Dr. Jacob A. Hartley
Dr. Jacob A Hartley is a California native who graduated from Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry in Philadelphia, PA. He has also completed a post-graduate training residency with the Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, PA. During his residency Dr. Hartley expanded his knowledge and technical skills in all specialties of dentistry while treating patients with a wide variety of complex medical, physical, and mental disabilities in both clinical and hospital settings. He has volunteered his time working with clinics caring for special needs Philadelphia and offered free dental treatment to school aged children on a mobile dental van and through Give Kids a Smile Day.
- Received a BS in Biology with a Chemistry minor from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington
- Graduated from Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry
- Completed a post-doctoral general practice residency program at Lehigh Valley Health Network
- Member of the Academy of General Dentistry
- Member of the American Dental Association
He continues to keep his knowledge and skills current through a strong commitment to continuing education of the latest technology and clinical procedures through attending lectures from some of the most respected names in dentistry.
Dr. Hartley and his wife Ashley have five young children all of whom are homeschooled. When not providing care to his patients, he really enjoys sharing his favorite pastimes (surfing, soccer, camping, and skiing) with his children making Williamsburg the ideal place to call home.
An Interview with Dr. Jacob Hartley
- Where were you born/grow up?
I was born and raised in San Jose, California. Shortly after graduating high school I moved with my family to North Carolina where I lived, worked, and went to school for the next 9 years. - What made you decide on a career in Dentistry? What draws you to the field?
Dentistry offers to me the opportunity to support my family by providing a blend of art, medicine and health promotion to my neighbors. Does it get any better than that? I love that in dentistry precision counts. There is a constant challenge to restore health, beauty and function to the oral cavity in the least invasive way possible. An inaccurately shaped and/or sized filling or crown can affect facial posture, muscle tone, esthetics, phonetics, function, or cause headaches, all of which impact quality of life and health and frequently the difference between success and failure can be measured in microns. I am very thankful for the trust and opportunity bestowed upon me to provide these services to our patients. - What is your favorite part about the Williamsburg area?
What is there not to like about Williamsburg? I love all the access to water and nature in the area. While there has been a lot of growth, Williamsburg still to me caries a small town feel with friendly neighbors and has been developed in a way to preserve much of the natural beauty. The area is obviously very rich in history and I am looking forward to exploring all that area has to offer over the next several years. - What is your favorite food?
Fat. Most people state they have a sweet tooth, not me, I have a fat tooth. Nothing beats a juicy cheeseburger or ribeye steak with bacon cheese fries. I would prefer to have a second portion of dinner over dessert just about any day of the year. My favorite late night snacks are a slice of cheese and salami on a triscuit cracker or blue corn chips with queso. A glass of milk is of course required to wash it all down. - What are your big interests in dentistry? Crowns, fillings, root
canals? How do you see yourself progressing in this field? Any area
you would like to explore or improve upon?
I really enjoy all aspects of dentistry, from the simple fillings to the more complex rehabilitations. I completed a post-graduate residency program after completing dental school which allowed me further training with performing root canals, dental extractions, dental implants, periodontal surgeries and maxillofacial fracture repairs in addition to working with special needs adults and children. For a short period of time I had considered specializing but in the end I didn’t want to limit myself to one area of dentistry when I enjoy them all so much and can still do what I feel comfortable doing in a general practice.
The one area of dentistry that I most would like to grow in is the diagnosis and treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders. This is one area of dentistry that is not taught as heavily in dental school, and in which a lot of new research is directed. TMJ disorders are becoming more and more prevalent, perhaps due to the increased stress we place on ourselves these days, and many of our patients suffer from debilitating headaches and myofacial pain not to mention deterioration of teeth and joints caused by these disorders. While there are many treatment options available, much research is aimed at funneling down the options and directing specific treatments to help specific disorders. It is my goal to grow in this field and offer the best possible diagnoses and treatments for our community. - How many kids?!? What are their names and ages?
I have 5 children, 3 girls and 2 boys. Alaina is 8, Silas is 7, Micah is 5, Piper is 3, and Quinn is 6 months. - How did you and your wife meet?
Ashley and I met at a gas station in Mebane, NC. Some friends and I were driving to a conference in Greensboro, NC and Ashley had arranged to meet us there and carpool with us. I had never met Ashley before, but she was a friend of a friend who was driving with us. We were engaged to be married 6 months later. - What do you like to do in your spare time?
Most of my spare time is spent playing in the yard with my kids, reading, or cheering for my kids. We often play soccer, baseball, ride bikes, or go for hikes and are involved in a local church. I am hoping that as the kids get older they will want to engage in some of my favorite pastimes (surfing, mountain biking, and boating). We try to stay out of the house and visit local parks and museums as much as the schedules allow. - Are you a cat or dog person?
I like both cats and dogs equally. In high school I worked for a cat and dog groomer. We were next to a rather wealthy community in California and I got to meet a lot of rare breeds. One of my favorites was an Alaskan malamute and wolf hybrid. The dog was enormous with a really long and full coat. He was very mild natured unlike some of the hybrid dogs I have met. We currently have a kitten named Moses. The kids have decided that when it is time they would like to get an Old English Sheep dog. - If you could have lunch with anyone living or dead, who would it be and why?
I would really enjoy a lunch with my former roommate and one of my closest friends Clay Everett. I have not seen Clay in over a year. He is now living with his family in Italy and it will be several more years before I’m able to see him again. Clay and his wife Courtney are some of my dearest friends and I would really like to be able to see him face to face, to catch up and share life together.
