Oak Island is about a 50 minute drive to our Oleander Drive office via NC-133 and the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.
Oak Island is largely a retirement and second-home community, and both groups tend to postpone dental work. Retirees put off a big case because of cost or nerves; second-home owners because they are only here part of the year. The result is that Oak Island patients often arrive with a problem that has been building for a while.
That is not a lecture, it is just the pattern, and it shapes how Dr. Pan approaches these cases. Plans get phased so the urgent work happens first and the rest is spread out, and you get an honest read on what will happen if a given piece waits another year.
We regularly see patients from Long Beach, Yaupon Beach, the Point, and Tranquil Harbour, and from across the area around the Oak Island Lighthouse, Ocean Crest Pier.
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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.
Given the drive, appointments are scheduled to accomplish as much per visit as the clinical sequence allows. Ask about phasing at the consultation if cost or timing is a concern.
Oak Island is about a 50 minute drive to our Oleander Drive office via NC-133 and the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.
