Meet Dr. Zak James

ZAK JAMES, DMD

     Dr. Zak James grew up in Florence, SC. He graduated summa cum laude from Clemson University Honors College and received his DMD from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, where he graduated top-5 in his class and earned Omicron Kappa Upsilon honors. He then moved to Boston where he completed a General Practice Residency at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. As a National Health Service Corps scholar, Dr. James returned to the Carolinas to provide care to underserved patient populations. Working as a general dentist in Federally Qualified Health Centers, first in Myrtle Beach and later Gastonia, he observed firsthand the overwhelming need for endodontic care in preserving natural dentition, and decided to pursue specialty training. He moved to Texas, earning his certificate in endodontics from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

     He is currently board eligible and working toward his diplomate status with the American Board of Endodontics. While at San Antonio, Dr. James was appointed to the Foundation for Endodontics Resident Expert Advisory Council (REACH). He continues to actively seek opportunities for innovative domestic access to care partnerships because he believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to save their natural teeth. His resident research project, under the mentorship of Dr. Ken Hargreaves, investigated the role of dietary linoleic acid as a novel mechanism for odontogenic pain, and was awarded second place overall in the oral research presentation category at the 2023 AAE annual meeting! Dr. James was trained to provide the highest level
of evidence-based practice, and believes endodontics should nearly always be a painless, comfortable experience. Dr. James is thrilled to return home to the Carolinas. In his free time, he’s an avid reader, enjoys hiking and backpacking, listening to live music, and watching college football – Go Tigers!