After graduation, Dr. Ertl worked within the dental research field at the Center for Oral and Systemic Diseases. He helped investigate connections between an individual’s oral health and their overall health. Some of the research projects examined links between periodontal disease (gum disease) and their association to cardiovascular disease (heart disease), babies’ developmental challenges in an expecting mother, diabetes, stroke and drug delivery systems. This job deeply informed Dr. Ertl’s knowledge of how the latest medical and dental scientific knowledge can help keep patients healthy for years to come.
Upon graduating from the University of Florida’s College of Dentistry in 2008, Dr. Ertl began serving communities within the piedmont and western North Carolina. Both Dr. Ertl and his family are avid outdoors people and love road cycling, mountain biking, backpacking, and hiking.