Story by Heather DiPrato. Professional photos by Brooke Straiton Photography.
You know Dr. Jared Kenwood as a longtime supporter of Yardley that provides advice to the community about maintaining a healthy and vibrant smile. What many people don’t realize is that Dr. Kenwood grew up in our area and long dreamed of opening a practice here – his dream became a reality in 2016.
Kenwood was raised in Newtown and attended Council Rock, “in the days when there was just one high school, before CR North and CR South.” He went on to complete his undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania before enrolling in dental school in Washington D.C.
After dental school, he served as an extern in the dental department at Children’s Medical Center and volunteered in underserved communities. Dr. Kenwood joined a practice in Delaware County, yet always hoped to return to his hometown roots. He had developed a deep appreciation for the people who make the Yardley and Newtown communities unique, and speaks warmly of growing up in Bucks County and the strong sense of community he felt. “People here are friendly, helpful, and care about their neighbors,” he tells us. “I’m so glad to be back practicing dental care where I grew up!”
Jared met his wife, Rachael, a women’s health specialist, through mutual friends at the Art Museum while they were both attending a First Friday event. Rachael grew up in New England and received her medical training in New York City. Dr. Rachael Sampson is now a Board Certified OBGYN practicing in the greater Philadelphia area. In their early days together, it became clear that they had a lot in common; a love of hiking, animal rescue, and a passion for time outdoors. Both Dr. Kenwood and Dr. Sampson are dedicated health professionals who treat each patient like family.
This, along with a passion for people and healthcare, is what drives them to do what they do each day, citing a quote from the Dalai Lama as their family motto: “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” Dr. Kenwood fulfilled his longtime dream of returning to Bucks County and purchased a dental practice in the Makefield Executive Quarters in Lower Makefield in 2016. Over the past five years, Yardley Dental Care has experienced considerable growth due to their excellent quality of care, friendly staff, state-of-the-art equipment, and a focus on skilled performance while making every patient feel comfortable.
In 2020, at a time when many dental practices were closing due to the pandemic, Dr. Kenwood and his team invested in tools and equipment to increase safety for their patients and staff. As a result, the practice remained available for emergency procedures, and was able to help countless families in need of safe, high quality dental procedures. “While some were delaying preventative care in 2020, “ he explains, “We were able to assist many whose providers were unavailable for emergencies and other dental procedures.”
Some of the ways the team at Yardley Dental Care help to keep patients safe include following all recommended screening protocols, personal protective gear, as well as their investments in air quality and equipment designed to remove any aerosolized particles from the air during dental procedures. This is a benefit for patients as well as staff members. Yardley Dental Care is a family dental practice. “We care for patients from 1 to 101,” says Dr. Kenwood, “and everyone in between!” Their friendly office manager, Sharon, treats each patient like an old friend. “We strive to help with everything our patients need for oral health, from dental cleanings, to x-rays, to fillings, to cosmetic dentistry, whitening, crowns, and much more,” says Sharon. “Most importantly, we help our patients achieve a healthy smile while keeping them in a safe and comfortable environment.”
Whether treating emergency dental issues, offering routine maintenance, or helping with cosmetic needs, Dr. Kenwood and his team are kind, compassionate, and focus on patient comfort. They accept most dental insurance plans and offer special plans for those who don’t have dental insurance so they can maintain their oral health.
Over the past few years, Dr. Kenwood expanded and renovated his office, relocating to a larger, brighter space located a few doors down from their original location. Not only is the new office beautiful, there is also more room to accommodate patients with special accessibility needs, such as electric wheelchairs.
As the dental practice expanded, Dr. Kenwood and Dr. Sampson moved back to Bucks County and are enjoying exploring the many great places and events the community has to offer. They enjoy spending time outdoors exploring nature, as well as staying active through exercise. They also spend time as a family working with animal rescue groups. Dr. Sampson speaks warmly of her passion for animals, nature, and physical fitness. “They provide me with an outlet to explore the world from different perspectives,” she says. “I feel this helps me relate to patients of all different backgrounds.”
When she is not on call, she focuses on spending time with her family, as well as spending time hiking and doing yoga. In their moments of downtime, the family enjoys traveling and exploring. Recently, they took a road trip to Rhode Island. “We stayed in a bed & breakfast for the weekend. Waking up to the sound of the ocean really made it feel like a getaway that was long overdue,” says Dr. Sampson. The family also has a rescue dog, Betty. She was adopted through Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia (ACCT Philly) and the family says she absolutely changed their lives.
Dr. Kenwood and Dr. Sampson love being members of our community. “I have a strong desire to help my neighbors,” says Dr. Kenwood. “That’s why I decided to open my dental practice in Yardley. I believe that using my strengths to help my own community is the most rewarding way to spend my time.” As a busy professional, Dr. Kenwood is sensitive to the scheduling challenges of his many patients and has made a point of blocking some early morning, weekend, and evening times for those that require it.
“We understand our patients are busy and do our best to accommodate their lifestyles and schedules, it’s why we have early morning appointments, evening appointments, and even Saturday options in addition to our regular schedule,” says Dr. Kenwood. “Caring for patients goes beyond simply performing dental services, we try to do it in a way that fits into their lives and helps to reduce their stress.”
Dr. Kenwood is proud to provide professional and compassionate patient care to his friends and neighbors. In Yardley and Bucks County. If you or someone you love has been concerned about dental care and needs help, please reach out to Dr. Kenwood and Yardley Dental Care at 215-493-1616.