Dr. Ilse Longerich was born in South Africa and moved to the United States when she was young. Although a little rusty at times, she can still speak Afrikaans! She grew up in Southern California where she attended UC Santa Barbara for her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. Between learning how to surf and graduating with high honors, she served as president of the Pre-Dental Organization where her interest in dentistry grew. She moved across the country to Philadelphia, PA where she earned her Doctorate in Dental Medicine from Temple University School of Dentistry as an Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program recipient. Following dental school, she commissioned as a dental officer in the U.S Army and completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency at Fort Sill, OK. Following her residency, she was assigned to Fort Hood, TX where she took great pride in preserving the dental health of our soldiers. Her time in the Army allowed her unique professional experiences like crowning a military working dog’s tooth and getting trained in combat casualty care. At the conclusion of her active duty service, Dr. Longerich returned to the civilian sector to follow her passion for endodontics. She completed her endodontic residency at University of Louisville where she received a Certificate in Endodontics and a Master of Science in Dentistry.

Dr. Longerich now practices in Tennessee and is proud to treat patients at Elite Endodontics. She is an active member of the Nashville Dental Association, Tennessee Dental Association, American Dental Association, and the American Association of Endodontists. She is board eligible and currently pursuing her board certification. 

When not in the dental office, Dr. Longerich enjoys spending time outdoors, horseback riding, traveling, and exploring the Nashville food scene. However, she’s just as content at her Bellevue home reading a book and hanging out with her two Ragdoll kitties, Mocha and Kona.