Dr. Peter Montague Foster recently became an associate at Hayes Family Dentistry, located on Route 17, Hayes.

Foster joins Drs. Joseph Lombard and Nathan Vogt in the busy local office. Foster said they have about 20 staff, including dental hygienists, assistants and front office personnel.

Although Foster had been interested in dentistry for a long time, he didn’t go directly into dental studies. Instead, he initially pursued an artistic route, earning degrees in art and working as a graphic designer for several years in Pittsburgh and Richmond.

Now, Foster said he feels right at home. He has ties to this area, he said, as his mother’s family owns a farm in Middlesex County.

After being an associate for a Williamsburg dental practice for four years, Foster said, he went looking for "the right fit"—something he thinks he has found in Gloucester. He provides general dental care for children and adults.

In recent years, there’s been more empha...