Two dental care professionals

Meet Our Doctors

A high quality of life can often depend on how well you preserve high quality teeth. That’s why it’s so important to put yours in the hands of doctors you can trust. Dr. Kristy Goff Jones and Dr. Jeff Pride bring extensive training and decades of experience to give every patient the skillful treatment and personal care necessary to get them smiling again.

Your smile is in good hands

Dr. Kristy Goff Jones
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Born in Gulfport, Mississippi, Dr. Goff Jones graduated from Gulfport High School before moving to the Jackson area to attend Millsaps College. There she served as president of Chi Omega, graduating in 2003, followed by four years at the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry. After receiving her degree she moved to Boston, Massachusetts to further her education at Tufts Dental School in the Postgraduate Endodontics Department. Her certificate in hand, she returned to the South to join Endodontic Associates.

Dr. Goff Jones is married to Mr. Jud Jones, an attorney in the Jackson area and she has a twin sister, Dr. Misty Goff Roberts, who practices Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Flowood, Mississippi.
Dr. Jeff Pride
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Born in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Pride lived there until his parents were transferred to Clinton, Mississippi where he graduated from Clinton High school, Mississippi College, and the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry. He completed a general practice residency at the VA Hospital in Jackson and then practiced five years in family practice in Clinton. Dr. Pride then decided to further his education, completing an endodontic residency at UAB School of Dentistry in 1993. He moved back to the Jackson area and has been in private practice ever since.

Dr. Pride is married to Marietta Pace Pride of Pearl, MS. They have three adult sons. Clint, the eldest, is married to Emily Maye Pride and is a physician in Columbia, SC. Middle son Chandler is also a physician in Birmingham, AL. And the youngest, J.C. is currently attending medical school in Jackson, MS.
Dr. Austin Huffman
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Born in Homewood, Alabama and raised in Tupelo, Mississippi, Dr. Huffman graduated from Tupelo High School before attending Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. Following college, Dr. Huffman returned to his home state where he completed the Mississippi Teacher Corps. After three years of teaching, Dr. Huffman decided to combine his interests in people, science, and art by pursuing a career in dentistry. He completed his dental education at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He practiced general dentistry for two years before moving to Memphis to complete an Advanced Specialty Education Program in Endodontics at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

Dr. Huffman is married to Alexandra Huffman, PhD. They have two daughters – Frances and Talia, three cats, and a Great Dane – Klaus. In his free time, Dr. Huffman enjoys jogging for exercise.

Frequently asked questions.

What is endodontic therapy?

Endodontic therapy, also known as a root canal, treats the inside of the tooth. Within the tooth, beneath the white enamel and dentin, is a tissue called the pulp. This pulp houses blood vessels and nerves that nourish the tooth when it is developing. Endodontic treatment is beneficial by saving teeth that would otherwise need to be extracted. There is no real substitute for your own tooth.

At Endodontic Associates you will receive care from specialists trained in endodontic conditions. Techniques include microscopic root canal treatment assisted by the latest technology.

Why would I need an endodontic procedure?

Endodontic therapy becomes necessary when the pulp becomes diseased. This can happen because of decay, repeated dental procedures, injury, or a crack in your tooth. Signs that you made need a root canal can include sensitivity to cold, hot and biting pressure; swelling and drainage of the area; and tenderness to touching the area. There can, however, be no symptoms at all.

Will I feel pain during or after the procedure?

With modern techniques and anesthetics, most patients report that they are completely comfortable during the procedure. You will remain awake during the procedure and will receive a local anesthetics at the site of the tooth in question.

The tooth can feel sensitive for the first few days after the procedure. This discomfort can be relieved with over-the counter-medications.

Please see our post-operative sheet for further information.

What is an apicoectomy?

A root canal is usually all that is needed to save teeth from extraction. However, sometimes this non-surgical procedure will not be sufficient to heal the tooth, so your endodontist will recommend surgery. Endodontic surgery can be used to locate fractures or hidden canals that do not appear on x-rays but still manifest pain in the tooth. Damaged root surfaces or the surrounding bone may also be treated with this procedure. This is one of the most common surgeries done to save damaged teeth.

An incision is made in the gum tissue to expose the bone and surrounding inflamed tissue. The damaged tissue is removed along with the end of the root tip. A root-end filling is placed to prevent reinfection of the root and the gum is sutured. Over a period of months, the bone will naturally heal itself around the root, restoring full function.

While the incision heals, there may be some slight swelling or discomfort. This is normal for any surgical procedure. To alleviate any discomfort, an appropriate pain medication will be recommended. If you have pain that does not respond to medication, please call our office.

What is retreatment?

Sometimes, a tooth that has received treatment may fail to heal or pain may continue to exist. In some cases, the pain may occur months or years after treatment. If so, root canal retreatment may be needed.

Improper healing may be caused by:

  • A crown or restoration that was not placed within the appropriate amount of time following the procedure.
  • A crown or restoration that did not prevent saliva from contaminating the inside of the tooth.
  • Curved or narrow canals that were not treated during the initial treatment.
  • Complicated canals that went undetected during the initial treatment.

In some cases, new problems can influence a tooth that was successfully treated:

  • New decay can expose a root canal filling material, causing infection.
  • A cracked or loose filling or crown can expose the tooth to new infection.

Retreatment includes reopening your tooth to gain access to the root canal filling material. The Endodontist will then clean your canals and carefully examine the inside of the tooth. Once cleaned, the canals will be sealed and a filling will be placed in the tooth. Following treatment, you will need to return to your regular dentist as soon as possible in order to have a new crown placed.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions. We’re here when you need us.

Greeting patients