Endodontics is the branch of dentistry focused on the dental pulp and the tissues surrounding the roots of teeth. Endodontists are referred to as specialists in saving teeth because they are committed to helping patients maintain their natural smile for life. Endodontists are in fact dentists, but they have also completed additional years of training beyond dental school. This additional education is concentrated on preserving natural teeth through highly specialized dental procedures such as root canals or endodontic retreatments.
At Endodontic Group, we pride ourselves on utilizing complex procedures and the latest medical technology to save natural teeth and preserve your smile. For many patients, a diseased tooth or infected root canal can be saved through the advanced endodontic treatments performed by our specialists.
It is often said that we stand on the shoulders of those that have gone before us. In the early 1960s Dr. Charlie Scott and Dr. Joe Mosier (pictured to the right) came together and became the first practicing endodontists in Chattanooga, forming Endodontic Group. These men pioneered endodontics in east Tennessee, and it was my pleasure to join practice with Dr. Joe Mosier in 1995. Dr. Joe Mosier and I practiced together for 14 years before his retirement in 2009. It is with great pride that today I carry forward the tradition of excellence in endodontics in Chattanooga.
My career in endodontics took a less traditional path than most dentists. I graduated from the University of Alabama in 1983 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, and actually practiced engineering for 4 years before returning to school to pursue a career in dentistry. In 1992, I graduated from The University of Alabama School of Dentistry in Birmingham and began a 1-year fellowship in restorative dentistry. After my fellowship, I completed a 2-year endodontic residency that then lead me to Chattanooga to begin practicing with Dr. Joe Mosier and Endodontic Group.
My Involvement in the dental community nationally, regionally, and locally is very important to me. Through these organizations I am able to give back to my profession. Being a Specialist Membership in the American Association of Endodontics (AAE), and the American Dental Association (ADA) have provided me invaluable access to a group of colleagues whose research and knowledge continue to shape the work that I do. I have also been recognized by my peers as a Fellow of the International College of Dentistry and a Fellow of the American College of Dentistry.
I currently serve as a Tennessee Representative to the ADA House of Delegates that allows me to have influence in ongoing concerns of our dental profession on the national level. I have been a Member of the Tennessee Association of Endodontists (TAE), Southern Endodontic Study Group, and the Tennessee Dental Association (TDA) where I have served as a Committee Member in various roles. Locally, I am a member of the Chattanooga Area Dental Society where I have served as President, and currently serve as a Board Member. I am also a member and past president of The Tennessee Valley Study Group, which meets monthly to discuss current topics in dentistry.
I love my job, and being able to help those in our community. But, more than anything else, I love my family. My beautiful wife, Lynn, and I have 4 children, 2 grandchildren, and a dog named Beau, another honorary member of our family. We have been blessed beyond measure! Spending time together on the lake, fishing and hunting with my boys, and cooking with my girls, are some of the things I enjoy most.
