Brunswick County · Since 1987
Teeth Whitening in Southport, 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
What to know about 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.
What we see from Southport
Southport is the oldest town in our service area, almost 45 percent of residents are 65 or older, and St. James adds thousands more active-adult households next door.
Cosmetic work after sixty is usually about wear rather than color. Teeth that have been shortening for decades change the whole lower face, and putting the length back does more for how someone looks than whitening ever could.
The drive is long enough that we consolidate consults, records and treatment planning rather than spreading them across separate trips.
Almost 45 percent of Southport is 65 or older, and St. James Plantation next door adds thousands more active-adult households.
Patients come up from Southport specifically for implant and full-arch work, which is a deliberate choice over closer options.
We see patients from across Southport and the surrounding area, including the Southport Historic District, Fort Johnston, Franklin Square Park and the 28461 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.
A shorter recall interval is usually the right call at this stage, because medication-related dry mouth changes decay risk faster than most people expect.
Patients drive up from Southport for full-arch and implant work specifically. We build the treatment plan around the drive, not around our schedule.
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
From first visit to finished result
- 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 getting to follow-up visits is difficult, tell us. We can often combine checks into fewer, longer appointments.
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 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. Barry Frazelle
Dr. Frazelle on why the injection is nothing to dread, and a cheap whitening habit he gives patients.
Questions we get asked
Will whitening make my teeth sensitive?
Some sensitivity is common and it resolves. We can drop the concentration, shorten wear time or add a desensitizing gel if it becomes uncomfortable.
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 far is your office from Southport?
About 30 miles, or roughly 48 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 Southport?
Regularly. Southport is part of our core service area in Brunswick County, and patients drive up from Southport for full-arch and implant work specifically. We build the treatment plan around the drive, not around our schedule.
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 · Southport, 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.
