Meet the Doctors

Dr. Steven Wright

Dr. Steven Wright earned his undergraduate degree from Wesley College graduating summa cum laude with a major in psychology and a double minor in music theory and chemistry. Dr. Wright graduated from Temple University’s Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dental Medicine in 2002. Having passed the Delaware board in his senior year, he then went on to a general practice residency at Christiana Care Health System at Wilmington Hospital. Dr. Wright was fortunate to join his father in practice and to enjoy a close working relationship until Dr. Bruce Wright’s retirement in 2016.

Professionally Dr. Steve Wright enjoys all aspects of dentistry with an emphasis on surgical and cosmetic dentistry. Throughout his career he has sought out and studied from some of the greatest minds in the modern dental field, logging 200 + hours of continuing education per year. Dr. Wright and his Maplewood partner, Dr. Luckenbaugh practice dentistry using a unique, risk-based model that applies science to further the pursuit of highly esthetic, long-term results.

Dr. Wright is a member of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, the Academy of Osseointegration, the Kent Sussex Dental Society, the American Dental Association, and the Spear Education Faculty Club.

Born in Sussex County, Dr. Wright grew up taking advantage of all the outdoor recreational activities that majestic, coastal Delaware offers. Today he and his wife, Renee, still live in his beloved coastal Delaware with their two dogs, a too-smart-for-his-own-good Portuguese water dog, named Bay and his hunting/fishing partner, a Chesapeake Bay retriever, named Keely.

Dr. Dan Luckenbaugh

Dr. Dan Luckenbaugh earned his Bachelor of Science from Messiah College graduating magna cum laude. Balancing the rigors of a biology major, Dr. Luckenbaugh played four years of intercollegiate athletics on the men’s soccer team. Upon completion of his undergraduate studies, He began his dental education at the University of Maryland Dental School in Baltimore. Following dental school, he was accepted into a general practice residency at Christiana Care Health System at Wilmington Hospital. While there, Dr. Luckenbaugh began to hone his skills, focusing on restorative, cosmetic, periodontal and implant dentistry.

Realizing that dentistry is an ever-changing field, Dr. Luckenbaugh, and his Maplewood partner, Dr. Wright, consistently search out the highest level of continuing education offered across the country. Dr. Luckenbaugh enjoys the challenge of merging biology with art in order to provide the best functional and esthetic outcomes for his patients.

Enjoying many aspects of dentistry from surgical implant placement to veneers, Dr. Luckenbaugh has been a student of many of the top minds currently teaching in the field of advanced dental education. Specifically, for restorative/cosmetic rehabilitation, he has completed the prestigious Spear Education curriculum in Scottsdale, Arizona and currently remains active with the community, serving as a Faculty Club member. In addition to Spear Education, Dr. Luckenbaugh has also had the privilege of learning under the tutelage of Dr. John C. Kois in Seattle, Washington. This advanced continuing education has provided Dr. Luckenbaugh with the utmost confidence in both diagnosing and treatment planning complexities in cosmetics and severe wear cases.

Implant dentistry has become a standard of care for tooth replacement in our current climate. Along with Dr. Wright, Dr. Luckenbaugh completed the Columbia University Implantology Continuum in New York in 2014. Led by leading implant clinician and researcher, Dr. Dennis P. Tarnow, this series of instruction included training in implant placement (utilizing cone beam 3D imaging) in the nuances of successfully restoring implants in the esthetic zone.

Dr. Luckenbaugh is a member of the American Dental Association, the Delaware State Dental Society, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.

He resides in Rehoboth Beach with his wife, Meredith, their daughter, Sloane, and their miniature schnauzer, Sophie. Not only do the Luckenbaughs love all the recreational activities that a beach town has to offer, but they also enjoy hanging out with friends and family at all the fantastic restaurants found in the area.

Dr. Katherine Townsend

Dr. Katherine Townsend is a Delaware native, originally from Middletown, DE. She received her degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Delaware in 2008. Dr. Townsend continued her education at the Temple University School of Dentistry where she also completed a mission trip to Jamaica, providing dental care to those in need. After dental school, she was accepted into the Christiana Care General Practice Residency program in Wilmington, DE. After completing her training, Dr. Townsend worked for several years at Westside family Healthcare, a non-profit organization dedicated to treating the underserved communities. She continues to stay active in the community by working as a contracted dentist for the military, providing exams and treatment to service men and women of the Delaware Air National Guard.

In order to better serve her patients, Dr. Townsend stays current in the field of dentistry with continuing education courses, including advanced courses at the Spear Education Institute. She is a member of the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry and the Delaware State Dental Society. Outside of the office, Dr. Townsend can be found running, biking or traveling with her husband.

Dr. Dustin B. Venables

Dr. Dustin Venables is a Sussex County native, raised in Laurel, DE with his summers spent in Bethany Beach. He received his Bachelors degree in Exercise Science from the University of Delaware in 2016 where he graduated Suma Cum Laude. He then attended Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry where he graduated Suma Cum Laude and was elected into OKU Honor Society Kappa Kappa Chapter. He continued his dental training at St. Luke’s General Practice Residency in Allentown, PA where he gained experience in all aspects of dentistry including restorative, cosmetic, surgical, endodontics, and implant dentistry. 

Dr. Venables strongly believes in the importance of continuing education to provide the best possible care to his patients and to stay current in an evolving field. This includes attending advanced courses at the Spear Education Institute. He also has a passion for giving back to his community and is excited to participate in community events providing dentistry to underserved populations.

He is pleased to be back home where he enjoys all the outdoors that Sussex County has to offer. In his free time Dr. Venables enjoys spending time on the water with friends/family, exercising, and exploring all walks of nature with his two dogs. 

Dr. Katelyn Vincent

Dr. Katelyn Vincent is a local to the area, having grown up in Dewey Beach and attending school in the Cape Henlopen district. She earned her Bachelor of Science from High Point University in North Carolina, graduating magna cum laude with a major in Biology and minor in Studio Art. She then moved to Glendale, Arizona where she earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine at Midwestern University – College of Dental Medicine. She completed her general practice residency at Upstate Health Care Center in Syracuse, New York. 

Dr. Vincent is known for her gentle touch which helps her patients feel comfortable and relaxed in the dental setting. She enjoys using her background in art and implementing it into the esthetics of cosmetic dentistry. 

Dr. Vincent is a member of the American Dental Association, Delaware State Dental Society, and Kent/Sussex Dental Society. She especially enjoys continuing her education by taking workshops through world acclaimed leaders in the dental profession, including Frank Spear.

She has a love for travel which can be attested by her choice of various locations in her post secondary education, and she has traveled to more than 15 countries and visited 48 of the 50 United States! But she always told her family that one day she would return to her roots. She currently resides in Lewes with her husband and their recently rescued mini sheepadoodle who they absolutely adore! She appreciates all things that the beach and boat life offer in our area. She also enjoys leisurely biking the local trails, listening to live music, reading a good mystery book, and spending quality time with her family and friends

Dr. Stephanie Smith

Dr. Stephanie Smith graduated from the University of Maryland with a major in neurobiology and physiology along with a minor in general business studies. Dr. Smith continued her education at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry where she graduated magna cume laude and was inducted into the Gorgas Honors Society and Gamma Pi Delta Prosthodontic Society. She continued her clinical training through the Christiana Care hospital system in a general practice residency which emphasized skills in dental implantology, endodontics, prosthodontics, dental surgery, and restorative dentistry.

To remain current in the constantly evolving field of dentistry, Dr. Smith engages in continuing education courses offered by the Spear Education Institute. As a part of the community, Stephanie represents her profession as a member of the American Dental Association, Delaware State Dental Society and the Kent Sussex Dental Society.

Growing up on the Chesapeake Bay and originating from Elk Neck, Stephanie developed a love of spending time on the water. Dr. Smith enjoys exploring new countries, hiking the national parks, and spending time with her pets (Saide, Gus, and Arnold). She is thrilled to call Sussex County her new home!