By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
Hays is about to get much brighter with one smile at a time.
Dr. Alexyss Leiker is a Hays native bringing her dental practice home by expanding from Hoisington to a newly renovated office in Hays.
"I always had dreams of owning my own practice in my hometown of Hays," Leiker said.
After three years of working in Hoisington, she bought a building at 2701 Hall St. in Hays, with plans to open in early 2026. Leiker said the building matched her ideal layout the moment she first saw it.
"I fell in love with it. I thought this was the perfect spot with great parking," she said. "The stars aligned, and I was able to purchase it. ... This would be the time to take a risk. It's now or never."
Construction on Leiker’s new office was announced in April. While excited to return to her hometown, Leiker said her Hoisington location will remain open.
Both offices will provide the same dental services to ensure a consistent patient experience, including preventive care, restorative treatments and cosmetic dentistry. Additional offerings like Botox and dental implants are planned for the future.
Leiker said another way her dentistry will stand out is by offering Friday appointments, a popular request that most other dental offices in the area do not provide.
"What makes us different is our focus on compassion and creating a long-term relationship with our patients," Leiker said. "I understand that going to a dentist can be stressful for many, so I've designed the office to be calming and welcoming."
Leiker said she wants Leiker Smiles to be more than just a dental office by getting involved with schools, community events and local health initiatives.
"Oral health impacts the overall health, so I see this practice as a part of the broader well-being of our town," she said.
Leiker earned her degree from Fort Hays State University and completed her Doctor of Dental Science at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry in 2020.
She purchased her first practice in Hoisington in 2022.
You can follow Leiker Smiles on Facebook and visit its website here.