Bruce Holes was born in N.Y., a son of a minister and the younger of two children. He spent his early years in NYC, as his father pastored a church in Brooklyn. At age 10, his family moved from the big city to a rural community in New Jersey, where he completed his high school education.

Leaving home, he started his formal education at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa. He also was dating a girl from home, and that relationship resulted in marriage during his senior year. He graduated Magna cum laude in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Science (Muhlenbergs customized pre-med major).

Having been accepted into four dental schools, he chose to attend an Ivy League school, the University of Pennsylvanias School of Dental Medicine in Philadelphia. His wife Debbie worked all through dental school to support their family. Finishing his degree in 1982, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps as a lieutenant and dental officer.

Requesting a base in the South, they were assigned to Parris Island, S.C., the Marine Corps boot camp. The Marines use Navy medical personnel, so this explains why a Navy guy ended up on a Marine base. Serving here for 3 years, he completed rotations in operative dentistry, endodontics (root canals), oral surgery, and prosthodontics (crowns and bridges). He finished his tour and earned an honorable discharge. His wife also presented him with their first child, a son named Craig.

Going out on their own, Dr. Holes and Debbie decided to settle in the state of Georgia. They drove around different parts of the state, until they found the charming, historical town of Washington, Ga. This town is famous for its antebellum architecture, its civil war history (it was the site of the last meeting of the confederacy), and its warm southern hospitality. They bought a building,hung out a shingle, and started their practice from scratch with one chair and one employee. They also soon expanded their family, adding a daughter Jennifer in 1986.

Twenty five plus years later, their practice has expanded, but still has that small town feel. Their children are both grown and on their own. Craig graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in engineering, and is currently a senior mechanical engineer in Alpharetta. Jenni completed her degree in early childhood education at Berry College, andis currently a teacher in Alpharetta as well. Jenni was married in June of 2011 to Daniel, a computer tech whiz whose job is too complicated to explain.

Dr. Holes philosophy of practice is to provide the best information available, and then to let the patient choose their treatment. The old paternalistic approach of medicine, where the doctor tells the patient what to do, has been replaced with a style of practice where the doctor informs the patient of different treatment options, and then lets the patient decide the course of treatment. The patient therefore becomes a partner in their own healthcare, and bears some responsibility in maintaining their health.

In his spare time, Dr. Holes enjoys playing golf (although not playing well), yard work, and reading. He and Debbie are members of the First United Methodist Church in town, where they participate together in choir and bible studies.