Our History
Although Endodontics was officially recognized as a dental specialty by the American Dental Association in 1963, Dr. Dan Jacobs opened an Endodontic office one year earlier in 1962, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. At that time, many people viewed this choice as quite a risky venture because most Endodontic specialists were choosing to work in urban centers like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, where a practice’s acceptance was more predictable. However, Dr. Dan Jacobs established such a successful practice that his brother Milton left his general dentistry practice in Pittsburgh to join Dan in 1963, and they worked together at an office at 2431 North Second St. in Harrisburg.
1972 proved to be a very pivotal year in the history of the Endodontic office for two reasons: First, hurricane Agnes caused severe flooding in Harrisburg which devastated all the homes and offices near the Susquehanna River, including their office. Second, Milton and Dan took different courses as Milton chose to rebuild and continue the practice, while Dan decided to move to Florida and practice there. Milton completed the cleanup and began looking for some much needed help for his growing practice.
Dr. Gregory Kadel, and Dr. Alan Ehrenreich joined him in 1974. In the bicentennial year of 1976 Dr. Henry Rankow arrived, and the practice expanded to a second location on Chocolate Avenue in Hershey, Pennsylvania. After several years of continuous growth, Dr. Tim Futato joined the group in 1981. The foundation was laid for the Endodontics Associates of today.
As Root Canal treatment was receiving more recognition and acceptance in the general population, the service which Endodontics Associates provided to the community continued to advance. In 1983, a second office in Harrisburg was opened on Colonial Road. When Milton Jacobs retired in 1985, he left the group a legacy of wisdom and life experience.
In order to continue to modernize and grow, the decision was made in 1989, to consolidate the Harrisburg offices and close the original Second Street office. The next logical step was to provide convenient service to the west shore patients by opening another office on St. Johns Church Rd, in 1989. Expansion to a third office could only provide quality care if there was adequate staffing. Endodontics Associates eventually welcomed more members: Dr. Wayne Paymer in 1996, Dr. Robert Drnach in 2000, Dr. Ibukun Olagbemi in 2008, Dr. Shane Curtis and Dr. Luis Franco in 2020.
Through the years, the goal of Endodontics Associates has been to provide the community with the most current, excellent, caring quality of treatment. Today the philosophy remains unchanged. There is pride in the accomplishments of the practice, and determination to continue to maintain the support and confidence of both the dental community and the patients.