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LAPLACE — Dr. Erika Peters of Poetic Smiles in LaPlace understands it’s common to feel nervous when visiting the dentist. She makes it her mission to walk patients through the process to ease fear and understand where their anxiety is coming from.

Dental health is integral to overall health and wellness, according to Dr. Peters, and it has the added benefit of boosting self-confidence.

“I knew I wanted to be a dentist from the time I was in high school,” Dr. Peters said. “Through dentistry and orthodontics, I gained a lot more self-confidence, and I wanted to help others boost their self-esteem by giving them the confidence of a smile.”

The LaPlace practice has delivered quality dental care to generations of River Parish residents in a comfortable and convenient setting for nearly 40 years. Dr. Kent Mauduit started practicing at the 429 W. Airline Highway location in 1983, continued working until his retirement in 2018.

Dr. Robert D. Ory and Dr. Benjamin M. Ory purchased the practice, building upon a four-generation family tradition of practicing dentistry in the River Region that has spanned more than 100 years.

Dr. Robert Ory and Dr. Benjamin Ory also operate Ory Family Dentistry at 430 W. Fifth Street in LaPlace. They have served as mentors to Dr. Peters, who has worked full-time at Poetic Smiles since August 2018.

Dr. Peters graduated from the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry in 2016. She is a 2008 alumna of St. Charles Catholic High School in LaPlace, and she always knew that she wanted to practice close to home.

According to Dr. Peters, Poetic Smiles stands apart with its family atmosphere and long history of being part of the community. Staff members connect with patients on a personal level and offer clear communication while meeting individualized needs.

“I know almost every person who comes here. I’m related to half the patients who come here. It’s nice to connect with everyone through community events. The people here are not just patients; they are people I interact with every day,” Dr. Peters said.

Dr. Peters has previously volunteered with the Special Olympics locally. Prior to COVID-19, she would venture into the elementary schools to provide dental hygiene education, and she plans to continue the tradition once life regains a semblance of normalcy.

“Dental health is not just dealing with your mouth. It really is connected to your whole body,” Dr. Peters said. “There have been studies showing that periodontal health is linked to heart disease. You have to keep your mouth healthy in order to keep the rest of your body healthy.”

Services offered at Poetic Smiles in LaPlace include preventative care and cleanings, fillings, crowns, bridges, veneers, implants, teeth whitening, clear liners, snoring and sleep apnea appliances, Botox and fillers, root canals, extractions and dentures. Team members conduct blood pressure and oral cancer screenings during routine visits. With COVID-19 still spreading in the community, the office staff is also conducting temperature checks upon entry.

Another service offered at Poetic Smiles is periodontal cleanings. While a typical cleaning is something patients are advised to get every six months to maintain dental health, periodontal cleanings clear significant build-up beneath the gums to bring the mouth back to a healthy state.

“I always try to talk patients through what I do. We don’t do anything a patient is uncomfortable with,” Peters said. “We go very slowly to try to understand where their anxiety is coming from and put them at ease. We do also offer nitrous oxide sedation, which helps patients if they are anxious. It’s very common for the first visit to just involve talking.”

Poetic Smiles has received positive feedback within the community. One patient. Brandon D., commented, “Keep up the good work with being fast, proficient, clean and friendly.”

Another patient, Ann C., said she has had positive experiences during her dental appointments.

“The staff is always polite and friendly,” she said. “Dr. Peters was very knowledgeable and was able to take care of my dental issue. I am very satisfied with the treatment I received.”
The Poetic Smiles dental team has more than 250 years of combined dental experience. Prospective patients are asked to call 985-652-3121 to schedule an appointment. Patients should let the staff know if they are experiencing any pain or if it has been a long time since their previous appointment.

Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. For more information, visit laplacedentist.com.