Surgical Placement of Dental Implant Near Me in Farmington, AR

Dr. Wade Kifer, DDS, was born in Missouri and spent his early years there before moving to Fort Smith, Arkansas, at the age of 13. It was during his time in Arkansas that he first developed an interest in dentistry, drawn by his passion for both science and helping others. Dentistry became a natural fit for him, blending his love for both fields.

After graduating from Southside High School in 1995, Dr. Kifer went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Arkansas in 1999. He was then accepted into the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry, where he earned his dental degree in 2003. To further refine his skills, he completed a one-year residency in Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD), focusing on delivering high-quality general dental care.

While in Tennessee, Dr. Kifer met his wife, Claire, who was studying physical therapy. The two married in 2004 in her hometown of Dyersburg, Tennessee, before relocating to northwest Arkansas. He gained valuable experience working in both an orthodontic practice and a general dental office before joining Dr. Broyles’ practice in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in the summer of 2006.

Dr. Kifer has a deep passion for continuing education and is committed to staying at the forefront of dentistry. He consistently exceeds state requirements by completing over one hundred hours of continuing education annually, five times the minimum required. He has been studying at the Kois Center of Excellence in Seattle since 2008 and is an active member of both the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Arkansas State Dental Association (ASDA). In addition, he serves as the President of the Academy of Interdisciplinary Dentofacial Therapy (AIDT) and volunteers his time at the Fayetteville Free Health Center.

Outside of his professional life, Dr. Kifer enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Claire, and their three children—Kate, Kinley, and Nicholas—who are the greatest joys in their lives. The family is active in their church and enjoys attending Razorback sports events, including football, basketball, and baseball games. Dr. Kifer also enjoys hiking and canoeing as part of his outdoor hobbies.

Dr. Steven Hankins believes that being a dentist is the most fulfilling job in the world. He views dentistry as a combination of engineering and art, and works to create foundationally-strong, and cosmetically beautiful results for each of his patients. Providing his patients with the best dental care he can is his goal, and he ensures that he meets this goal by attending continuing education courses. Dr. Hankins has done over 500 hours of hands-on continuing education training in Sedation Dentistry, Advanced Endodontics, Orthodontics (Invisalign), Smile Design, and Implant Dentistry. He has also earned his IV and Oral moderal sedation licenses through the Arkansas board of dentistry.

Dr. Hankins earned his degree in Biology from the University of Arkansas, then went on to earn his doctoral degree in dental surgery at the University of Tennessee. He then became a practicing dentist in 2013, but chose to continue his education by taking part in mentorship training programs in Pediatrics and Advanced Surgery. In 2016, he completed a residency program at the Children's Hospital in Dallas, then worked at the Smile Center. Today, Dr. Hankins is a member of the Arkansas State Dental Association and the American Dental Association.

Dr. Cole J. Johnson is a Fort Smith, Arkansas native and a proud graduate of Southside High School. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, graduating Cum Laude from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. During his time at the U of A, Dr. Johnson met his wife, Jo Tynon Johnson, who now works as an ER nurse at Baptist Hospital. After completing his undergraduate studies, Dr. Johnson pursued his first passion, working as a Research Process Engineer at E & J Gallo Winery in central California.

While working in California, Dr. Johnson realized his true calling was in dentistry. Coming from a “dental family” deeply rooted in the profession, this transition felt natural. His father, George J. Johnson Jr., has practiced general dentistry in Fort Smith for over 40 years at Willow Creek Dental Clinic, and his brother, Chad Johnson, is an orthodontist in North Carolina. Additionally, his brother-in-law practices general dentistry in Bethel, Alaska.

Determined to pursue his new path, Dr. Johnson attended LSU School of Dentistry in New Orleans, where he earned his Doctorate in Dental Surgery. During his time at LSU, he was an active leader, serving as class president and graduating with honors, ranking fourth in his class. He also gained recognition for his involvement in dental research, presenting his work at conferences in Memphis and Washington, D.C. Dr. Johnson’s exceptional clinical performance earned him several prestigious awards at graduation, including the Southern Academy of Prosthodontics Award, the American Academy of Esthetics Award, and a scholarship from LSU’s Dean, Dr. Henry Gremillion, to attend the Dawson Academy, a renowned institute for advanced dental education.

After dental school, Dr. Johnson completed a year-long Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency in Birmingham, Alabama. During this time, he worked exclusively at the VA Hospital Dental Clinic, providing care for U.S. military veterans. His focus during this residency was on gaining his IV sedation certification and further developing his skills in implantology.

In addition to his passion for dentistry, Dr. Johnson is a proud member of the Arkansas Army National Guard, where he serves as a Major and practices dentistry at Camp Robinson Medical Command in North Little Rock. He also actively contributes to the dental community as a former Secretary of the Fort Smith Dental Association and a member of several organizations, including the Academy of General Dentistry, Arkansas Dental Association, International College of Dentists, and the American Dental Association.

Dr. Johnson returned to Fort Smith in 2013 and joined the River Valley Smile Center team. He also works part-time at his father’s dental practice. As a father of two boys, River and Atlas, Dr. Johnson enjoys spending time with his family, engaging in outdoor activities such as flying his para-glider, vegetable gardening, paddling, fishing, and camping. Despite his travels, he remains a dedicated Razorback fan, supporting his alma mater through thick and thin.