New Hanover County · Since 1987
Sedation Dentist in Carolina Beach, NC
Sedation is a great option for anyone who needs a little extra help getting back into the chair and making their smile a priority again. Whether it is the sounds, a bad past experience, trouble getting numb or anything in between, we meet you where you are and provide compassionate care with zero judgment.
What to expect
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.
Sedation also lets us combine treatment. Work that would take four separate appointments can often be done in one, which is worth considering if the appointment itself is the obstacle.
Why Carolina Beach patients come to us
Carolina Beach is the heart of Pleasure Island, and its year-round community is a straight drive up US-421 and over Snow's Cut Bridge to our office.
If putting it off has become the habit, sedation lets us do a lot in one appointment rather than asking for six trips across the bridge.
Snow's Cut Bridge is the single point of access, so we schedule Carolina Beach appointments with the season in mind.
Many of the island's year-round residents work in hospitality, and for patients without employer dental coverage we offer flexible payment plans.
Pleasure Island's year-round community is roughly a third the size of its summer population, and dental care here is often deferred through the busy months.
We see patients from across Carolina Beach and the surrounding area, including the Boardwalk, Carolina Beach State Park, Snow's Cut and the 28428 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.
Off-season appointments are easier to get and the drive is quicker. If it is not urgent, October through April is the better window.
We keep same-day slots open for Pleasure Island because a chipped tooth on a Saturday should not wait until the season ends.
This is for you 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
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 you are away for part of the year, tell us your dates at the start and we will build the schedule around them.
Questions we get asked
Can I have sedation for a cleaning?
Yes. Nitrous for a hygiene visit is common and there is nothing unusual about asking for it.
How long does it take to wear off?
Nitrous, five to ten minutes. Oral sedation, several hours with grogginess into the evening. IV, similar, with the rest of the day written off.
How far is your office from Carolina Beach?
About 15 miles, or roughly 28 minutes via US-421 North over Snow's Cut Bridge. We are at 1301 Physicians Dr in Wilmington, with parking at the door.
Do you see patients from Carolina Beach?
Regularly. Carolina Beach is part of our core service area in New Hanover County, and we keep same-day slots open for Pleasure Island because a chipped tooth on a Saturday should not wait until the season ends.
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 Dentist · Carolina Beach
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
- Dr. Winneberger is a member of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology
- You can stop the appointment at any point
- We explain before we do, every time
Worried about the state of things? This is a judgment-free zone. We are here for 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.
