Our History
“Dr. Joe” and “Dr. Woody” met during dental school where their friendship grew out of mutual respect, integrity, and strong work ethic. After graduation, they opened their office in October 1981. That office was quickly outgrown as their family practice blossomed and they built a larger, state-of-the-art facility upstairs at the same location. As the practice expanded, they realized their affinity for complex adult restorative dentistry.
In 1996, recognizing the need to further understand all facets of this type of dentistry, they enrolled in the programs at the Dawson Center for Advanced Dental Study, one of the nation’s premier centers for comprehensive dental studies. With Dr. Peter Dawson as a mentor, they mastered the concepts of occlusion and the treatment of occlusal (bite) disease, incorporating these skills into their everyday practice. After completing these courses, they went on to the Piper Education Research Center for an in-depth study of diagnosis and treatment of TMJ disorders and dysfunction. Included in these studies were MRI imaging and interpretation of the TMJ, splint fabrication, and correlation of the displaced disk and its’ effect on the occlusion.
Their next step was the Seattle Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. Under the tutelage of Dr. Frank Spear, they learned to incorporate facial and dental esthetic analysis and diagnosis with stable functional concepts. Dr. Spear is world-renowned for his expertise in dental materials and esthetic techniques. His impact on the doctors had been invaluable leading the doctors to establish their own interdisciplinary approach. Dr. Spear’s curriculum was completed in 2005. They have also trained with Dr. Walter “Jack” Turbyfill, one of the nation’s most recognized figures in complete denture fabrication. With Dr. Turbyfill’s technique, denture fabrication has become more predictable, with superior aesthetics, stability, and function. Fabrication of a well-fitting, esthetic denture is of paramount importance to the success of an implant-supported prosthesis.
In the late 1980’s they developed an interest in dental implants. They developed a team approach incorporating a local network of orthodontists, periodontists and oral surgeons in the diagnoses and treatment of patients’ needs and started restoring dental implants. Under the guidance of Drs. Wooddell and Passaro, this network of specialists perform each treatment in a pre-planned sequence. The doctors have completed a program for complex implant diagnosis and treatment called the Synergy Training Program with Dr. Robert Faulkner, a renowned implant prosthodontist from Cincinnati, Ohio. This established a solid base for their expertise in immediate function implant cases.
They then trained with Dr. Thomas Balshi, of Prosthodontics Intermedica at The Institute for Facial Esthetics in computer-guided implant placement for single-tooth application, multiple-tooth application, or a full arch with immediate function upon placement of the implants.
As their knowledge and technical ability grew, they assimilated their vast knowledge into a singular program proven to effectively diagnose the problem, develop an appropriate treatment plan, and implement the optimum solution for any restorative or esthetic case: Systematic Treatment Evaluation Protocol or STEP™. Dr. Woody and Dr. Joe recognized that STEP™ was an innovative and valuable tool for any practitioner. So, they merged their passion for complex restorative and esthetic interdisciplinary dentistry with personal, hands-on, small-group, implementation-focused, and peer-supported learning to create the Chesapeake Dental Education Center (CDEC). While they no longer offer programs at the CDEC, they continue to train other dentists in STEP™ through programs sponsored by dental companies like ZimVie.
In 2022, Dr. James Wooddell, Jr., aka “Dr. Jamie” joined his dad and Dr. Joe in the practice after spending a few years honing his skills in other dental offices. Like Dr. Woody and Dr. Joe, Dr. Jamie is committed to continuing education and mastering cutting-edge dental technologies and procedures.