For Dr. Andrew “AJ” Robbins, a dentist from Kingsport, Tennessee, dentistry is more than a profession; it’s a calling.
A distinguished member of the Endodontics Residency Program at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry, Dr. Robbins’ passion and dedication to root canal care have quickly made him a rising star in the field.
Dr. Robbins will complete dental school in 2024 and is currently pursuing his endodontic specialty training. Although he ultimately chose dentistry as his career path, his path wasn’t always smooth.
During college, he played football at East Tennessee State University and explored various fields, including engineering, science, and finance. Ultimately, dentistry, with its combination of hands-on practice and the commitment to helping others, captivated him.
“I’ve always loved working with my hands,” Dr. Robbins says. “Dentistry offers a perfect blend of science, medicine, and manual skills, allowing me to truly help patients.”
Influenced by the fathers of his football teammates who were dentists, his interest in dentistry grew, and he determined to pursue this path.
When Dr. Robbins chose to pursue dentistry, he had no hesitation. He valued the university’s exceptional academic resources and his desire to establish roots in Tennessee and serve his hometown community.
Dr. Robbins’ clinical practice as a student instilled a deep love for root canal therapy. “Root canal therapy not only relieves patients’ pain but also helps them save their teeth, allowing them to regain a normal diet and quality of life,” he says.
Through his tireless efforts, Dr. Robbins set an astonishing record in root canal therapy—114 procedures, far exceeding the three to five performed by most of his classmates. He expresses his deep gratitude to his faculty for their trust and guidance, as well as to his classmates for their support and referrals.
“I didn’t set out to break records, but starting in my third year, I devoted significant time and energy to practicing root canal therapy. My professors saw my progress and gave me more opportunities, even handling complex molar cases.
Many classmates referred me to patients who needed root canal therapy, and I’m grateful to be able to help them,” Dr. Robbins humbly remarked.
He described endodontics as a perfect blend of technical expertise and patient care, and spoke of the important role of faith in his choice of professional path: “Through prayer, I gained wisdom and realized my passion for the technical challenges and for making a difference in patients’ lives.”
After completing his residency in 2026, Dr. Robbins plans to return to Kingsport with his wife, Erin, a professor he met in college.
He hopes to open his own dental practice in his hometown and even promote root canal treatment in Northeast Tennessee, where medical resources are relatively scarce, to help more patients avoid tooth extraction.
Dr. Robbins is also excited about the new dental practice at Kingsport Dental College and plans to teach part-time in the future, sharing his passion for endodontics and cultivating the next generation of dental professionals.
Looking back on his journey, Dr. Robbins is grateful for the companionship and support of his mentors, peers, and faith. “My success is not just due to hard work; it’s also due to the dedication of so many people behind the scenes.
I am fortunate to have studied at the University of Texas Health Science Center, and I look forward to bringing what I’ve learned back home and giving back to my community,” he said.
