Endodontists in Chattanooga

June 15, 2026

Most Chattanooga residents first hear the word endodontist when a family dentist refers them for a problem deep inside a tooth. That referral is built into how dental care is organized. A general dentist manages the broad menu of cleanings, fillings, and crowns and handles many routine root canals, but molars with complicated canal anatomy, teeth that need a root canal redone, and cases requiring surgery typically move to a specialist. An endodontist is exactly that specialist, concentrating on the soft pulp and the system of root canals that carry a tooth’s nerves and blood supply. The everyday work covers diagnosing tooth pain, root canal therapy and retreatment of root canals that failed, apicoectomy and other endodontic surgery, and the care of cracked teeth and traumatic dental injuries.

The reason such work is concentrated in dedicated offices is the training behind it. An endodontist earns a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) and then completes two or more years of residency in an accredited endodontic program. The American Dental Association recognizes endodontics as one of its formal specialties, and a dentist who satisfies the American Board of Endodontics may carry the title of Diplomate, commonly described as board certification. Chattanooga has the population base to support a handful of these practices. Home to roughly 185,783 people as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau) and serving as a regional medical center for southeast Tennessee, the city anchors several specialty offices, a number of them clustered near the Hamilton Place and Shallowford Road area in Hamilton County.

The tools those offices use are chosen for precision in a tight space. Surgical operating microscopes magnify the treatment field, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) delivers three-dimensional images of root and canal anatomy that conventional X-rays cannot show, and digital radiography keeps radiation exposure down. Some Chattanooga practices add nitrous oxide or oral sedation for anxious patients. Every piece of it points toward the same goal of saving the natural tooth, since a root canal that succeeds is frequently a more conservative path than extraction and replacement with an implant or bridge.

Verification is straightforward and worth doing before an appointment. Tennessee licenses dentists and dental specialists through the Tennessee Board of Dentistry, which sits under the Tennessee Department of Health and licenses and regulates dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants while investigating complaints to protect public health. Endodontics has no separate license; the specialist practices under a Tennessee dental license within the recognized specialty. A patient can confirm active licensure and review any disciplinary history through the Department of Health system at apps.health.tn.gov/Licensure by searching the dentist’s name, city, or practice. Complaints about a licensed dentist may go to the Board of Dentistry, and broader consumer protection matters fall to the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). The information here is a general overview for Chattanooga consumers and is not dental or medical advice; treatment decisions should be made with a licensed dentist or endodontist who has examined the patient.

Top Endodontists Providers in Chattanooga

1. Center for Endodontics

Address: 6101 Shallowford Road, Suite 101, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: (423) 894-8942
Website: https://www.thecenterforendodontics.com
Services: root canal therapy, endodontic retreatment, endodontic surgery (apicoectomy), microscopic endodontics, cracked tooth treatment, traumatic injury management, nitrous oxide sedation, oral sedation
Description: Center for Endodontics is a Chattanooga specialty practice on Shallowford Road led by Dr. John P. Hoover, DDS, and Dr. Ilse Longerich, DMD, MS, both members of the American Association of Endodontists. The practice limits its work to endodontics, offering root canal therapy and retreatment, endodontic surgery including apicoectomy, microscopic endodontics, cracked tooth treatment, and management of traumatic injuries, along with nitrous oxide and oral sedation options. From its single Chattanooga location, the practice notes it serves surrounding communities including Cleveland, Jasper, Manchester, Pikeville, South Pittsburg, and Winchester.

2. Chattanooga Endodontics

Address: 4109 Mountain View Avenue, Suite 400, Chattanooga, TN 37415
Phone: (423) 287-6150
Website: https://chatt-endo.com
Services: root canal therapy (endodontic therapy), endodontic retreatment, endodontic surgery, cracked tooth treatment
Description: Chattanooga Endodontics is a specialty practice on Mountain View Avenue in the North Chattanooga area, led by Dr. Sanders. The practice focuses exclusively on diagnosing and treating problems of the dental pulp and root canal system, providing root canal therapy, retreatment, endodontic surgery, and treatment of cracked teeth. The office uses a surgical microscope, cone beam CT (CBCT) 3D imaging, and digital radiography, and it describes a commitment to current advances in endodontics including three-dimensional imaging and microscopic treatment.

3. Southeastern Endodontics

Address: 2030 Hamilton Place Boulevard, Suite 380, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: (423) 892-4727
Website: https://www.seendo.net
Services: root canal therapy, endodontic retreatment, endodontic surgery, cracked tooth treatment, traumatic dental injury care, treatment of infected and abscessed teeth, internal bleaching, rotary endodontics
Description: Southeastern Endodontics is a Chattanooga specialty practice near Hamilton Place, led by Dr. Matthew Brock, DDS, MSD, and Dr. Yvette Burns, DDS, MS, each holding an advanced master’s degree alongside a dental degree. The practice describes more than 20 years of endodontic care and provides root canal therapy and retreatment, endodontic surgery, treatment of cracked teeth and traumatic dental injuries, care for infected and abscessed teeth, internal bleaching, and rotary endodontics. The office uses digital X-rays as part of its diagnostic approach and operates from a single Chattanooga location.

Frequently Asked Questions About Endodontists in Chattanooga

Q: What is the difference between an endodontist and a general dentist in Chattanooga?

Both are licensed dentists, but an endodontist has completed two or more additional years of accredited residency training focused on the dental pulp and root canal system. General dentists perform many routine root canals, while endodontists concentrate on root canal therapy, retreatment, endodontic surgery such as apicoectomy, and complex cases involving difficult canal anatomy, cracked teeth, or dental trauma. A Chattanooga family dentist will often refer more complicated cases to an endodontist.

Q: How do I verify that a Chattanooga endodontist is licensed?

Dentists and dental specialists in Tennessee are licensed by the Tennessee Board of Dentistry under the Tennessee Department of Health. You can confirm that a provider holds an active license, and review any disciplinary history, through the Department of Health license verification system at apps.health.tn.gov/Licensure by searching the dentist’s name, city, or practice name.

Q: Is endodontics a recognized dental specialty?

Yes. Endodontics is one of the dental specialties formally recognized by the American Dental Association. An endodontist holds a DDS or DMD degree plus advanced residency training, and a specialist who meets the requirements of the American Board of Endodontics may carry the title of Diplomate, commonly described as board certified.

Q: What technology do Chattanooga endodontists commonly use?

Many Chattanooga endodontic practices use surgical operating microscopes for magnification, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for three-dimensional imaging of root and canal anatomy, and digital radiography to reduce radiation exposure. Some offices also offer nitrous oxide or oral sedation. Patients can ask a specific practice which technologies and sedation options it uses during a consultation.

Q: Will I need to see an endodontist for a root canal, or can my dentist do it?

It depends on the tooth and the case. Many general dentists perform straightforward root canals, particularly on front teeth with simpler anatomy. They often refer molars, retreatment of failed root canals, surgical cases, and teeth with complex or curved canals to an endodontist who performs these procedures regularly. The referring dentist usually places the final crown or restoration after the endodontic treatment is complete.

Q: Where can I file a complaint about a dental provider in Chattanooga?

Complaints about a licensed dentist or endodontist can be submitted to the Tennessee Board of Dentistry through the Tennessee Department of Health. Broader consumer protection concerns, such as deceptive business practices, can be directed to the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, which enforces the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Keeping records of treatment, communications, and payments helps support any complaint.