New Hanover County · Since 1987
Implant-Supported Dentures in Kure Beach, NC
An implant-supported denture clips onto two or more implants, so it stops moving when you eat and talk. It is the middle path between a conventional denture and a fixed full arch.
- Three doctors, one location
- Sedation available
- Most major plans accepted
- Written estimates before treatment
What to know about implant-supported dentures
A lower denture resting on the gum has very little to hold on to, which is why so many people give up on theirs. Two implants in the front of the jaw, with attachments that the denture snaps onto, change that completely. An upper can be stabilized the same way, usually with four.
Full detail on implant-supported dentures ›
Kure Beach patients and this treatment
Kure Beach has the oldest resident profile in New Hanover County. A third of the town is 65 or older, and barely one in ten residents is under 18.
Most of the restorative work we do for this community is second-generation: replacing crowns and bridges placed twenty or thirty years ago that have finally given out. The question is rarely whether to treat it, it is whether to keep patching or rebuild properly.
Fort Fisher and the aquarium bring the visitors; the year-round community is small, settled and largely retired.
Thirty-two minutes each way is the reason we plan Kure Beach treatment in as few appointments as the clinical work allows.
The dental needs here skew heavily toward restorative and prosthetic work rather than preventive care for children.
We see patients from across Kure Beach and the surrounding area, including the Kure Beach Pier, Fort Fisher, the NC Aquarium and the 28449 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.
For treatment at this level we do the planning properly before anything starts: records, a scan, and a written phased plan you take home and think about. Nobody signs anything at the first appointment.
We plan restorative treatment in as few visits as the work allows, because thirty-two minutes each way adds up fast.
You may be a candidate if
- A lower denture that moves, rubs or needs adhesive
- Missing all the teeth in an arch
- Wanting implant stability without the cost of a fixed full arch
- Being happy to remove the denture at night to clean it
- A current denture that fits well enough to be converted
What the process looks like
- Consultation and 3D scanCone beam imaging shows where the bone will take an implant.
- Implant placementUsually two implants for a lower, four for an upper, often under sedation.
- HealingA few months while the implants integrate. You wear your denture, relieved over the implant sites.
- AttachmentsThe denture is fitted with housings that snap onto the implants, either your existing one or a new one.
Afterwards
Remove and clean the denture daily, and brush around the implant attachments. The nylon inserts that give the snap wear out and are replaced every year or so; that is routine maintenance, not a failure.
If getting to follow-up visits is difficult, tell us. We can often combine checks into fewer, longer appointments.
What it costs
Implant-supported dentures cost more than a conventional denture and considerably less than a fixed full arch. Many plans cover part of the denture, and some now contribute to implants. We give you a written estimate covering implants, attachments and the denture, and go through monthly financing at the consultation.
If you are on Medicare, note that it does not cover routine dental treatment. Many supplement plans include a limited dental benefit with an annual cap, and we will check yours before quoting anything.
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
What is the difference between snap-in dentures and All-on-4?
Snap-in dentures clip onto implants and come out for cleaning. An All-on-4 bridge is screwed to the implants and stays in. The snap-in option needs fewer implants and costs less.
Can my current denture be converted?
Often, if it fits well and is in good condition. We assess it at the consultation.
How far is your office from Kure Beach?
About 18 miles, or roughly 32 minutes via US-421 North the length of Pleasure Island. We are at 1301 Physicians Dr in Wilmington, with parking at the door.
Do you see patients from Kure Beach?
Regularly. Kure Beach is part of our core service area in New Hanover County, and we plan restorative treatment in as few visits as the work allows, because thirty-two minutes each way adds up fast.
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.
Implant-Supported Dentures · Kure 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.
