Dr. Matthew Word
Dr. Word was a student at Thornwell High School in Clinton, SC when he realized he wanted to pursue a career in dentistry. The appeal revolved around working with people, helping them maintain or improve their health, and being able to provide favorable results almost immediately.
It is gratifying to have a patient who enters our office in pain leave feeling significantly better while knowing their particular issue has been adequately addressed, he says.
After graduating high school, this Laurens native went to Clemson University and majored in health science. He then went on to the Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine, where he earned his doctorate in dental medicine in 2007.
It was there he met his wife, Kristen, who was also a student at MUSC and a Clemson alumna. Dr. Word practiced dentistry for two years in Charleston before moving back upstate and becoming the owner of Lyman Family Dentistry. After five years in Lyman, he and his wife truly felt called to move back to this special place to continue their careers and raise their family.
Dr. Word purchased Park Place Dentistry in Seneca in May 2014 and built Seneca Family Dentistry in 2018. He enjoys providing general, cosmetic and implant dentistry; root canal therapy; and wisdom teeth removal.
Dr. Word and his wife have a daughter named Morgan and a son named Landon. He and his family love to spend all their time together attending Clemson sporting events and boating on the lake.
Dr. Word is a member of the American Dental Association and the current president of Tri-County Dental Association.
Dr. Al Johnson
Dr. Johnson was born in South Carolina and received his undergraduate degree from Clemson University in 1987 and his Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS) in 1992 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dr. Johnson and his wife, Karla, moved to York, SC in 1993. After practicing dentistry with his uncle for 5 years, he built his own office in 1998. Dr. Johnson sold his practice in 2019, and he and his wife are excited to move to the Seneca area. Al and Karla have two sons, Cas and Garrett, who are also Clemson graduates.
Dr. Johnson is a member of the American Dental Association and the S.C. Dental Association. He served a 3 year term as a delegate for the SCDA, representing York County, and is a past President of the Tri-County Dental Society. Besides his involvement in the dental organizations, he served as President of the York Rotary Club 2000-2001. Dr. Johnson is also a former trustee (2008-2016) of York School District #1.
In his spare time, Dr. Johnson enjoys traveling, playing golf, attending Clemson sporting events, and spending time with family and friends on Lake Keowee.
Dr. Ruth Phillips
Dr. Phillips received her undergraduate degree from Miami University in Ohio and her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) in 1986 from The Ohio State University, College of Dentistry. Upon graduation, Dr. Phillips completed a General Practice Residency at Emory University in Atlanta. In 1999, Dr. Phillips opened her own dental practice in Marietta Georgia where she provided a broad range of services.
She continued her education with intensive training in Implant Placement and Restoration at the Medical College of Georgia, Aligner Orthodontics, and Sedation Dentistry at the University of Alabama. She is a member of the American Academy of General Dentistry, America Dental Association, Georgia/South Carolina Dental Association, Hinman Dental Society, and the Dental Organization of Conscious Sedation. She currently volunteers as the medical director at the Oconee Memorial Hospital Dental Clinic.
Dr. Phillips sold her dental practice in 2016 and moved to Salem, South Carolina with her husband Scott, both are thrilled to be here to enjoy all of what the area and Lake Keowee has to offer.
Dr. Phillips and her husband have 3 grown children, Chris, Haley, and Sarah. They have two adorable grandchildren, Luke and Riley. In their free time, they enjoy spending time with each other, family, and friends, boating, hiking, and playing with their three fur babies, yellow Lab Sophie, along with Barnes and Noble, feline brothers. Dr. Phillips also enjoys painting and reading.
“I am very Excited to be working together with Dr. Word, Dr. Johnson, and the entire Seneca Family Dentistry team caring for the oral health and wellbeing of our residents in the area”.
Dental Hygienists
Thalia
Sara
Betty
Dental Assistants
Heather Marie
Brea
Lyndsay
Jamie
Front Office
Renee
Cathy
