Kure Beach is about a 25 to 30 minute drive north on US-421, straight through Carolina Beach to our Oleander Drive office.
Kure Beach is the far end of Pleasure Island, which means almost every kind of specialist care is a drive. Our patients here tend to be decisive about it: if a case is worth doing properly, it is worth the half hour up US-421 to have a prosthodontist plan and restore it.
A large share of our Kure Beach patients are retirees, and the most common reason for a first visit is dental work done decades ago that is now failing. Crowns from the 1990s, bridges that have loosened, dentures that stopped fitting when the jaw changed shape underneath them.
We regularly see patients from Kure Beach proper, the Fort Fisher end, Sea Watch, and the oceanfront blocks, and from across the area around Fort Fisher, the North Carolina Aquarium.
Schedule a Consultation
A dental implant is a small titanium post that takes the place of a missing tooth root. It is placed in the jawbone, where the bone gradually fuses to its surface — a process called osseointegration — creating a foundation strong enough to carry a crown, a bridge, or a full arch of teeth.
That foundation is what separates implants from every other tooth replacement. A denture rests on the gums. A traditional bridge leans on the teeth beside the gap. An implant stands on its own, anchored in bone, which is why it feels less like an appliance and more like a tooth.
It helps to think of an implant as three parts: the implant itself in the bone, an abutment that connects through the gum, and the restoration — the visible crown or bridge. Dr. Pan is a prosthodontist, which means she designs and places that restoration: the part you see, bite with, and live with every day.
We start with a 3D scan and a conversation about what you want the result to do. Dr. Pan plans the restoration, coordinates placement with a trusted surgeon, keeps you in a temporary while the implant integrates, then designs and fits the final tooth.
A full 1.5 hours. We image your jaw, assess bone volume, review your bite and medical history, and tell you honestly whether implants are the right answer for you.
Dr. Pan designs the final tooth, then maps the implant position to suit it. You get a written sequence, timeline, and itemised cost before anything is booked.
A trusted oral surgeon or periodontist places the implant to Dr. Pan’s plan. You wear a temporary while the bone integrates over three to four months.
Dr. Pan fits, adjusts, and refines the custom crown or bridge until the bite is right and it disappears among your natural teeth.
Dr. Pan plans the finished tooth first, then works backwards to the implant position — coordinating with your surgeon so the hardware ends up where the restoration needs it. She designs every restoration herself and completes much of the lab work in-office, which is why implant crowns from this practice match the teeth beside them.
Because the drive is longer, we make the first visit count. Every new patient gets a full 1.5 hours with Dr. Pan, so you leave with a complete written plan and a cost breakdown rather than needing a second trip to hear the findings.
Kure Beach is about a 25 to 30 minute drive north on US-421, straight through Carolina Beach to our Oleander Drive office.
