About Dr. Tracey R. Hughes, DDS
Dr. Tracey Hughes has been performing LANAP laser periodontal therapy for 18 years and has treated hundreds of patients with the protocol. A University of Iowa graduate, practice owner, and fellowship-trained clinician, she has spent the better part of her career pursuing advanced dental education and delivering the kind of care that genuinely changes patients’ lives.
After 15 years of practice ownership in Colorado, she made the decision to return home to Urbandale, Iowa, to be closer to family and to bring something Central Iowa has long been without: an experienced, dedicated LANAP provider serving the Des Moines metro and surrounding communities.
“My goal has always been the same: to build real relationships with patients and to deliver care that genuinely changes their lives. LANAP allows me to do exactly that, saving teeth that might otherwise be lost, with a more patient-friendly and comfortable alternative to traditional periodontal surgery.”
Iowa Roots
Dr. Hughes grew up in Urbandale, Iowa, where she was inspired at an early age by her uncle, Dr. James Boltz, a well-known and respected cosmetic dentist who practiced in Des Moines for over 40 years. Watching him build meaningful relationships with patients while delivering exceptional care made the path forward clear.
In 1998, Dr. Hughes graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and was honored as a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national dental honor society. She went on to complete an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency at the University of Iowa in 1999, building a strong clinical foundation before entering private practice.
A Career Built on Advanced Care
Dr. Hughes began her career as an associate dentist in North Liberty, Iowa, before purchasing her first solo practice in Riverside, Iowa. It was during those early years that she developed a deep understanding of patient fears and dental anxiety, which led to her certification in IV Sedation Dentistry and a lasting commitment to judgment-free, patient-centered care.
In 2007, she acquired Boulder Valley Dental Center in Boulder, Colorado, where she practiced for 15 years and grew the practice into a comprehensive care destination. During that time, Dr. Hughes pursued advanced training across multiple disciplines, with a particular focus on LANAP laser periodontal therapy, cosmetic and restorative dentistry, oral sedation, and sleep apnea treatment.
It was in Colorado that Dr. Hughes completed her LANAP certification through the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry (IALD) and began what would become an 18-year clinical focus on laser periodontal therapy. She has since treated hundreds of patients with LANAP, developing the clinical depth and case experience that distinguishes her work in this advanced field.
Advanced Training and Credentials
Dr. Hughes earned her Fellowship with the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI), one of the most respected postgraduate dental education programs in the country, having completed the rigorous advanced core continuum in physiologic and cosmetic dentistry in 2010.
In 2012, Dr. Hughes was honored to be selected as one of only forty dentists to serve as a clinical instructor at LVI, teaching Foundations in Complex Cases and Anterior and Posterior Aesthetics programs to dentists from across the United States and Canada. It was a role she held with deep appreciation, sharing advancements in physiologic and cosmetic dentistry with colleagues committed to the same pursuit of excellence.
Dr. Hughes served a three-year term on the board of the International Association of Physiologic Aesthetics (IAPA), collaborating with leading clinicians to advance standards of care in physiologic and aesthetic dentistry.
“Being selected to teach other dentists at LVI was one of the great honors of my career. It reinforced that the pursuit of excellence in dentistry is never finished, and that sharing what you know is one of the most valuable things you can do for the profession.”
A Focused Return to Iowa
After 15 years of practice ownership in Colorado, Dr. Hughes made the decision to return to her home state of Iowa to be closer to family. Returning home also presented an opportunity to bring something Central Iowa genuinely needed: a dedicated LANAP provider serving patients across the Des Moines metro and surrounding communities.
Today, as an independent LANAP provider, Dr. Hughes partners with general dentistry practices throughout Central Iowa, providing LANAP and LAPIP laser treatment for their patients directly within the partner office. Patients receive advanced laser periodontal care in a familiar setting, and referring dentists gain a trusted clinical partner without any disruption to their practice workflow.
The next closest LANAP provider to Des Moines is in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska. Patients and dentists across the metro have long had to travel two to three hours for this treatment.
That changes now.
Professional Affiliations
Ready to Connect?
Whether you are a patient who has been told you need gum surgery and want to explore a better option, or a dentist interested in bringing LANAP to your practice, Dr. Hughes would welcome the conversation.
I am proud to be home in Iowa and genuinely excited about what this practice model can do for patients and dental teams across Central Iowa. I look forward to meeting you.