At Cornerstone Dental Associates, we believe dental health is essential for maintaining optimal health. With the most up-to-date comprehensive approach to dental care, your beautiful smile will always be the “cornerstone” for your confidence and overall health.
We’re not your “average” dental office due to our advanced technology, highly trained staff through continued education training, and our LEED certified building.
At Cornerstone, we believe everyone deserves a healthy smile—and we’re here to help you achieve it. Our in-house membership plan is designed to help cash-paying patients and families receive the care they deserve with exclusive savings.
Being environmentally conscious is important to us. Our building uses less water and energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Teresa, our Insurance Specialist, is here to help!
Dr. Kendalyn Lutz-Craver, Dr. Sara Hammel Karner, and Dr. Lauren Massey-Williams
Preventive Dentistry is our goal for every patient. It involves daily care, good nutrition, and periodic hygiene therapy to maintain good dental health. Preventive dentistry may not be where we start with every patient, but it is where we like to finish.
Restorative Dentistry is basic repair of the mouth. We mend broken or leaking fillings, build crowns and bridges, fit partials and dentures, as well as realign your bite. Where necessary, gum disease is treated, or root canal therapy is recommended. The prevailing belief behind restorative dentistry is a simple one: you can keep all of your teeth for all of your life.
Cosmetic Dentistry is all about the appearance of your smile! Whether it’s veneers, teeth straightening or teeth whitening, we have the technology to bring your confidence back.
Our annual staff Christmas outing is one of our favorite traditions! This year, our doctors surprised the team with a peaceful, well-deserved day at Rock
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Today, we had the honor of delivering 450 toys to Jefferson Elementary School as part of Shelby
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our “Gobble & Give” Cleveland County Chamber Business After Hours last night! We loved hosting our local
This month, Dr. Massey-Williams visited the Dentsply Sirona Academy in Charlotte, serving as a mentor for their Orthodontics 1 course! We’re proud of her dedication
Below is a form that you may need to bring with you. Feel free to print off a copy prior to your appointment, or arrive early to fill out in our office. Click on the form title to download the form.
This is our notice of our privacy practices.
Now accepting Cherry payment plans!
Treat yourself now and pay later with Cherry! Get preapproved before your next appointment. Applying won’t harm your credit!
Attention Delta Dental patients: Please be advised that our dental clinic will no longer be accepting any new patients covered by Delta Dental. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused!
Cornerstone Dental Associates
Originally from Clayton, NC, Dr. Sara Hammel Karner and her husband, Kevin, are proud to call Cleveland County home. They enjoy raising their three sons—Pierce, Grey, and Rory—in such a welcoming and close-knit community.
Dr. Karner earned her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from North Carolina State University and her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is passionate about delivering comprehensive, patient-centered dental care and remains committed to staying at the forefront of advancements in the field.
Through ongoing continuing education, Dr. Karner has trained with leading experts, including Dr. Frank Spear at the Scottsdale Center for Dentistry, and has completed advanced coursework with CDOCS and the Clinical Mastery Series. She is proficient in utilizing the Solea Laser for hard and soft tissue procedures, is a Healthy Start Provider, and is actively pursuing expertise in dental sleep medicine as a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.
Dr. Karner’s dedication to service extends beyond her practice. She completed advanced implant and surgical training under Dr. Arun Garg, joining his team on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic where she provided free dental implants, sinus lifts, and other complex procedures for patients in need. Locally, she participates in the Piedmont Comprehensive Dental Seminars study club and serves in leadership roles within professional organizations including the Isothermal Dental Society (Secretary), North Carolina Dental Society, Academy of General Dentistry, American Dental Association, and as a Fellow of the International Dental Implant Association.
She is also a committed volunteer with the Dental Lifeline Network, providing free dental care to underserved patients annually. As a university mentor for North Carolina State University, she guides pre-dental students and participates in panel discussions to help prepare the next generation of dental professionals.
Active in her community, Dr. Karner has served on the Cleveland County Board of Health since 2017, becoming Co-Chair in 2020 and Chair in 2022. She has been a dedicated member of the Junior Charity League of Shelby for over a decade, contributing through grant writing, committee leadership, and efforts to clothe children in need. Her community involvement also includes past membership in the Shelby Civitan Club and service on the American Heart Association Heart Ball Planning Committee, where she was Co-Chair in 2019.
Currently participating in the Townsend Leadership Program, Dr. Karner continues to invest in her personal and professional growth. She and her husband are proud to support future students through the Karner and Lutz-Craver Scholarship for Dental Students at UNC-Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry and the Sara and Kevin Karner Biological Sciences Endowment at NC State University.
Dr. Kendalyn Lutz-Craver is not just a dentist, but a beacon of leadership, compassion, and community involvement. Born on June 27, 1978, in Lumberton, NC, to Earl H. Lutz, Jr. and Bea A. Lutz, Dr. Lutz-Craver embodies the values of service, dedication, and excellence.
After graduating from Shelby High School in 1996, where she was recognized as the Junior Miss of Cleveland County and the runner-up for NC Junior Miss, Dr. Lutz-Craver pursued her academic passions at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1999, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, followed by her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 2003, also from UNC-CH.
Dr. Lutz-Craver’s professional journey began as an associate dentist at William R. Henshaw DDS PA in Shelby from 2003 to 2004. In 2005, she founded Kendalyn Lutz-Craver DDS PA, a practice dedicated to providing exceptional dental care to the community. Her vision and dedication led to the expansion of her practice into Cornerstone Dental Associates on Fallston Road in 2010, where she constructed the first LEED Silver Certified building in Cleveland County.
At Cornerstone Dental Associates, Dr. Lutz-Craver is joined by partners Dr. Sara Karner and Dr. Lauren Massey-Williams, along with a team of over 25 employees, serving communities across Cleveland, Lincoln, Gaston, and Rutherford counties.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Dr. Lutz-Craver is deeply involved in numerous associations, institutes, and civic activities. She has served as the past President of the Cleveland County Arts Council, past membership chair of the Shelby Breakfast Rotary, past Chair of the Cleveland County Board of Health, past President of the Dover YMCA Board, and YMCA Association Board member. Additionally, she has been active in various capacities at the Episcopal Church of The Redeemer, Cleveland Country Club Board as Vice President, Jefferson Elementary School PTO as past President, and Shelby Intermediate School PTO as past President.
Dr. Lutz-Craver’s commitment to community service extends globally, with volunteer work in dental missions in the Dominican Republic and support for initiatives such as the UNC-CH Kendalyn Lutz-Craver and J. Newton Craver II Family Study Abroad Scholarship and the UNC-CH School of Dentistry Karner and Lutz-Craver Scholarship for Dental Students. She is also actively involved in various community organizations and events, providing sponsorships for initiatives such as the American Legion World Series, the Livermush Festival, and community food drives.
Furthermore, Dr. Lutz-Craver is dedicated to empowering women and has been involved in organizations such as Shelby Women for Progress and the Cleveland County Daughters of the American Revolution Benjamin Cleveland Chapter. She was recently the recipient of the 2024 Athena Award. This not only recognizes her outstanding achievements but also highlights the remarkable spirit of selflessness and dedication that defines our community, showcasing inspiring examples of individuals whose efforts contribute to enhancing the quality of life for all.
Through her generosity, dedication, and leadership, Dr. Kendalyn Lutz-Craver continues to make a profound impact on the lives of individuals and communities, embodying the spirit of service and leadership in everything she does.
