As a general practice, we are proud to serve everyone from young families to seniors and everyone in between. Dr. Hawkins founded our practice in December of 2002. Since then, she has gathered an exceptional group of friendly, skilled dental professionals to work alongside her. Our team has decades of combined experience in a variety of services ranging from preventive dentistry to restorative treatments to cosmetic enhancements. At Smiles on the Boulevard, you can achieve the bright, healthy smile of your dreams!
Because we are determined to provide the highest quality care possible, we have invested in some of the best dental technologies on the market! These include digital X-rays, digital intraoral imaging, CEREC software, and Solea laser technology. Digital imaging such as X-rays and intraoral scans allow us to take a closer look at your teeth, jaw, and throat with safer, more environmentally-friendly equipment. With CEREC 3D printing software, we can design, create, and place beautiful, custom dental crowns in a single visit! Dental lasers such as the Solea laser also help us provide treatment more quickly, efficiently, and with less discomfort.
To ensure we can provide excellent care to everyone in our community, we are proud to accept a variety of dental insurances. We will even help you with your paperwork and file your claim for you so you can focus on your health! For those who are underinsured, we also accept a variety of direct payment options and have in-office membership plans.
Dr. Hawkins studied at West Virginia University School of Dentistry from 1995 to 1999. While there, she discovered a love for many aspects of the field, which convinced her that general dentistry was her thing. Upon graduating in 1999, Dr. Hawkins earned senior awards in prosthodontics, pediatric dentistry, general dentistry, and academics.
A licensed dentist since 1999, she started as an associate then opened Hawkins Family Dentistry in December 2002. Dr. Hawkins expanded into a newly constructed, 4,500 square foot building under the Smiles on the Boulevard moniker in January 2020.
We are proud to offer a variety of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic treatments. Our preventive services include fillings, extractions, sealants, and fluoride treatments. With these options, you can strengthen your enamel, reduce your risk of cavities, and protect your teeth and gums from harmful illnesses. If you have experienced an accident or are suffering from an oral health problem, we can restore your smile and help you feel as good as new! Our restorative services include implants, dentures, dental bridges, anterior root canals, and more. If you are uncomfortable or self-conscious about the appearance of your smile, we can straighten, whiten, or adjust the shape of your teeth. Customize your appearance at Smiles on the Boulevard!
Led by Dr. Lori A. Hawkins, Smiles on the Boulevard is welcoming new patients to our Belpre, Ohio office. If you were a patient at our previous office, Hawkins Family Dentistry, give us a call to come to see us at our new location!
Dr. Hawkins undergraduate degree surprises many, as it is in communications/journalism. She graduated from Bethany College in 1990 where her studies were concentrated in anything but the sciences. It was when she was working as a reporter/city editor for a small daily newspaper in the coalfields of southern West Virginia that she had her first serious interaction with the dental field.
Having had dental insurance for the first time in her life while working in Williamson, Dr. Hawkins put herself through braces and endured surgery to fix her occlusion, or bite. She found the orthodontist and oral surgeon to be wonderful inspirations. Thats when Dr. Hawkins decided that she wanted to work with people and be a positive influence in their lives like those two very influential dentists.
After her jaw surgery in 1993, Dr. Hawkins moved to Parkersburg, WV to work fulltime at the newspaper. And, while working evenings as features editor and copy editor, she attended WVU-Parkersburg in the morning and earned all the pre-requisite science credits needed to apply to dental school.
At Smiles on the Boulevard, we recommend that our patients come to visit us at least every six months. Biannual visits help Dr. Hawkins and her team keep your smile clean while checking for signs of potential problems. The earlier we can catch a health issue, such as oral cancer, tooth decay, or gum disease, the better chance we have of successfully treating it.
Having a great at-home oral hygiene routine is a necessary part of maintaining a healthy smile. To take care of your teeth between visits, Dr. Hawkins recommends brushing at least two times per day with a soft-bristled brush and toothpaste that contains fluoride. It is also important to floss regularly to clean the spaces between your teeth.
Dr. Hawkins also recommends that patients do not chew on hard foods or objects like ice to prevent cracks, chips, and breaks. To keep your teeth bright and healthy-looking, do not consume too many darkly-colored foods and drinks such as coffee, tea, and wine. It is also important to avoid tobacco products, as these can cause significant oral health problems.
It is important to establish a good hygiene routine with your child. Encourage them to brush their teeth often especially after eating sugary foods. Bring your child to the dentist at least two times per year for a check-up and cleaning. The earlier we can catch a cavity, the easier it will be to treat! During your next visit, ask Dr. Hawkins about the benefits of sealant and fluoride treatments. Sealants and fluoride are inexpensive and incredibly effective against cavities.
During your childs early visits, we will monitor the growth of their baby teeth to ensure they are coming in properly. We will also use this time to get them used to our office. By playing games and letting them ride up and down in the dental chair, we can help your child feel comfortable and at ease.
At Smiles on the Boulevard, we are proud to accept most major dental insurances. We accept Delta Dental, Cigna, Guardian, MetLife, United Concordia, Aetna, and many others. We can also help patients set up a CareCredit account if they are under-insured or do not have coverage. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept CareSource or Medicaid.