A Charlotte dentist is rethinking how patients afford a better smile

Cost, access and dental insurance limitations can make cosmetic and reconstructive dentistry unattainable for the people who need it most — but a Charlotte dentist is creating an alternative.

The background: Dental insurance, not dental clinics, sets fixed prices for in-network care, then caps how much it will actually pay each year, typically around $1,000-$2,500.

Dentists and patients, consequently, are locked into those rates. And once you've hit your maximum, you're on the hook for the rest.

• Add in job changes or shifting employer coverage, and treatments like crowns, veneers, or dental implants can quickly feel out of reach.

The impact: Patients who need multiple treatments or complex procedures are left with steep out-of-pocket costs, forcing many to delay necessary care.

• A growing number of people are turning to "dental tourism," traveling abroad for cheaper — but often risky — dental work that can require costly fixes later.

The positive news: A trusted name in Charlotte dentistry is working to bridge the gap and offer patients a better option through a new practice.

Dr. Eric Turner and the team behind Dentistry on Monroe are opening Advanced Veneers and Implants (AVI) in South Charlotte in late June 2026.

• AVI is designed to create a middle ground between expensive care in the U.S. and cheaper, unreliable overseas alternatives.

The strategy: AVI won't accept dental insurance — and that's intentional.

• By operating outside insurance networks, AVI can set clear, upfront pricing that is often lower than what patients would pay after hitting insurance limits.
• "The people who need extensive dental treatment are playing a losing game by attempting to use their dental insurance," Turner said. "AVI will be a place for people to go to receive outstanding treatment, using the latest in digital dental technology, at a more reasonable fee."

Here's what else: The new practice will leverage 3D scanning and printing to improve precision and speed up smile design — in some cases enabling same-day solutions.

• AVI's full range of services includes veneers, crowns, bridges, dental implants, implant dentures and full-mouth restorations (sometimes called "All-On-X").
• Worth a mention: Unlike Dentistry on Monroe, AVI won't offer routine cleanings or exams. Instead, the focus will stay on patients with more extensive treatment needs.

The takeaway: Dental care doesn't have to be a tradeoff between cost and quality. AVI is breaking the mold by offering Charlotte-area patients a more transparent, attainable path to top-notch care.

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