Nestled near the shores of Lake Norman, Dr. Ashley Collins has crafted more than just a career in dentistry—she’s built a ministry of care, compassion, and unwavering faith. As the owner of Collins Family Dentistry and Dreams Dental Sleep Center, both housed in The Wellness Center in Denver, Dr. Collins’ journey from a small-town girl to a pioneering dental sleep specialist is nothing short of inspiring.
“I was born in Charlotte, but I grew up outside Wilmington in a little coastal community called Scotts Hill,” Dr. Collins recalls with a warm smile. “It was the kind of place where kids rode bikes, swam, and played outdoors without a care in the world. My grandfather was the minister at Scotts Hill Baptist, and I had a wonderful childhood.”
At age 11, Dr. Collins and her mother moved to Lincolnton where she started middle school before finishing high school at Maiden High. “My mom was a single parent from the time I was 2,” she reflects. “She, along with my grandparents and the close-knit communities we lived in, gave me so much love and support. I never felt like I was missing anything.”
Her academic path led her to Lenoir-Rhyne College where she majored in biology and minored in chemistry. She was part of Kappa Delta Sorority, serving as secretary and president. Although that experience taught her invaluable lessons about leadership and community service, she was unsure of her career path.
“I considered medicine,” she shares, “because I felt a strong calling to help others, but I also wanted a family. The demanding hours of a medical career made me reconsider. After shadowing a family friend who was a dentist, it clicked almost instantly. Dentistry was challenging yet rewarding, and it fulfilled my creative nature, my love for problem-solving, and my desire to help others.”
After receiving a full scholarship from the Board of Governors, Dr. Collins attended the UNC-School of Dentistry, graduating in 2005. That same year, she married Andrew Lee. The couple faced a grueling battle with infertility, undergoing multiple procedures before welcoming their son, Zander, in 2011. Their family grew further through the adoption of Zane in 2016 and Zoe in 2017. “Zane and Zoe are biological siblings, which makes their adoption story even more special,” she says. “Living in Maiden, where we are active in our church community, has been a blessing for our children.”
Her career took an exciting turn in 2017 when she completed a mini-residency in dental sleep medicine. This allows dentists to provide sleep appliances for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea who can’t tolerate a CPAP. In 2021, she earned diplomate status from the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, the highest level of education in the field.
“I am most inspired by the life and love of Christ,” Dr. Collins smiles, “and I want patients to leave my office feeling better—emotionally, spiritually, physically, and certainly dentally. My number one desire is to be a shining light of Christ’s love. Many times, appointments are about more than just teeth. There’s laughter, sometimes tears, often prayer, and always hugs. It is the presence of Christ in our office that allows this privilege. Something magical and spiritual happens here every day, and sometimes multiple times per day. There is no way to put it into
words or to quantify it … it is a blessing and a dream come true to have this as my career, which I often view as a ministry. As the most recent and prominent example, I had a new patient come in last November who expressed to me that he was in kidney failure and in desperate need to find a donor. His faith was firm that God would provide him with this, and I immediately felt the calling to donate … I was the perfect match! On April 17, 2024, he and I had kidney surgery, and he is doing well! Only God could place a perfect match in my dental chair.”
Dr. Collins’ Earthly heroes are her mom, Susan, who taught her there’s nothing she can’t achieve; her husband who is her rock; her friend and office manager, Cindy, who made her promise to never stop growing; her team of co-workers who continue to show up for her in all areas of life; and of course, her patients. “I am extremely close to my patients,” she lovingly notes. “It’s amazing to see them grow up, graduate from college, get married, and now bring their children to me. It’s incredibly rewarding. We also have our dog, Goose, at work who sits on patients’ laps to calm fears. Earning trust is one of the biggest challenges in dentistry, and Goose helps bridge that gap.”
When she’s not practicing dentistry, Dr. Collins indulges her love for decorating. If she’s not remodeling the office, she is working on her home décor. For her, creating warm and inviting spaces is her own personal form of creativity, just like reconstructing smiles. She also has a passion for travel and recollects a particularly special voyage she took with her grandparents: “They took us on a world cruise. Andrew and I did the two-month leg from Florida to Australia, visiting South America, the Panama Canal, the French Polynesian Islands, New Zealand, and Australia. We’ve also done a Baltic cruise to Amsterdam, Sweden, Norway, and Russia.”
Looking back, Dr. Collins has many reasons to smile but she is most proud of her 20-year marriage and her children. “They are each so unique and wonderful,” she grins. “Professionally, I’m proud that my patients feel safe and at home in my office. My mission is simple. Every day, I ask for opportunities to show love, and I’m overwhelmed by what I’m presented with … life is an adventure, and I intend to live it fully while serving others with my whole heart.”