Rooting Interest
Like his fellow clinicians at the Pennsylvania Center for Dental Implants and Periodontics, Dr. Eric Schoenebeck strives to improve each patient’s smile and quality of life.
Eric F. Schoenebeck, D.M.D., knew early on that he wanted to work in health care. He credits the dentists and physicians who cared for him as an adolescent for putting him on this path.
“I played a lot of sports growing up, from swimming and track in school to the sports I played after school, like street hockey, full-contact basketball, and sandlot football,” says Dr. Schoenebeck, who came of age in the Reading area. “Reading Hospital could have had a wing named after my family based on all the injuries we had from playing sports. That’s what started me thinking about a career in health care, and I knew I always wanted to help people.”
Initially he envisioned a career in sports medicine. Considering the “artistic streak” he inherited from his father’s side of the family, as well as his appreciation for the challenge of “taking things apart and putting them back together,” he learned that dentistry would more closely align with his personality.
Dr. Schoenebeck joined the Pennsylvania Center for Dental Implants and Periodontics nearly three years ago, after honing his skills with another dental practice in the area. He specializes in advanced dental implant procedures, gum and bone-grafting techniques, and regenerative treatments to combat periodontal disease. He works alongside fellow clinicians Philip L. Fava II, D.M.D., and Robert A. Levine, D.D.S., both of whom he considers mentors.
“Phil is nine years my junior, but I still consider him a mentor because of everything he has taught me,” says Dr. Schoenebeck, who works primarily out of the practice’s Ambler office. “It’s easy to follow someone like him, because the message is clear and you know he’s making decisions for the right reasons. I like working in that kind of practice, because you can reach out and offer each other a different perspective. That kind of setup ultimately benefits the patient.”
Dr. Schoenebeck, who earned his dental doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, is board certified in periodontics and a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. In addition, he recently became credentialed in laser dentistry, meaning he now has “another arrow in the quiver” for treating patients. As a result, he can now provide less invasive options such as LANAP®, short for Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure. LANAP has the potential to save ailing teeth that otherwise would require surgical extraction, all while reducing the risk of systemic and chronic inflammation.
Dr. Schoenebeck spent 23 years in the U.S. Armed Forces, splitting his time between active duty and the reserves until his retirement in March 2021. He says serving his country—and addressing his fellow sailors’ dental needs—taught him lessons that inform his decision making to this day.
“Sometimes you would have sailors who were deploying in a few days come in to have [dental] work done,” he recalls. “You had to think outside the box to help them in such a short amount of time. That experience helps me think about cases differently even now.”
Away from the office, Dr. Schoenebeck enjoys being with his active, nature-loving family. He uses his free time to hike, camp, and cook, as well as root for his hometown sports teams. Work, however, is never far from his mind, because he finds joy in the ability to improve patients’ smiles as well as their quality of life.
The Pennsylvania Center for Dental Implants and Periodontics has experienced considerable growth in recent years, expanding its referral network and serving a steadily increasing patient population. Dr. Schoenebeck attributes the growth to the practice’s reputation for predictable outcomes and a genuine desire to give each patient a great experience.
“The general scope of our practice continues to grow, meaning we’re able to help patients of all ages, from kids who need grafts as they prepare for braces to people in their 70s or even older who need dental implants,” he says. “No matter who the patient is, we’re going to make sure we give each patient 100 percent of our attention. It’s been a great three years for me, and I’m excited to see where we go from here.”
Pennsylvania Center for Dental Implants and Periodontics
www.padentalimplants.com
www.padentalimplants.com
140 E. Butler Ave.
Ambler, PA 19002
(215) 643-4393
Ambler, PA 19002
(215) 643-4393
Einstein Center One, Suite 211-212
9880 Bustleton Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19115
(215) 677-8686
9880 Bustleton Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19115
(215) 677-8686
Photograph by Nina Lea Photography
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, January 2022.
