By ALIN HETT
Hays Post
A new dental office is bringing a patient-focused approach to oral health care in Hays.
Leiker Smiles recently opened its second location on the corner of 27th and Hall and is now accepting new patients. Their business hours will be Tuesday through Friday.
Appointments can be scheduled by calling Leiker Smiles or through links available on the office’s Facebook page.
The office offers a variety of general dental services including fillings, extractions, dentures, partials, cleanings, root canals and veneers.
For Alexyss Leiker, dentist, creating a welcoming environment and improving the patient experience were among the biggest priorities when opening the new office.
“We just really focus on the patient experience, from the moment you walk in the door, to being walked back to the treatment rooms, to the treatment that you receive here in the office,” Leiker said.
“We really focus on making sure that you’re taken care of, that the procedure is painless, you’re aware of what’s going on, and that there’s no surprises as far as what’s done or surprises financially either.”
The office itself reflects the warm atmosphere Leiker hoped to create.
Green, her favorite color, inspired much of the interior design, which features greenery, plants, flowers and live green walls throughout the building.
The property also includes a small dog park, with a doggy door expected to be installed soon.
Leiker said excellent patient care goes beyond routine brushing and six-month checkups. Leiker said she believes every patient deserves a personalized treatment plan and clear communication throughout the process.
Leiker Smiles also features advanced dental technology, including a Cone Beam Computed Tomography, a 3D imaging system that creates detailed digital models of teeth, jawbones, nerve pathways and soft tissues to assist with diagnostics and treatment planning.
Leiker said the dream for the office began in 2021 when she first saw the building sitting empty.
“I fell in love with the building, the place, and what it could become,” she said. “I had this crazy dream, and I have the ability to make it possible. ... It’s been a crazy ride, but we’re here.”
As a Hays native, opening a location in her hometown carried special meaning.
"This is where I grew up," she said, "where all my family is, where my friends are. This is the town that raised me, where I call home.”
Leiker said her journey into dentistry also began in Hays. As a Hays native she graduated from Hays High School before earning her bachelor’s degree in science from Fort Hays State University.
She later attended dental school at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, graduating in 2020 before returning to the Hays area, where she has practiced dentistry ever since.
While many patients dread root canals, Leiker said they are one of her favorite procedures because of the immediate relief they can provide and the opportunity to change people’s perceptions about the treatment.
The office will host a grand opening celebration party Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. with snacks, goodies and an opportunity for community members to tour the new space.
Next Tuesday will officially mark the first day Leiker Smiles begins seeing patients at the new Hays location on 27th and Hall.
