Dentist Near Newport, DE
There is an old connection between Newport and the corner where our office stands. Route 41 is called Newport Gap Pike because it began as the Gap and Newport Turnpike, chartered in 1808 to link Gap, Pennsylvania with the shipping wharves on the Christina River here in Newport. Gawlas Family Dental sits at 25 Milltown Road, a few hundred yards off that same pike, about nine minutes from the middle of town.
Newport is small — under half a square mile, fewer than a thousand residents at the 2020 census, cut in two by Route 141. Most of what a household needs sits just outside the town line, and for dental care that works in your favor: our office is close enough to reach on a lunch break, and far enough west that you are driving away from the I-95 and Route 141 interchanges rather than into them.
We are an independent, family-owned practice offering general, cosmetic, restorative, preventive and emergency dentistry to patients of every age.
An Independent Practice, Not a Chain
Gawlas Family Dental has served patients under its current ownership since 2021, when Dr. Matthew Gawlas purchased the practice from Dr. Todd Rowen. Dr. Rowen had already spent approximately 40 years caring for patients at this location, and nearly the entire team remained with the practice through the transition.
That continuity matters to patients who want to know the people providing their care. Dr. Gawlas has family ties to the area and is raising four children close to their grandparents.
Many of our patients want an independent dental practice where decisions about care are made by their dentist rather than a large corporate chain. Gawlas Family Dental is a member of the Independent Dental Society of Delaware, a group of independent dentists working to keep quality dental care accessible and affordable.
Newport patients can keep cleanings, fillings, crowns, cosmetic work and sudden problems in one chart at one address instead of being referred around.
Our Dental Services
General Dentistry
Routine care that keeps teeth and gums healthy and catches problems early.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Treatments addressing the color, shape, spacing, and appearance of your teeth.
Restorative Dentistry
Repairing damage from decay, infection, injury, grinding, and everyday wear.
Preventive Care
Services that reduce the risk of future problems and catch changes early.
How to Get Here From Newport
Gawlas Family Dental
25 Milltown Road
Wilmington, DE 19808
The Boxwood Road route: from Market Street, work your way out to Route 4 and pick up Boxwood Road, which is Route 62. Follow it northwest past the old General Motors plant site — now an Amazon fulfillment center — and the Conrad Schools of Science. Route 62 changes its name to Newport Gap Pike before it ends at Kirkwood Highway in Prices Corner. Cross onto Route 41 and Milltown Road is the first left.
The Route 141 route: if you are already on 141, take it north to Kirkwood Highway and head west to the Prices Corner intersection, then north on Route 41 to Milltown Road. This one is faster when Boxwood Road has shift traffic on it and slower at rush hour.
Worth knowing: both routes converge at the same Prices Corner intersection, so if that light is backed up, neither choice helps. Our hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the middle of the day is consistently the easiest window.
Parking is free and on our own lot, with handicap-accessible spaces at the door.
Newport Patients and Why They Come This Way
Newport has been a town since 1735, when John Justis laid it out for trade on the Christina, and it still behaves like one: a compact grid of streets, a volunteer fire company still carrying the Minquas name from the people who lived along this river before the town existed, an elementary school — Richey — sitting in the middle of the town rather than off on an arterial. People know each other here, and they tend to pick a dentist the same way they pick a mechanic, by asking a neighbor.
That suits us. We are a family practice that stayed independent through a change of ownership, and a fair share of our Newport patients arrived on somebody’s recommendation rather than through an insurance directory.
We also see plenty of people who live in Newport and work north or east of it — along the Boxwood Road employers, in Wilmington, or out toward Christiana. For them the office is a detour of a few minutes, not a trip.
Dental Care for Patients Without Insurance
Gawlas Family Dental offers the Smile 365 Dental Discount Plan for qualifying patients without dental insurance. The plan provides included preventive services and reduced fees on additional eligible care for an annual membership fee.
Smile 365 is a dental discount plan rather than insurance. There are no yearly maximums, deductibles, claim forms, preauthorizations, preexisting-condition limitations, or waiting periods. Please review current plan terms and eligibility with our office before enrolling.
We currently accept Aetna Extend, United Concordia, and Delaware Children’s Medicaid, along with all standard forms of payment. Because insurance participation can change, contact the office to confirm current acceptance and coverage before scheduling treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to drive from Newport to your office?
About nine minutes from the center of town in normal conditions, covering a little under three miles. The address is 25 Milltown Road, Wilmington, DE 19808.
Which road should I actually take?
Boxwood Road, Route 62, is the most direct — it runs from the Route 4 area in Newport northwest to Prices Corner, where it meets Kirkwood Highway as Newport Gap Pike. From there it is a short hop north on Route 41 and a left onto Milltown Road. Route 141 north to Kirkwood Highway is the alternative.
Do you take Delaware Children’s Medicaid?
Yes. We accept Delaware Children’s Medicaid, along with Aetna Extend and United Concordia, and we take standard forms of payment. If you have no dental insurance at all, ask about our Smile 365 discount plan.
Is parking available at the dental office?
Yes. Gawlas Family Dental has a free on-site parking lot for patients, including handicap-accessible parking.
Can I call the office for a dental emergency?
Yes. Call the office immediately if you are experiencing a dental emergency. We try to reserve room in our schedule for urgent needs and will make every reasonable effort to see you as soon as possible.
Does Gawlas Family Dental offer a membership plan?
Yes. The Smile 365 Dental Discount Plan helps qualifying patients without dental insurance receive included preventive care and save on additional eligible services. Contact the office for current pricing and complete plan terms.
Make an Appointment From Newport
Call 302-994-5887 or send a request online. New patients from Newport and the surrounding Christina River communities are welcome, and we keep room in the week for people who need to be seen quickly.