New Dentist Brings Rural Focus, Expanded Services to Auburn Practice

Dr. Tyler Lutt, a Nebraska native with roots in rural health care, has joined the team of 11 at Hilltop Dental and is helping lead the practice as it prepares for a major expansion.
Lutt grew up on a farm near Wayne, Nebraska and attended Wayne State College, and went on to the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Dentistry where he participated in the Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP). RHOP an initiative with Nebraska State Colleges that encouraging students to return to underserved rural areas to practice in medical fields with the promise of scholarships and tuition forgiveness. Though the program is not a binding commitment, Lutt said its mission shaped his decision to practice in a small community.
“I visited a few offices, but when I walked in here, it just felt like home,” he said. “Everyone was warm and welcoming, and the community has been great. I met Dr. Murray while in dental school so I knew it’d be a great fit.”
Lutt began practicing in Auburn on June 2. He currently lives near Plattsmouth while his fiancée finishes her pediatric nurse practitioner program in Omaha.
The practice offers a wide range of services, from basic cleanings to extractions, root canals, Invisalign and oral sedation for anxious patients. Lutt said one of his goals is to ensure residents do not need to travel long distances for routine or urgent care.
“We try to keep people from having to drive to Omaha or Lincoln,” he said. “We want to do as much as we can right here.”
Although not formally specialized, Lutt said he is especially drawn to surgical procedures. “Helping someone who comes in with a lot of pain and getting them out of pain is one of my favorite parts of the job,” he said.
The clinic is also preparing for growth. A new office is under construction at 20th and J streets to accommodate an expanding patient base, which now includes residents from Missouri, Kansas and even Iowa.
“We love this space, but it’s just not big enough anymore,” Lutt said. “Auburn and our patients deserve a really nice, modern dental office, and we’re excited to offer that.”
Outside the clinic, Lutt spends much of his time renovating his fiancée’s home — with help from YouTube tutorials — and enjoying outdoor hobbies such as hunting and fishing, which he says are abundant opportunities in southeast Nebraska.