Mr Steven F. Puffer

Dr. Steven F. Puffer was born in Portland, Oregon, and raised just outside of Portland in the small town of Molalla. The youngest of 11 children, he had many wonderful examples to look up to, but it was his dad, Dr. Paul J. Puffer, D.M.D, M.A.G.D., who instilled a love of dentistry — especially family practice dentistry — in him. Dr. Steven Puffer graduated from Molalla High School in 2000, and he attended Brigham Young University-Idaho. He decided to take a two-year leave from his studies to serve a Spanish-speaking mission, where his love for the great state of Texas started in the Texas San Antonio Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from 2001-2003. Dr. Puffer graduated from BYU-Idaho in June of 2005 with a major in biology and a minor in Spanish literature. He received his dental degree from Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry in June 2011. Following graduation, Dr. Puffer was blessed to work and learn alongside his father, who taught him how to be compassionate towards patients and many other valuable interpersonal skills, until his passing. Dr. Puffer relocated to Nacogdoches, Texas in June of 2015. He is always educating himself and his team by finding high-quality continuing education programs which help them provide the utmost and quality care for his patients. Dr. Puffer studied implant surgery under Dr. Hilt Tatum Jr. from 2016-2017, completing the Puerto Rico American Academy of Implant Dentistry MaxiCourse program and clinical residency. Upon graduation, he and his team of fellow dentists collaborated on a case that required a year-long series of surgeries. Their work was honored by the Academy of Implant Dentistry for "Treatment of the Atrophic Maxilla: A Case Study Utilizing the NIRISAB Approach", with the case placing second among the many reviewed by the Academy of Implant Dentistry. In 2023, Dr. Puffer earned his Masters from the Academy of General Dentistry, a distinction achieved by less than 5% of dentists that requires hundreds of hours of advanced training and the successful completion of a rigorous examination. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry. He is a member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology, the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Dental Association®, Texas Dental Association, Total Patient Service Institute, The Crown Council and Rotary International. Dr. Puffer and his wife are blessed with five beautiful children and are devoted BYU fans with their oldest daughter joining the BYU Cheer Squad in 2024. Dr. Puffer attributes much of his success to his wonderful and highly supportive wife. They are an adventurous family and love spending time hiking, swimming, biking, road tripping, rafting and exploring new places. He is an active member of his church, where he serves the Spanish-speaking community. He loves the warmth and kindness that has been shown to him and his family from Nacogdoches and the surrounding communities and looks forward to serving them for many years to come.