Pender County · Since 1987
Invisalign in Surf City, NC
Invisalign moves teeth with a series of clear removable aligners. Adults choose it because nobody has to know it is happening.
- Three doctors, one location
- Sedation available
- Most major plans accepted
- Written estimates before treatment
The basics of Invisalign
Each aligner is worn about 22 hours a day for a week or two, then swapped for the next. The sequence is planned digitally from a scan, so you see the projected end position before you start.
What we see from 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.
Aligner treatment suits a seasonal schedule because check-in visits are short and infrequent, and the trays come out for anything you need them out for.
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.
The high-rise bridge that replaced the old swing bridge in 2018 changed the drive off Topsail Island considerably.
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
- Crowded or overlapping teeth
- Gaps you want closed
- A bite that has shifted since childhood orthodontics
- A teenager who will wear them
- Willingness to keep them in 22 hours a day
The sequence of appointments
- Complimentary consultationWe scan, look at the bite, and tell you whether aligners are the right tool.
- Digital treatment planYou see a simulation of the movement and the projected finish.
- Aligner seriesNew trays every one to two weeks, with short check-in visits along the way.
- RefinementMost cases get a short second series to fine-tune the finish.
- RetentionA retainer holds the result. Teeth move for life without one.
Afterwards
Wear the retainer. Every relapse case we see traces back to a retainer that lived in a drawer. Beyond that, clean the aligners daily and keep up your normal hygiene visits.
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
Invisalign is priced by case complexity and length. Many dental plans include an orthodontic benefit that applies to adults as well as children, and it is worth checking even if you assume you have none. The orthodontic consultation itself is complimentary.
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
Is it as good as braces?
For the great majority of adult cases, yes. Fixed braces still hold an advantage in complex bite correction, and we refer when that is the honest answer.
How long does Invisalign take?
Simple cases finish in four to six months. Comprehensive cases usually run twelve to eighteen.
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.
Invisalign · Surf City, 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.
