Brunswick County · Since 1987
Teeth Whitening in Oak Island, NC
Professional whitening reaches shades that strips and toothpastes cannot, and it does it without the gum burns people get from over-the-counter kits.
- Three doctors, one location
- Sedation available
- Most major plans accepted
- Written estimates before treatment
Understanding whitening
The active ingredient is the same family of peroxide you find in a drugstore. The difference is concentration, contact time, and trays made from a mold of your teeth so the gel sits on enamel rather than gum.
Why Oak Island patients come to us for this
Oak Island holds about 8,400 year-round residents and swells toward 50,000 in July, with roughly a third of the permanent population over 65.
Cosmetic treatment is best started in autumn, so the work is finished and settled before the season picks up again.
A third of the permanent population is over 65, which is why so much of what we do here is restorative rather than preventive.
Oak Island's year-round population of around 8,400 swells toward 50,000 in July, and the practical dental needs of those two populations are completely different.
It is the longest regular drive in our service area, so Oak Island treatment plans are built around minimizing the number of visits.
We see patients from across Oak Island and the surrounding area, including the Oak Island Lighthouse, Fort Caswell, Ocean Crest Pier and the 28465 ZIP code.
Brunswick County is the fastest-growing county in North Carolina and the sixth fastest in the country, up about a quarter since 2020, and 35 percent of residents are 65 or older. That combination, rapid in-migration and an older population, is why so much of our Brunswick caseload is restorative.
Booking hygiene visits in the shoulder months keeps the interval honest, because summer is when it always slips.
It is the longest drive in our service area, so we consolidate: consults, records and treatment planned to minimize the number of trips.
You may be a candidate if
- Yellowing from coffee, tea, red wine or tobacco
- General dulling that has come on with age
- A special occasion on the calendar
- Healthy teeth and gums with no untreated decay
- Natural teeth rather than crowns or veneers, which do not lighten
What the process looks like
- Exam and shade recordWe photograph the starting shade so the change is measurable rather than a matter of opinion.
- Custom traysImpressions go to the lab and trays come back fitted to your arch.
- At-home whiteningUsually two weeks of short daily wear. We adjust the schedule if sensitivity shows up.
- ReviewWe re-photograph, compare, and top up if the shade is not where you want it.
Afterwards
Avoid deeply pigmented food and drink for the first 48 hours after each session. Keep the trays. A single top-up night every few months holds the shade for years.
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
Whitening is the lowest-cost cosmetic treatment we offer and it is usually a few hundred dollars including custom trays and gel. It is almost never covered by insurance. Many patients start here before deciding whether they want anything more involved.
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
Do crowns and veneers whiten too?
No. Porcelain and composite hold their shade. If you plan to whiten and also replace old restorations, whiten first and match the new work to the lighter shade.
How long do the results last?
One to three years depending on diet and smoking. Top-ups with your existing trays are cheap and quick.
How far is your office from Oak Island?
About 39 miles, or roughly 55 minutes via NC-211 to US-17 North, then US-74/76 over the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. We are at 1301 Physicians Dr in Wilmington, with parking at the door.
Do you see patients from Oak Island?
Regularly. Oak Island is part of our core service area in Brunswick County, and it is the longest drive in our service area, so we consolidate: consults, records and treatment planned to minimize the number of trips.
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.
Teeth Whitening · Oak Island, NC
See the result before it is permanent.
Every cosmetic case is mocked up and worn in temporary form before anything final is made. You approve the shape and the shade.
- Cosmetic dentistry is the practice's stated specialty
- Digital design and trial smile before preparation
- Shade-matched lab work with in-person verification
- 50,000+ patients treated since 1987
Afraid of the overdone look? So are we. The brief on nearly every case here is to look like yourself, rested.
Request an appointment
We reply the next business day.
Please do not include Protected Health Information. For anything urgent, call (910) 762-0958.
