Cornerstone Dental: Local Roots, Comprehensive Care

Harlan Native Returns Home to Build a Modern Dental Practice with Small-Town Values

In the Chatburn Plaza shopping center, a hometown success story is quietly transforming the dental experience for Harlan residents. Dr. Mary Hoch, who graduated from Harlan Community High School in 2010, has returned to her roots to create Cornerstone Dental, a practice that combines comprehensive dental services with the personalized care only possible in a small town where the dentist already knows many of her patients by name.

From Hometown to Healthcare and Back Again

Growing up outside Westphalia, Mary always knew she wanted to work in healthcare. "I liked sciences and working with people," she explains. But after shadowing various hospital roles during college breaks, she was still looking for a profession that spoke to her.

That changed when she shadowed a local dentist. "I watched what they did for half a day and thought, this is cool. You get to work with your hands, you get to be your own boss, and you get to make a real impact and connection with people - you can literally make a smile."

This revelation set her on a path through the University of Missouri and then the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. After graduation, she practiced at another Harlan dental office for four years and briefly worked in Spirit Lake before making the decision to return home permanently.

"I missed home. I missed my family. I liked the community," Dr. Hoch reflects on her decision to establish her own practice in Harlan in August 2022. "Let's just take the risk—and thankfully, it has worked out very well."

Keeping Comprehensive Care Close to Home

What sets Cornerstone Dental apart is Dr. Hoch's commitment to providing as many services as possible in-house, reducing the need for patients to travel to Omaha or Des Moines for specialized care.

"No one wants to be told, 'Now I have to go to a place I've never been before, an hour away, and establish care there.' It's a barrier for people," Dr. Hoch explains. "When you can say, 'Hey, we can do it all here,' it just takes down one more barrier for them to get the care they need."

Cornerstone offers an impressive range of services, including root canals, extractions (including surgical extractions), implants, conscious sedation/nitrous (laughing gas), pediatric dentistry, crowns, bridges, dentures and partials, periodontal treatments, tooth-colored fillings, TMJ treatment, preventive dentistry, whitening, and even Botox.

This comprehensive approach stems from Dr. Hoch's training at the University of Iowa, which she notes provides experience in all fields of dentistry—something not all dental schools offer. She continues to expand her expertise through continuing education, embodying what she describes as being a "jack-of-all-trades" in dentistry.

Creating Comfort in the Dental Chair

Dr. Hoch understands that past negative experiences can make people anxious about dental visits. Her practice works to overcome these fears with a patient-centered approach.

"A lot of patients haven't been to the dentist in a really long time—maybe they had health issues, or were taking care of someone, or had a bad experience in the past," she says. "And then they just kind of neglect their teeth and eventually feel ashamed or embarrassed."

This is where the small-town connection makes a difference. "I love to finally bring in those farmers or folks that haven't been in a while. We don't have to tackle this all at once. This breakdown didn't happen overnight. We can take it one step at a time and get them to a place where they are happy with their smile again."

The office atmosphere reinforces this approach. Patients are offered an "amenities menu" that includes blankets, pillows, and headphones. There are even TVs mounted on the ceiling so patients don't have to make "awkward eye contact" during procedures.

Team-Centered Approach

When asked what she loves most about running her business, Dr. Hoch immediately credits her staff. "I have really amazing team members. Our staff is really enjoyable to work with. They are such a big part of why the office has been successful and why it's enjoyable to go to work every day."

The team includes dental assistants Gabi and Megan, hygienist Britney (who patients frequently praise as "the best cleaning I've ever had"), and front office coordinators Stephanie and Kylie, who handle scheduling and paperwork.

"They've set it up where it's a pretty well-oiled machine," Dr. Hoch explains. "I thankfully do not have to do a lot of the handling of treatment plans, finances, and insurance claims. They keep it all running so I can just focus on teeth and care."

This extends to insurance handling as well. Unlike some practices that require patients to pay upfront and submit their own insurance claims, Cornerstone works with all private dental insurance plans, filing claims on behalf of patients and collecting only the patient's portion of the fee.

Small Town, Big Transformations

For Dr. Hoch, one of the most rewarding aspects of practicing in her hometown is seeing dramatic improvements in patients' dental health and confidence.

"I do really enjoy those big transformations," she says. "It's like, 'Look at where we started, and now we finally made it.' I love that."

She also appreciates the personal connections that come with practicing in a community where she grew up. "A lot of my patients knew me even just as a kid. They're like, 'Oh, Dr. Hoch,' and I'm like, 'Yeah, you can call me Mary, it's fine,'" she laughs. "Being part of the community and knowing my patients on a personal basis—I can ask, 'How's your dad doing?' It's nice to have that background with people."

Looking toward the future, Dr. Hoch hopes to eventually bring in another dentist to help meet growing patient demand and provide even more comprehensive care for the community she calls home.

Visit Cornerstone Dental at 1818 Chatburn Plaza in Harlan (next to Verizon). For appointments, call (712) 733-8080 or book online at cornerstonedentalharlan.com. Follow them on Facebook for updates and dental health tips.