The building and moving process for the new Family First Dental Office took around a year and a half, according to dentist Dr. Mitchell Knudsen, though the idea for a new facility has taken shape for awhile.
Family First Dental opened its doors in Wayne in 2010, according to Marketing Director Emily Rutledge.
"Family First Dental believes strongly in investing in our doctor, team, office and community," Rutledge said. "So we began planning a larger, up-to-date facility where we could continue to provide high quality dental care to our patients and the Wayne community."
Now located at 1108 W 7th St. in Wayne, the new location better suits the needs of both the patients and providers.
“It is a lot better for patients and staff,” Knudsen said. “We have parking now and a bit of room to grow. We now have a more comfortable and brighter space for patients and staff.”
Knudsen and his staff had a say in the planning process including layout designs, flooring, paint and lighting, taking what did and did not work from the previous office to maximize the new space.
After finishing the building, brand new equipment was brought in. The larger equipment from the old office will be used by Family First, which owns and operates 22 offices throughout Nebraska and Iowa, to put in other offices, Knudsen said.
The new office started seeing patients during the second to last week in April, following the final touches of front desk and lobby furnishings.
Family First in Wayne staffs one dentist, two dental hygienists, two assistants and a receptionist. Knudsen has worked for the Wayne branch for seven years and witnessed the growth of the business firsthand, he said.
Knudsen placed the number of patients the office sees a week at around 100. The office provides comprehensive dental care for families and patients of all ages, he said. The services include cleanings, exams, filings, crowns, extractions and Invisalign. They also offer digital dentistry with scanners to take impressions.
“I greatly enjoy this community,” Knudsen said. “It is the perfect size for me and my family. With the college and the businesses in town, we have a great patient base.”
