founder · cosmetic dentist
Dr. James W. Willis, DDS.
Cosmetic and restorative consultations with Dr. Willis are coordinated through Dr. Podbesek and the Fishersville team. How that works, and why, is part of his story.
Dr. James Willis did not begin his career with a plan to build a group of dental practices. He began with one office, a grieving community, and the responsibility of earning the trust of patients who had already lost a dentist they loved.
That office was here in Fishersville.
Earning a place
Dr. Willis arrived in August 2009, shortly after graduating from the West Virginia University School of Dentistry. Three months earlier, the practice's founder, Dr. Richard Schroeder, had passed away. Dr. Schroeder had cared for Augusta County families for decades, and many of his patients were still grieving.
Dr. Willis understood that he was not there to replace him. He was there to listen, provide excellent care, and earn his own place in the community. For the next five years, he practiced full time in Fishersville, caring for many of the same families Dr. Schroeder had served. He still describes them as some of the best patients in the world.
The philosophy those years built
Those years shaped the philosophy that has guided him ever since.
Be gentle. Be honest. Recommend treatment only when it can genuinely improve a patient's health, comfort, function, or confidence.
His approach is conservative and straightforward. Patients receive clear explanations, realistic expectations, and an honest discussion of what each option can and cannot accomplish. There is no pressure and no overtreatment. That standard remains central to every practice and every clinician in Willis & Associates Family Dentistry.
The handoff, and what grew from one office
In 2014, Dr. Willis entrusted the daily care of his Fishersville patients to Dr. Brian Podbesek, his close friend and classmate from dental school. He still considers it one of the best decisions of his career. Few choices are more personal than selecting the dentist who will care for the patients who gave you your start, and Dr. Podbesek has honored that trust every day since.
From the original office on Medical Park Drive, Willis & Associates Family Dentistry grew into a group of dental practices serving communities across Virginia. The group remains entirely owned and led by dentists, so decisions about care stay where they belong, between patients and the doctors who care for them.
No matter how much the organization has grown, Fishersville remains where it all began. It will always hold a place in Dr. Willis's story that no other office can.
His practice today
Today, Dr. Willis remains closely involved in the clinical standards and direction of the practice. His time in the Fishersville operatory is reserved for select cosmetic cases, including full smile rehabilitation, custom porcelain veneers, porcelain and ceramic crown work, and Invisalign clear aligner treatment.
Patients interested in working with Dr. Willis begin with a visit to Dr. Podbesek and the Fishersville team. They evaluate the patient's oral health, discuss goals, and coordinate a consultation with Dr. Willis when his involvement is appropriate. This team approach ensures that every patient receives a thoughtful plan and consistent care before, during, and after treatment.
Teaching, technology, and recognition
Dr. Willis also serves on the Board of Governors of the West Virginia University School of Dentistry Alumni Association, where he supports the school that prepared him for his career and helps encourage the next generation of dentists.
An early adopter of dental technology, Dr. Willis served as a clinical test pilot for early AI assisted diagnostic software. He was also featured on The Happy Dentist Podcast, where he shared the story of building a dentist led organization while preserving clinical independence and a patient focused culture.
He has received a Best Chairside Manner award from OurHealth, and his practices have earned numerous Charlottesville Family Favorite awards and were among the first Platinum Plus Invisalign providers in the region.
Professional affiliations: American Academy of Clear Aligners (former Executive Committee), International Federation of Esthetic Dentistry, Academy of Laser Dentistry, American Dental Association, Virginia Dental Association, and the Academy of General Dentistry. Education: West Virginia University School of Dentistry, Doctor of Dental Surgery.
Clinical Focus
Full smile rehabilitation. Custom porcelain veneers. Porcelain and ceramic crown work. Invisalign clear aligner treatment.
Outside the office
Outside the office, Dr. Willis lives in the Blue Ridge with his family. An outdoorsman at heart, he is happiest somewhere on a Virginia mountainside.
Questions we hear in the chair
- Is Dr. Willis accepting new patients?
- New patients see Dr. Brian Podbesek, our lead dentist. Patients interested in working with Dr. Willis begin there: the team evaluates your oral health, discusses your goals, and coordinates a consultation with Dr. Willis when his involvement is appropriate.
- What does Dr. Willis's clinical work include?
- His Fishersville operatory time is reserved for select cosmetic cases: full smile rehabilitation, custom porcelain veneers, porcelain and ceramic crown work, and Invisalign clear aligner treatment.
- How do I start the process?
- Book a visit with Dr. Podbesek online or call 540-885-8037. You'll leave with a written plan either way, and a consultation with Dr. Willis is coordinated whenever a case fits his focus.
On Medical Park Drive since 2014. .