US-74) over the Heide Trask Drawbridge. We are at 1301 Physicians Dr in Wilmington, with parking at the door.
Do you see patients from Wrightsville Beach?
Regularly. Wrightsville Beach is part of our core service area in New Hanover County, and twenty minutes over the drawbridge puts you in a chair with a doctor who does this work every week, not a cosmetic clinic that sees veneers twice a year.
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 Sealants · Wrightsville Beach, NC
One trip. Everybody seen.
We block consecutive appointments so a family visit is one morning rather than three separate afternoons.
- General, cosmetic, orthodontic and surgical care under one roof
- Consecutive family scheduling on request
- Sealants and preventive care for children
- Most major dental plans accepted
Nervous child? Tell us before the appointment and we will slow the whole thing down.
Request an appointment
We reply the next business day.
Please do not include Protected Health Information. For anything urgent, call (910) 762-0958.
