There is a particular kind of confidence that comes from a smile you’re proud of. Dr. Candice Vinson has understood this her entire life. Growing up in Valdosta, she watched both of her parents undergo full-mouth rehabilitation, and when that happened, for the first time, she witnessed her father smile with true confidence. That was a moment she’d always remember.
“I had never seen my dad smile so confidently before,” she recalls. “Seeing what dentistry could do — not just physically, but emotionally — that’s what drew me to this field.”
Dr. Vinson went on to study at College of Charleston, where she fell in love with the city and planted roots that would define her career. She pursued her graduate studies at Medical University of South Carolina, where the discipline of prosthodontics — the specialty dedicated to the restoration and replacement of teeth to improve oral function and aesthetics — distinguished itself as the ideal intersection of artistry and medicine.
For Dr. Vinson, it was a natural fit: a field that demanded precision and creativity in equal measure, while offering the rare opportunity to transform not just a patient’s appearance, but their sense of self.
In 2018, she opened Advanced Dentistry with a clear vision. The office would feel nothing like a traditional dental practice. No cold, clinical interiors. No rushed appointments. No revolving door of unfamiliar faces. Instead, Dr. Vinson envisioned an intimate, boutique environment — one where patients felt genuinely seen and unhurried.
“We help patients overcome dental anxiety by slowing down,” she explains. “Whether someone comes in for a routine cleaning or a full-mouth restoration, we take the time to truly listen.”
That philosophy extends to how she built her team. From the beginning, Dr. Vinson surrounded herself with people who share her commitment to excellence and her belief that a supportive workplace translates directly into exceptional patient care. The result is a staff that functions less like colleagues and more like a close-knit community — one whose warmth is immediately felt the moment a patient walks through the door.
As the practice has grown, Dr. Vinson has been deliberate about expanding her team in ways that preserve that culture. Recent additions — including a new associate dentist, a dental hygienist, a treatment coordinator, and a dental assistant — allow her to dedicate more time and focus to complex cosmetic and prosthetic cases.
Dr. Vinson’s work requires the advanced training of a prosthodontist, though many patients receive treatment without fully realizing the level of specialized expertise behind their care.
“Most patients aren’t aware that they’re being treated by a specialist,” Dr. Vinson notes. “But that expertise is exactly what allows us to take on the cases other offices can’t — and deliver beautiful outcomes.”
The newest member of Advanced Dentistry’s clinical team, Dr. Emily Coughlin, brings her own quiet dedication to the practice. A native of the Charlotte area, Dr. Coughlin completed her undergraduate studies at Appalachian State University before earning her dental degree at MUSC — the same institution where Dr. Vinson trained.
For nearly seven years, she built her clinical experience at a practice in Charleston, developing a particular affinity for crown and bridge work while maintaining a broad scope of general dentistry.
Dr. Coughlin’s decision to join Advanced Dentistry was, in many ways, an easy one. Mount Pleasant is home — she and her family live nearby in Carolina Park, and the city’s pace and character suit her well. When the opportunity to work closer to home presented itself, and Dr. Coughlin learned about the practice’s dedication to patient-focused care and clinical excellence, the alignment felt natural.
“The atmosphere Dr. Vinson has created is something special,” Dr. Coughlin says. “It’s calm, warm, and family-oriented — and that energy carries over to the patients. They’re appreciative. They’re happy to be here. That matters.”
At its core, Advanced Dentistry is the embodiment of a simple but powerful belief: that exceptional care and genuine human connection are not mutually exclusive — they are inseparable.
Dr. Candice Vinson set out to build something different, and by every measure, she has. For the patients who walk through her doors — whether seeking a routine visit or a complete transformation — what they find is a team that treats every smile as a work of art, and every person behind it as worthy of their very best.
Advanced Dentistry is located in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, in The Market at Oakland.
To learn more or to request an appointment, visit AdvancedDentistryMtP.com or call/text (843) 936-1690