The Smile Warehouse—Reinventing Dentistry in the Strip District

There always seems to be something to smile about when visiting the Strip, whether it’s after having a great meal, finding unique and specialty groceries and sundries, or buying your favorite team’s jersey or the perfect Pittsburgh-themed souvenir. But now, the Smile Warehouse is literally supplying smiles to The Strip District in a manner that is redefining the dental industry.

The Smile Warehouse is the new location for the dentistry practice of Christopher P. Hayner, DMD—a Pittsburgh native with a professional healthcare philosophy rooted in precision, hospitality, and heart. In the neighborhood known for its grit, growth, and good eats, he’s created something equally authentic for The Strip District.

A re-imagination of what dentistry can be, the Smile Warehouse is a high-end cosmetic and general dental practice that doesn’t feel like a typical dental office at all. Hayner wanted his new office to be different than any other dental waiting room he’d ever seen and to reflect the neighborhood’s gritty charm and tech-savvy energy. The result is a contemporary space that nods to the Strip District’s warehouse history while embracing sleek, state-of-the-art modernism. Hayner explains, “I didn’t want it to feel clinical—it’s more like walking into a boutique tech office.” The wide-open waiting area features concrete floors, soft industrial lighting, a media bar with charging stations, and even a refrigerated drawer stocked with beverages! The furniture is also deliberately nontraditional, comfortable, warm, and inviting. It’s all part of creating a new kind of dental experience with the added benefit of the comforting presence of a dentist who knows your name and truly cares about you and your oral health.

The Smile Warehouse is no ordinary dental office and Hayner is no ordinary dentist—both he and his practice’s journey reflect that. In 2004, Hayner purchased an existing practice in the Chamber of Commerce building Downtown, and for two decades he served patients in the heart of the city. But as Downtown Pittsburgh changed, so did his vision. In 2022, Hayner found the next chapter he was looking for in the Strip—a brand-new 4,000-square-foot space in a retail-level shell beneath a parking garage. After nearly two years of searching, planning, designing, permitting, and constructing, the Smile Warehouse opened its doors to the Strip District in June 2024. “The Strip worked out to be the best location—it’s up and coming with bunches of new residential, commercial, and retail here. I also like the fact that we have a parking garage basically attached to it, which is very convenient for my patients,” he notes.

This new location includes six fully equipped operatories (or “ops”), with a seventh pre-plumbed for future use. While the current focus is general and cosmetic dentistry, Hayner envisions eventually expanding into other cosmetic services, including Botox and fillers, in the near future.
Every inch of the Smile Warehouse is outfitted with brand-new, Adec dental equipment, in addition to: iTero intraoral scanners … Zeiss surgical microscope … BLU soft-tissue laser … KaVo 3D CBCT X-ray scanner.

These aren’t just high-tech attributes for the sake of bells and whistles. It’s about providing patients with precision care in a setting that feels both forward-thinking and personal.

What sets the Smile Warehouse apart isn’t just the cutting-edge technology or the location’s innovative design—it’s Hayner’s personal approach. “I’m an owner-operated practice—that means I don’t answer to corporate demands or associates who aren’t invested—I answer to my patients.” Furthermore, Hayner wanted to have his own autonomy to work how he thinks dentistry should be done. That philosophy drives everything from the care plan to follow-up as his focus is on integrity and transparency. “I’m not going to suggest or do dentistry that doesn’t need to be done—I love answering questions and educating my patients, and then we decide what’s best—together,” Hayner continues. “You’re just going to get good dental care—that’s something I’ve prided myself in forever!”

A Pittsburgh native, Hayner grew up in Bellevue and McCandless, attended North Allegheny High School, graduated from Allegheny College, and earned his dental degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine in 2002. After a brief stint practicing in Austin, Texas, he returned home to purchase his own practice Downtown, which has now evolved into the Smile Warehouse in the Strip District.

Hayner will be the first to tell you he loves Pittsburgh and obviously he’s completely invested in the Strip, and not just with his practice. “This isn’t just where I work—it’s where I live, shop, and connect—I also own a townhouse ten blocks away and I try to be involved in as many local happenings as possible here in the Strip District—from being active in community events to neighborhood meetings and local fundraising efforts,” he says.

Located in a vibrant area with easily accessible parking and a surrounding mix of shops, restaurants, and residences, the Smile Warehouse is attractive to and convenient for Strip District residents and visitors alike. Perhaps this is most evident in the fact that the Smile Warehouse is averaging nearly 80 new patients a month—a staggering number for an independent dental practice. “Part of this success, I think, is because of the ease of the location for residents and visitors, as well as the parking, safety, and cleanliness of the neighborhood in general—I believe it provides a lot of benefits to my patients, who definitely take advantage of the assets here in the Strip,” Hayner adds.

At its core, the Smile Warehouse is about more than teeth—it’s about trust, comfort, and connection. Whether you’re coming in for a routine cleaning or exploring future cosmetic enhancements, Dr. Hayner and his team will deliver a level of care that’s increasingly rare in modern healthcare. “I just want people to know that when they walk through our doors, they’re going to get honest, high-quality dentistry. No pressure. No gimmicks. Just the kind of care I’d want for my own family,” he concludes.

The Smile Warehouse is located in the Strip at 129 28th Street (Pittsburgh, PA 15222). For more information or to set up an initial-consultation appointment, visit smile-warehouse.com or call 412-281-3955.

Christopher Cussat is a Pittsburgh-based freelance writer who has been known to turn the world on with his smile. Read more of his work at: cussat.com.