Maplewood Dental welcomes new dentist

Maplewood Dental welcomed a new dentist to the practice when Dr. Dan Luckenbaugh, 29, joined the staff Aug. 1. Luckenbaugh was hired as Maplewood prepares for the retirement of Dr. Thomas Conley, who expects to leave the practice early next year.

A pre-med graduate of Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, Pa., Luckenbaugh took two years off to work as a builder in Berlin, Md., where his parents live.

He said he fell in love with the beach areas and knew when he settled down it would be near the water.

While considering what area of medicine to specialize in, Luckenbaugh met a dentist who encouraged him to go back to school for dentistry, a suggestion Luckenbaugh soon took up.

"I liked the technical aspect of dentistry because I like working with my hands," said Luckenbaugh, who attended the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, graduating in 2012.

Luckenbaugh accepted a general dentistry residency through Christiana Care in Wilmington.

"The residency program allows you to network and get a feel for practices in the region," Luckenbaugh said. "I heard about practices that were looking for people, and I sent out my resumes."

Dr. Steve Wright of Maplewood Dental said the practice has been expanding for years and started looking for a new dentist when they learned of Dr. Conley's plans to retire.

"It was a good fit," Luckenbaugh said. "There is a huge need for dentists in this area."

"He will do everything we do, which is everything except braces," Wright said.

Luckenbaugh's wife, Meredith, is finishing up a pediatrics degree in Baltimore and will soon join him in the Cape Region.

The couple plans to purchase a home in the Lewes or Rehoboth area in the coming year.

"We want to be rooted in the community," Luckenbaugh said. "I look forward to building relationships with my new patients."

Maplewood Dental's philosophy is to treat patients comprehensively and help raise awareness of oral healthcare.

Maplewood Dental is at 18913 John J. Williams Highway, Rehoboth Beach. For more information or to make an appointment, call 302-645-6671.