New Hanover County · Since 1987
Sedation Dentistry in Kure Beach, NC
Sedation is for people who have been putting this off for years. If the reason you are reading this is that the last visit went badly, we do this often and nobody here is going to make you feel foolish about it.
- Three doctors, one location
- Sedation available
- Most major plans accepted
- Written estimates before treatment
sedation, explained
Options range from nitrous oxide, which wears off before you drive home, through oral sedation that leaves most of the appointment hazy, to deeper IV sedation for longer surgical work.
This treatment in Kure Beach
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.
Plenty of patients in this age group had bad dental experiences in the 1960s and 70s. That memory is real, the dentistry has changed completely, and sedation bridges the gap.
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.
Fort Fisher and the aquarium bring the visitors; the year-round community is small, settled and largely retired.
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.
We will tell you honestly whether this is worth doing now or whether it can be watched for a year, and we will say which of your existing work is likely to fail next.
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
- You avoid the dentist because of fear, and have for years
- A previous appointment was painful or humiliating
- You have a strong gag reflex
- You need extensive work and would rather do it in fewer visits
- Sitting still for long appointments is difficult for you
- Local anesthetic has not worked well for you in the past
From first visit to finished result
- Conversation firstWe talk about what specifically is difficult. Often it is one particular thing rather than the whole visit.
- Medical reviewMedications, conditions and history determine which option is safe for you.
- Choosing a levelNitrous, oral, or IV. We explain what each feels like and what the day looks like.
- TreatmentYou are monitored throughout.
- RecoveryNitrous wears off in minutes. Oral and IV need a driver and a quiet afternoon.
Afterwards
With nitrous you can drive yourself home. With oral or IV sedation you need someone to drive you, and you should plan to do nothing much for the rest of the day. Follow the eating instructions we give you before the appointment.
If getting to follow-up visits is difficult, tell us. We can often combine checks into fewer, longer appointments.
What it costs
Nitrous oxide is a modest addition to the visit. Oral and IV sedation are priced by the length of the appointment. Some plans contribute when sedation is medically necessary rather than elective. We will check and tell you either way.
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. Josh Winneberger
Dr. Winneberger on getting you numb without you noticing, and helping nervous patients get comfortable in the chair.
Questions we get asked
Will I be unconscious?
No. Even IV sedation leaves you responsive. Most patients simply do not remember much of the appointment.
Is sedation safe?
For healthy patients, yes, and our doctors are members of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology. We review your medical history and medications carefully first.
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.
Sedation Dentistry · Kure Beach, NC
Nobody here is going to make you feel bad about it.
A large share of our new patients start the conversation by apologizing for how long it has been. It is the most ordinary thing we hear.
- Nitrous, oral and IV sedation options
- Members of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology
- You can stop the appointment at any point
- We explain before we do, every time
Embarrassed about the state of things? We have seen it. We are interested in the plan forward.
Request an appointment
We reply the next business day.
Please do not include Protected Health Information. For anything urgent, call (910) 762-0958.
