A reception to honor Dr. Steven Bohl, retiring from dentistry after 45 years, will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, at his dental practice, 848 Scioto St., Urbana.

Drs. Annette Bauer and Justin Beck and the staff of the dental practice are hosting the reception and invite the public to join them in celebrating his career and wishing him well on his retirement.

Bohl’s last day of practicing dentistry will be Dec. 29.

A 1965 Urbana High School graduate, Bohl attended Miami University, then graduated from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 1972. He joined the dental practice of his father, Dr. Charles Bohl, in August 1972.

Bohl and his late wife, Betsy, received the county Chamber of Commerce’s Volunteer of the Year Award in 2014 for their commitment to numerous local organizations and activities, including the Simon Kenton Pathfinders, the Champaign Family YMCA and the county Arts Council.

“It’s been good,” Bohl said of his dental career and added that the time has gone by quickly.

He said dentistry has come a long way over the last 45 years and people appear to be taking better care of themselves.

“It’s been fun to watch (dentistry) evolve,” he said, noting the introduction of fluoride in the mid-1950s increased dental health significantly.

“It’s made a lot of difference,” he said. Before people started using fluoride, he said, it was not unusual for high school students to need dentures, but now most people keep their teeth throughout their life.

Besides watching the progression of dentistry, Bohl said he appreciates the relationships he’s built with his patients and the opportunity for his practice to help them.

“It’s been a pleasure working with everybody,” he said, adding that he’ll miss that interaction.

While there are things he will miss, he says he looks forward to having more time for other pursuits. “There will be time for more traveling, spending time with the grandkids and (catching up with) household projects and yard work.”