At Associated Endodontists, P.C., our caring doctors and compassionate staff provide superb, pain-free results in a comfortable, relaxed environment. Our doctors continued their education after dental school to become specialists in the field of Endodontics. They perform root canals, root canal retreatment, and endodontic surgery exclusively at our practice in Philadelphia.

Dr. Eric Hodges was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. He matriculated through Masterman Laboratory and graduated from Central High School. He received his undergraduate degree at the University of Florida and was a starting wide receiver for the Gators football team. He enjoyed a stint in the NFL with several teams, while finishing with the Kansas City Chiefs. Deciding to further his education, Dr. Hodges graduated magna cum laude from Temple University School of Dental Medicine and continued at Temple to earn his specialty inEndodontics.

He earned the special honor of the Louis I. Grossman Award while in his residency, as the top resident in the program. He has been a practicing endodontist in the Philadelphia area for over 15 years and is a member of the American Dental Association, the American Association of Endodontists, and the National Dental Association. A native Philadelphian, Dr. Hodges is dedicated to the community through his church and civic organizations. He and his wife have three children and enjoy skiing and golfing on the weekends.

Dr. Joanna Ku was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California, with a Major in Psychobiology. In addition to the science courses required for her major, she also enjoyed sculpting classes through the fine arts department, and also took classes at Santa Monica College for auto mechanics. The combination of science, art and engineering eventually put her on the path to dentistry. Dr. Ku received her dental degree from Harvard School of Dental Medicine. She conducted her thesis research on early childhood caries in Shanghai, China, and was awarded the Harvard University Dr. Grace Milliken Award for most outstanding thesis in the area of clinical dentistry.

She went on to attend the University of Pennsylvania for her post-graduate training in Endodontics, and received the Louis I. Grossman award for outstanding proficiency in a graduate program. Her research interests included bisphosphonates and osteonecrosis of the jaw, and cleaning and shaping the apical third of root canals.

Dr. Ku is a Board Certified Diplomate of the American Association of Endodontists. She is also a member of the American Dental Association and the Pennsylvania Dental Association. Dr. Ku has been with Dr. Eric Hodges at Associated Endodontists since 2010. Her favorite part of clinical practice is meeting new patients and addressing their needs in a warm and comfortable setting.

Having graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry in 2006, Dr. Berenji was a practicing general dentist for ten years. After engaging in multiple disciplines of dentistry, he developed a passion for endodontics. Dr. Berenji subsequently returned to the University of Pennsylvania and received his Specialty Certificate in Endodontics & Microsurgery in 2016. He then served as a faculty member of the University of Pennsylvania Department of Endodontics. Dr. Berenji is extremely skilled in root canal therapy and particularly proficient in surgical endodontic therapies as well. He is well-versed in and will be using all of our state-of-the-art techniques and equipment including microscopes, Gentle Wave, and CBCT.

Dr. Berenji is a Diplomate of the American Association of Endodontics and an active member of the American Association of Endodontics and American Dental Association. He has presented lectures at the American Association of Endodontist annual meetings on topics such as Endodontic Surgical Techniques and Meta-Analysis in Endodontics.

You may need aroot canalif you are experiencing a toothache or pain. Here at Associate Endodontists, P.C.in Philadelphia, our dentists understand how unbearable dental pain can be. In some cases, root canal treatment simply cannot wait. Our practice is available for emergency dental care, and we do our best to take care of you within 24 hours of your call.

Tooth pain can keep you up at night and make daily activities like eating feel impossible. Advanced tooth decay leads to infection and a host of uncomfortable symptoms that are relieved with treatment.

A root canal can preserve your natural tooth, potentially eliminating the need for an extraction. If tooth loss occurs, it will need to be replaced with an implant-supported restoration or traditional bridge, which tends to be costlier compared to a root canal.

/procedures/gentlewaveMany patients dread root canals due to their reputation for being painful. If you have a skilled dentist such as Dr. Hodges, who utilizes the latest techniques, root canal treatment feels similar to getting a cavity filled.

Dealing with a throbbing and aching tooth is stressful. Further, a root canal saves your tooth, which is always ideal. Our practice is able to treat even the most complex of cases to improve your oral health.

This place is fantastic. Everyone was so kind and polite, I got in quickly, and I could have slept through my root canal they did such a good job numbing me and keeping me comfortable. I hope I dont have any more teeth troubles, but if I do, Ill come here.

Very professional and pleasant atmosphere. All staff as well as Dr. Hodges are very welcoming and makes the patient feel at ease during the entire process. I would recommend him to anyone needing dental work.

Unfortunately, when minor dental problems go untreated, it can result in a domino effect and create more widespread issues. It the enamel becomes damaged, it will eventually result in the dentin becoming damaged, followed eventually by the root canals.

Endodontic treatment is recommended when plaque and bacteria damage the protective structures of the teeth: the enamel and dentin. This exposes the vulnerable soft tissues, also known as the pulp, to infection. Dental trauma or fractures can also make patients more susceptible toinfections of the root canals.

You may feel some discomfort after the anesthesia wears off. It is normal to feel mild discomfort or experience swelling for a few days, but it will subside with time. Patients can take over-the-counter pain medication to help relieve any discomfort.

Patients must be cautious when eating, as the treated tooth is still vulnerable until a dental crown covers it. We recommend chewing with the opposite side of the mouth. To ensure the effects of your root canal last, stay on top of oral hygiene and routine check-ups.

Root canal treatment depends on several factors, such as which tooth received treatment. Typically, maxillary back molars are the most expensive because they contain three roots; other teeth contain one root. We strive to make dental treatment affordable for as many patients as possible and we will walk you through all associated costs in advance. At our Philadelphia practice, we accept most insurance plans and offer payment options to help offset the price of treatment.

An endodontist is a dentist who specializes in root canal therapy and endodontic surgery. To become an endodontist specialist, candidates must complete dental school plus an additional two or more years of advanced training.

Our endodontists remove the inflamed pulp by cleaning and shaping the inside of the tooth and filling it with a dental material calledgutta-percha.The tooth is sealed, and a dentist typically protects the tooth with a crown.

Discomfort is unusual during treatment because of anesthesia. If an infectionis present, additional medications and antibiotics may be necessary to bring the infection under control and prevent the need for re-treatment. We will do everything possible to quickly return your tooth to a comfortable state.

If a tooth is extracted, a bridge or implant-supported restoration must beplaced so the surrounding teeth stay in place. The extraction and placement of the prostheticis far more costly than a root canal.

I strongly recommend Dr. Hodges services. I just received a root canal, which is a procedure that no one really cares for, but Dr. Hodges and his staff were very professional. He was very calming during the procedure. He let me know step by step what actions he was preforming. He had all the resent technical equipment that made the root canal almost painless (I don't like needles). But I took the needles without tears. :-) My office visit was enjoyably from the receptionist, the dental assistant to the dentist. If you need a dental procedure, please choose Dr. Hodges.

Our office is conveniently located just off the City Avenue (Route 1) exit from the Schuylkill Expressway. We service the endodontic needs of patients in Philadelphia and surrounding areas, including the Main Line.

Our patients enjoy a warm welcome and individual treatment at ourdental practiceinPhiladelphia. We will make you feel comfortable to the maximum extent possible with modern endodontic care. Our office staff is professional and courteous and ready to help you feel at ease as soon as you step through the door. We use state-of -the-art dental equipment during your endodontic procedure and will take the utmost care of you during your visit.

Dr. Eric Hodges and his staffwill explain the procedure to you beforehand and answer any questions you may have regarding root canal treatment. We are committed to individualized and gentle care. Most endodontic procedures are completed in one visit at which time we will refer you back to your general dentist for the final restoration.

'Dear Dr. Hodges and his Wonderful Supportive Dental Team- Thank you for the top quality service you provided to me - you and your excellent team have restored my faith in dentists! And thank you for relieving my pain- true to your statement- I have had no pain since- what a relief!'

Our dental practice hours are Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm. If you are in pain or in need of emergency dental care, Dr. Hodges and his staff will do their best to fit you into the schedule on the same day.

When you arrive in our Philadelphia dental practice, you will be asked to fill out a detailed health history and sign a HIPPA Patient Privacy Notice. One of our dental assistants will seat you in the operatory and a digital x-ray will be taken of your tooth. The doctor willconsult with you regarding your treatmentand will proceed with endodontic treatment if indicated. After your treatment is completed, you will receive post treatment instructions and a prescription if necessary. You will then need to see your general dentist to have a permanent restoration placed. We may ask you to come back to our dental practice for a follow up in 3 to 6 months if indicated by the treating endodontist.

With anyroot canal treatment, preserving and restoring the health of the tooth and its root is the main objective. AtAssociated Endodontists, P.C., we specialize inroot canal treatment,and ourPhiladelphiateam has a variety of techniques and tools to treat even the most complex cases.

Ourendodontic specialistshave years of training and experience repairing damaged and infected teeth and gums. If infected tissue is not removed or is left untreated, the infection can continue to cause damage and pain. At our practice pain is not an option, so we do our best to ensure your root canal treatment is done properly the first time. While the notion of a root canal may conjure up images of discomfort, the reality of the treatment is quite different; once the pressure is relieved in the root of your tooth, the pain will diminish, and your tooth will be restored to its previous condition. Following root canal treatment at our Philadelphia practice, the prognosis for your tooth should be no different than the rest of your mouth, provided you maintain proper oral hygiene.

Proper diagnosis is the first step in root canal treatment, and is essential to ensuring good oral health for our Philadelphia patients. As with any disease or illness, if left untreated for too long, the damage may be irreversible. An infected tooth may even endanger other parts of the body, creating systemic illnesses, if left untreated. Our team understands the intricacies of diagnosing and treating endodontic disease, and we strive to deliver the best possibility of success for our patients. For individuals suffering from endodontic disease, root canal treatment at our Philadelphia area practice holds the best possibility of success today and the prognosis of a brighter, healthier smile tomorrow.