Your Westlake Dentist
Dr. James Willis, DDS
Lead Dentist · Founder of Willis & Associates
The dentist behind the network.
Dr. James Willis, DDS leads Westlake Dental Center with the same patient-first philosophy he has built across the Willis Dentistry network for more than three decades. Every visit at Westlake is grounded in honest conversation, modern technique, and the kind of unhurried care that lake-community patients expect.
Dr. Willis founded the Willis Dentistry network with a single conviction: that high-quality, modern dentistry should feel personal at every chair. Today his network of practices serves Virginia communities from the Blue Ridge to the Tidewater, and Westlake Dental Center carries that standard to Smith Mountain Lake. At Westlake, Dr. Willis brings in-house root canals, implants, Invisalign, and full-arch restoration so that patients rarely need a referral — they can finish their care here, at home, with the same team they know. He is committed to clear communication, conservative treatment planning, and the comfort touches — quiet operatories, gentle scheduling, and thorough explanations — that make a dental visit feel like care rather than a procedure.
Philosophy
Care that fits the way you live.
Dr. Willis built his network on the idea that you should not have to drive to a specialty clinic across the state to finish a root canal, place an implant, or get straight on a clear- aligner plan. The same dentist who knows your history should be able to see the work through.
At Westlake, that translates to a calmer schedule, more time per chair, and a treatment-planning conversation that starts with what you actually want — not a menu of upgrades. If you are happy with a clean exam and a six-month recall, that is a great visit. If you have been putting off care because of a bad experience years ago, you will find a different pace here.
Education
- DDS — Doctor of Dental Surgery
- Continuing education in implantology, endodontics, and Invisalign
Clinical Specialties
- General & Family Dentistry
- Cosmetic Dentistry
- Dental Implants
- Non-Surgical Root Canal Therapy
- Invisalign Clear Aligners
Professional Memberships
- American Dental Association (ADA)
- Academy of General Dentistry
- Virginia Dental Association
What Drives Him
A few things worth knowing.
- Founded the Willis Dentistry network of Virginia practices
- Passionate about bringing specialist-level services in-house so patients stay with their dentist
- Believes the best dentistry feels like a conversation, not a procedure
Meet your new dentist.
Schedule a new-patient visit with Dr. Willis and see how a calmer practice feels.