I love my new smile. I used to try to keep my mouth shut for photos, but not anymore! I have a new smile and a new look thanks to Dr. Elizabeth Holzhauer. I had a chipped front tooth and a gap (the size of the Grand Canyon) between my two front teeth, but not anymore. Now, my teeth look quite good and quite natural. Dr. Liz helped picked the color, and she did a great job, not only with the craftswomanship of getting the work done, but also with helping me pick the color and guiding me through the entire veneer process.”
West Hartford, CT, Avon, CT Cosmetic Dentist
Get to Know Elizabeth Dolan Holzhauer, DMD
Dr. Elizabeth Holzhauer (called “Dr. Liz” by our patients) is passionate about providing genuinely caring and quality dentistry in an environment of belonging and purpose. She loves being able to help boost a patient’s self-esteem using cosmetic dentistry. She is grateful to have seen many patients gain confidence through smile transformations over the years through cosmetic dentistry in West Hartford and Avon, and she’s eager to do the same for you.
Why did Dr. Liz Decide to Become a Dentist?
Dr. Liz was a pre-med major in college. While she had a deep love for medicine, she knew she needed to focus on a specialty that would allow her to work with her hands and create art as part of it. Fortunately, dentistry was the perfect fit.
Where did Dr. Liz Study Dentistry?
Dr. Liz graduated summa cum laude from the University of Notre Dame and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. She then went on to earn her dental degree from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine and was inducted into the OKU National Dental Honor Society. As a student, she received many awards and scholarships for academic and clinical excellence, including the Dr. Sidney Rafal Memorial Scholarship, UConn Alumni Scholarship Award, Dental Dean Merit Scholar Award, and the Opinsky Scholarship Award. Upon graduation, she was the recipient of the Academy of General Dentistry Award for Excellence in General Dentistry. She went on to further her dental education by completing a General Practice Residency at Hartford Hospital. There, she received the Dr. Dick D'Alessandro Award for clinical and professional excellence upon completion of her residency.
Dr. Liz has committed to continuing her education throughout her career. She is an active member in multiple local professional study clubs, pursues advanced training through SPEAR Education annually, has trained extensively with Invisalign (she is a certified Platinum Provider) and Bioclear. Dr. Liz has focused her continuing education on responsible esthetic dentistry, providing minimally invasive treatments to transform smiles. She is a certified HealthyStart provider dedicated to helping her pediatric patients sleep and breathe better using interceptive orthodontics and has trained through the American Academy of Facial Esthetics to use Botox for the treatment of TMJ disorder, orofacial pain, and smile enhancement. Dr. Liz is also a member of the clinical faculty at the UConn School of Dental Medicine where she serves as a mentor for dental students.
Today, Dr. Liz has been voted a Top Dentist in Connecticut Magazine every year since 2015 as well as a Top Dentist in Hartford Magazine every year since 2019. She is a member of multiple professional organizations:
- American Dental Association
- Connecticut State Dental Association
- Hartford Dental Society
- American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
- Academy of General Dentistry
- American Academy of Clear Aligners
- American Academy of Facial Esthetics
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SPEAR Education - Faculty Study Club
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AACA Invisalign Hartford Study Club
Outside of the Dental Office, What Does Dr. Liz Like to Do?
Dr. Liz was born in Wethersfield one day apart from her husband and fellow co-owner of Blue Back Dental, Dr. Tim Holzhauer, who grew up in nearby Newington. They didn’t meet until dental school and were married shortly after graduation. They now have two boys, Everett and Beau, whom they love more than words can describe. When she isn’t spending quality time with family, she likes to do abstract painting. She has always been interested in art, and the hobby started as a way to decorate the Avon office (you’ll find three of her works on display there). Since then, she has done commission work and has created paintings for colleagues looking to add some vibrancy and uniqueness to their own offices.
I have been on a lifelong dental journey. Before working with Dr. Liz, my dental health was impacting my overall confidence. Dr Liz was the first dental professional who took the time to understand how my dental health contributed to my overall well-being. By getting to know me as a person and then as a patient, I felt like she really had my best interest at heart, allowing me to trust her with my biggest dental insecurities. If you’re considering a new or different advocate for your dental experience, I would highly recommend Dr. Liz and her team at Blue Back Dental. I’m confident she will provide a similar standard of care that she’s provided me and my family.”
Five stars is not enough! I did months of research into choosing someone talented enough to cover my black triangle spaces using the Bioclear Matrix method. Luckily, I found Dr. Elizabeth Holzhauer. Her work is amazing, and my results far exceeded my expectations. I have gotten endless compliments on my new smile. It was absolutely worth commuting over two hours!”
I have a cleft lip and palate, a craniofacial defect that has led me to have braces for over a decade and numerous operations, so I am no stranger to the dental chair. Despite all of my treatments, I could never confidently say I was happy with my smile, that is, until I met Dr. Liz and her team at Blue Back Dental. Words cannot express how grateful I am for the team at Blue Back Dental for giving me back my smile. For 25 years, all I saw in the mirror was a cleft palate. Now, I see a future dentist who beams, proudly showing off her smile that’s ready to be a walking example for future patients facing similar dental adversity.”
Dr. Liz skillfully restored my smile back to what it once was, and I am eternally grateful.”
I have been going here for the past two years. Everyone at this practice is extremely skilled, accommodating, and super friendly. Overall, it’s the best experience that I have ever had at the dentist. Dr Liz is super detail oriented, knowledgeable, and thorough.”
In my experience, the quality of care is exceptional. The level of professionalism is outstanding. In addition, everyone is friendly, attentive, and works to make every appointment comfortable as well as informative. I have had many dentists in my life, and Dr. Elizabeth Holzhauer is without exception the best. Thank you to her and the entire staff.”
Dr. Liz is so skilled…my teeth look and feel amazing! She makes sure to listen to and address any concerns you have, and she really pays attention to your goals to make sure they are accomplished. Moreover, Dr. Liz and her colleagues are always so friendly and welcoming. My time in the chair flies by and is always such a pleasant experience.”
I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Liz. She is a gifted dentist who is gentle, caring, and efficient. I recently had a traumatic fall with injuries including dental fractures. I can now smile again after her expert and artistic repair.”
I had an amazing experience! My new dentist, Dr. Elizabeth Holzhauer, was extremely welcoming and educated me on every question I asked. Her assistant, Kat, was very helpful and attentive. I am so impressed with the customer service I received. Thank you all for going above and beyond to make me confident in the care I am receiving.”
I came to Blue Back Dental specifically for cosmetic reconstruction with Dr. Liz after consultations with other practices left me discouraged. From our initial consultation, I was shocked at the quality of care as well as attention to detail. Dr. Liz was so compassionate and thorough my entire time with the practice. I have never felt happy or confident with my smile because of the past trauma and not so great reconstruction work I’ve previously had, and this is the first time in my life I’ve felt SO confident and genuinely happy when I smile. Dr. Liz gave me my life back!”
Dr. Elizabeth Holzhauer, "Dr. Liz," is fantastic! She possesses the highest skills in both dental health and cosmetic dentistry. She completely revamped my mother's smile, and not only has her dental health improved, but the boost in her confidence is off the charts. It was an incredible gift to my mother to put her in Dr. Liz's caring and skilled hands. While we are overjoyed with my mother's new smile, it's not just Dr. Liz's work that we appreciate. The team at Blue Back Dental, with their kindness, patience, and responsiveness, made the entire process a breeze. They kept us informed at every stage and treated us with the utmost respect.**In closing, if you need dental work, especially cosmetic dentistry, do not look further than Dr. Liz!" **
