Meet the Team

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.

Betty joined Puffer Dental in April of 2023 and has since loved being a part of a wonderful team. She has 15 years of experience in the dental field. Her priority is to ensure all of our patients have a wonderful experience and that they receive the highest quality of service and care. Betty helps our practice to run smoothly and efficiently by making sure our team has everything they need to build genuine connections with our patients. When she is not at the office, you will most likely find her spending time with her husband, David, and their three amazing boys, Jayden, Jayce and Jadiel. She also enjoys being outdoors playing volleyball and hanging out with her extended family and friends.

Makayla joined Puffer Dental in December 2015 as a registered dental assistant. After 7 years of assisting, she then transitioned to a patient care coordinator. She goes above and beyond to provide comprehensive care to patients by developing, monitoring, and evaluating each specific case. Makayla takes pride in getting patients established at the office and making sure that their needs are met. Puffer Dental is, and always will be family to Makayla. She is truly thankful to have found such a great team to work with every day. Makayla is also a part-time photographer and a vital team member in her husband’s farrier business. Aside from working, Makayla spends her free time with her loving husband Trey and their fur baby, Boomer.

Leslie was born and raised in Nacogdoches, Texas. She graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in human resources from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2018. Axe’em Jacks! Leslie was already a part of this dental team with the previous dentist, Dr. Russell Brewster since
2012. In 2023, she made the switch from office manager to patient care coordinator to be more involved in her children’s lives and help run their family construction company. She enjoys the “family” atmosphere that she and team members have at Puffer Dental. Her top priorities are making sure
her patient’s needs are met and that they feel welcomed and cared for. She is married to Jacob; together, they have a stunning daughter named Sophia and two charming sons named Landon and Lincoln. In addition to traveling and being outdoors, Leslie loves to spend time with her family, feeding their cows and playing with their dog, Goose.

Leslie is a dedicated and skilled dental hygienist with 26 years of experience in the dental field with 23 of those years as a dental hygienist. Leslie was already a part of this amazing dental team with the previous dentist, Dr. Russell Brewster. She helped Dr. Puffer have a seamless transition into the practice in 2015. She prides herself on her compassionate and caring approach in treating her patients. She loves the long-lasting patient relationships that she has been blessed with over her years in practice. Leslie enjoys spending time with her husband, Todd, and making the rounds to the many ballgames and school activities her busy teenagers, Cash and Lauren, are involved in. In her free time, she loves a good thriller book to dive into or a true crime podcast to try and “solve.”

Presley is a 2021 graduate of the dental hygiene program at Tyler Junior College. She feels very blessed to work at Puffer Dental with such caring and enjoyable colleagues. She says, “it is easy for everyone to feel like family when walking through our doors.” She is married to her high school sweetheart, Cody. They have two beautiful daughters who they adore. In their spare time, they enjoy being at the lake, deer lease or anything outdoors. Presley looks forward to providing comfortable quality care to each of her patients. Her favorite part of dentistry is the friendships made with patients while also improving their oral hygiene.

Cheyenne has been working at Puffer Dental since January 2021. She loves her work colleagues as well as the personal interactions with her patients. Cheyenne is always excited and eager to learn new things in the dental field. Her favorite part about working in the dental field is seeing how happy her patients are after helping restore and create their dream smiles. Outside of the office, Cheyenne spends time with her husband, Tristan, and two kids. She also enjoys video games and photography.

Arely has been a Nacogdoches native since 2005. She graduated high school in the summer of 2023 and joined the Puffer team in August of 2023. Her hobbies include traveling, exploring new things in life and being with her family. Since her start in the dental field, she has loved to serve the people of Nacogdoches and plans to continue it as long as she can. A very hard worker that likes to stay busy at all times, Arely also has a second job at the Fredonia Hotel. Arely’s warm and approachable demeanor creates a welcoming environment for both our team members and patients alike.

Linda is originally from Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Her family came to Center, Texas when she was three years old and have since called Center home. She just recently got married to Miguel and has two very clingy cats named Kevin and Bob. She became a dental assistant in 2019 and immediately
connected with the profession. Linda joined Puffer Dental in February 2024 and has loved being part of our great team. In her free time, she enjoys making handmade jewelry, fishing with her husband and reading.