Meet Dr. Ryan Holmes: Trusted Fort Wayne Dentist for Over 20 Years
Some dentists you visit. Dr. Ryan Holmes? You get to know.
For more than two decades, Dr. Holmes has been caring for smiles across Fort Wayne, Columbia City, Roanoke, Allen County, and beyond. But if you ask him what he’s most proud of, it won’t be his impressive credentials. It won’t be his certifications or continuing education, though he’s pursued both with uncommon dedication. What Dr. Holmes will tell you is he’s most proud of the relationships.
The families who’ve trusted him for three generations. The children who sat in his chair as toddlers and now bring their own kids. The patients who came in nervous and left smiling, and kept coming back, year after year, because here, they’re not a number. They’re family.
From Ossian to Excellence: A Journey Home
Dr. Holmes grew up just southwest of Fort Wayne, in the small town of Ossian, Indiana. He knows what it means to be part of a community where people know your name, look out for one another, and stay.
After high school, he attended Wabash College, where he built the foundation of critical thinking and discipline that still guides his practice today. From there, he was accepted into the Indiana University School of Dentistry, earning his dental degree and returning home to serve the region he’s always belonged to.
That was over 20 years ago, and he’s never looked back.
A Commitment to Mastery, Not Just Credentials
Here’s something that sets Dr. Holmes apart: he doesn’t believe a dental degree is the finish line. He believes it’s the starting point.
Invisalign® Certified Since 2003
Dr. Holmes was among the first dentists in the region to offer Invisalign clear aligners. While many dentists were still referring patients elsewhere for orthodontic care, Dr. Holmes pursued advanced training to bring that care in-house.
His 2003 certification, and the two decades of experience since, means he’s treated hundreds of Invisalign cases. He knows what works. He knows what doesn’t. And he knows how to deliver stunning, stable results.
Progressive Orthodontic Series
Beyond Invisalign, Dr. Holmes completed a rigorous three-year Progressive Orthodontic Series for traditional braces. This means your family’s orthodontic needs can often be treated right here, by a doctor who’s trained in both clear aligner and bracket-and-wire techniques.
The Kois Center: Advanced Graduate-Level Training
Currently, Dr. Holmes is in the process of completing the Mastery Program at the prestigious Kois Center in Seattle, Washington. This isn’t a weekend seminar or a casual continuing education credit. The Kois Center provides intensive, graduate-level training for practicing dentists who are committed to the highest standard of care.
The Kois approach is rooted in predictability, longevity, and whole-mouth health. It’s all about understanding how every component of your smile works together. It’s also about designing treatment that doesn’t just look beautiful today, but remains healthy, functional, and stable for decades.
Dr. Holmes doesn’t just want to fix your tooth. He wants to ensure your entire smile system is working in harmony. That’s the Kois difference. That’s the Holmes difference.
Community Isn’t Just Where He Practices. It’s Who He Is.
Dr. Holmes’s commitment to Fort Wayne doesn’t end when he removes his white coat.
He speaks at local parenting groups and preschools, teaching children that dental visits are nothing to fear and that healthy smiles start young.
He serves as a school science-fair judge, encouraging students to explore oral health through hands-on projects. Since 2011, he’s provided cash donations for dental-related science fair entries. He loves investing in the next generation of curious minds, one experiment at a time.
He’s a member of:
- The American Dental Association
- Indiana Dental Association
- Isaac Knaap District Dental Society
- Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity
- Sigma Chi National Fraternity
These affiliations matter, but they’re not just letters on a page. They represent a dentist who stays connected, stays engaged, and stays current. He genuinely cares about his craft and his community.
Beyond the Office
When he’s not practicing dentistry or pursuing advanced training, Dr. Holmes is a husband to Tobie, dad to two daughters, and an avid golfer and scuba diver.
He treasures quiet time at home with his family. He also treasures adventure: traveling, exploring new places, and diving into underwater worlds far from Fort Wayne. Whether he’s on the golf course or beneath the ocean’s surface, he brings the same calm, focused presence he’s known for in the operatory.
A Practice Built to Last
With Dr. Hoyt now alongside Dr. Holmes, Holmes Family & Cosmetic Dentistry is entering an exciting new chapter. Two doctors, shared values, broader expertise, and greater availability.
But some things will never change.
The warm welcome when you walk through the door. The genuine interest in your life, not just your teeth. The commitment to doing the job right. Not the fastest, not the cheapest, but the way that serves your long-term health best.
That’s Dr. Holmes. That’s this practice. And that’s what 20 years of trust looks like.