Carlsbad Dentist Wins $175,000 on Fox's "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?"

Richard Allen, DDS, of Carlsbad's Avia Dental Care, won $175,000 as a contestant on Fox's "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?" on Friday, September 19th.

Dr. Allen was assisted in victory by a class of 5th graders and five colleagues from his office, including Carlsbad residents Diana Lain, Susan Milch, and Jordan Davison as well as Amanda Phillips and Dorothy Davis from Oceanside. He opted to take the money and end the competition after being stumped on a question about the first names of early explorers Lewis and Clark.

"I still don't believe I actually did it!" said Dr. Allen. "I wouldn't have been able to make it without the help of my valuable team."

Team member Diana Lain said, "Being on stage was very nerve-wracking. Being so nervous definitely affected our answers! Dr. Allen did so great, though. He's a risk-taker by nature and was able to win a lot of money!"

When asked what he will do with the winnings, Dr. Allen said, "I will probably donate it to my favorite cause, the education of my two college-age sons!"

About Dr. Allen: Dr. Richard Allen is a 1980 graduate of the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, CA. Currently practicing at Dr. Mark Nocera's Avia Dental Care in Carlsbad, Allen is the proud father of two sons, one at school at UCSD and one at Cal State San Marcos.