Faculty
Dr. Woody Wooddell and Dr. Joe Passaro are two ordinary guys who do extraordinary dentistry. They met in Dental school at the University of Maryland, and they decided to go into practice together when they graduated. Through the years, Woody and Joe have guided the practice through an incredible evolution. What started as a family practice thirty years ago has grown into an exceptional center for adult restorative dentistry. They spent the first decade or so building the practice and their skills, but their love of dentistry and advances in the field motivated them to seek greater knowledge.
In the mid 90s, recognizing the need to further understand all facets of adult restorative dentistry, they studied occlusion and the concepts of complete dentistry at The Dawson Academy and TMD at Piper Education and Research Center. Their next step was the Seattle Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. Studying under
Dr. Frank Spear, one of their most influential mentors, they learned to incorporate facial and dental esthetic analysis and diagnosis with stable functional concepts. Their journey through the Spear curriculum spanned almost a decade. They have also trained with Dr. Jack Turbyfill, recognized as the master clinician in removable prosthodontics, and Dr. Robert Faulkner both of whom they consider invaluable mentors.
Never ones to let technology pass them by, Woody and Joe developed an interest in computer-guided implant placement when dental cone beam CT scans and 3-D graphics became available and were early students of Dr. Thomas Balshi.
Together, Woody and Joe have amassed a wealth of knowledge and expertise in complex esthetic, restorative and implant dentistry. Through their constant encouragement and support of each other, they tackle some of the most complex cases—what they like to call "dental train wrecks." Their success with these types of cases was noticed by their colleagues and dental implant companies, such as Nobel Biocare, Biomet 3i and BioHorizons. Woody and Joe were happy to accept requests from other dentists to be their mentors and to accept speaking engagements for the various implant companies, as well as area study clubs, labs and dental societies.
In addition to the courses at the CDEC, Woody and Joe continue to lecture at various events sponsored by other organizations. To them, teaching is not only rewarding, but it also pushes them to take their own knowledge to the next level.
"Joe and Woody do more than pull it all together from the people they have studied with. They break it down and synthesize it, creating a greater whole."
~ Dr. J.R.
State College, PA
