Convenient Access from Waretown
A quick 14-minute run down the Garden State Parkway connects Waretown with Dental Arts Group, so a dentist near Waretown does not have to mean a long drive north. Our Manahawkin office sits on Route 72 West, and our dentists offer cleanings, sealants, Invisalign, whitening, root canal care and night guards for the whole household.
From Albert Music Hall on Wells Mills Road, head west on County Route 532 for about 2 miles to Parkway Exit 69. Take the Parkway south roughly 6 miles to Exit 63, then follow Route 72 west for less than a mile. Turn at Barnacle Drive, and the office is at 1322 NJ-72 Ste 1, Suite 1 of a shared office building.
Door to door it is close to 10 miles. Homes closer to Route 9 or the bay change the first few turns, so check our Google Maps listing from your own address. Patients from Barnegat, one exit to the south, and from Forked River just to the north use the same Parkway route.
Why Waretown Families Make the Short Trip South
Waretown is the main community of Ocean Township, and plenty of people use the name for the whole township. It sits between Barnegat Bay and the Pine Barrens, with bay neighborhoods such as Barnegat Beach, Holiday Beach and Skippers Cove on one side and forest on the other. Albert Music Hall, home of weekly Pinelands music shows since the hall opened in 1997, is a local institution.
There is a practical reason Manahawkin already feels familiar to many Waretown parents. Ocean Township's own schools teach pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, at Waretown Elementary and Frederic A. Priff Elementary. After that, students head to Southern Regional Middle School and Southern Regional High School, both in Manahawkin.
That means a teenager's dental visit can sit close to where the school day already ends. Parents who drive the Parkway for work can line up their own cleanings on the same stretch of road.
For commuters, Friday stands out. The office opens at 6:00 AM every Friday and closes at 3:00 PM, so an early cleaning can come before the workday. Tuesday through Thursday run from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and the office is closed Saturday and Sunday.
It is an active place to raise kids. The Barnegat Branch Trail follows the old rail line through town, with Waretown at the midpoint of its stretch north from Barnegat, and the Lighthouse Center for Natural Resource Education sits right on the bay. Active kids need their teeth protected as much as their knees.
What Waretown Residents Should Know About Family Dental Care
Middle school is when a lot of dental changes arrive at once. The last baby teeth fall out, the second permanent molars come in, and crowding becomes easier to see. Those new molars are the teeth sealants protect best, and the years around seventh and eighth grade are a good time to check them. Placing a sealant involves no drilling and no numbing.
High schoolers face a different set of risks. Sports drinks, energy drinks and grazing between classes keep teeth bathed in sugar and acid. Busy teens also skip flossing, and gums that bleed during a cleaning are often the first sign. A cleaning every six months gives our dentists a chance to catch those changes while they are small.
Outdoor life is a big part of growing up here. Wells Mills County Park, Ocean County's largest park, covers roughly 910 acres of Pinelands forest off Wells Mills Road, and Waretown Lake has a swimming beach and tennis courts. The Wells Mills County Park page lists what is open there.
Every new patient begins with The DAG Comprehensive Exam, which sets a baseline with digital x-rays, a gum exam, intraoral photos and an oral cancer screening. Adults also get a screening for sleep-disordered breathing, which can uncover snoring or apnea that has gone unnoticed.
Cost is often the first question. New patients without insurance can start with a $99 cleaning, exam and x-ray when there is no periodontal disease. For a toothache or an overdue checkup, the $69 exam and x-ray is available to new patients only.
Care Plans From a Dentist Near Waretown
These five services fit the way Waretown households live, from middle schoolers to commuting parents.
Sealants and Cleanings
Cavity & Disease Prevention includes check-ups, cleanings, digital x-rays, sealants and in-office fluoride varnish for children, teens and braces wearers.
Invisalign for Teens and Adults
Invisalign uses clear, removable aligners mapped from an iTero digital scan, with check-ins typically every six to eight weeks.
Whitening Before Big Events
For proms, graduations and family photos, professional Teeth Whitening is done in the office, with take-home whitening also offered.
Root Canal Care
A lingering toothache, sensitivity to hot or cold or swollen gums can signal infection. Endodontics care treats it with root canal therapy or retreatment.
Night Guards and Sleep Appliances
Stress and long commutes can show up as grinding. Night Health offers 3D-printed night guards and oral appliances for snoring and sleep apnea.
Meet Your Waretown Dental Team
Dr. Gregory Strait, DMD, studied health at Georgetown University, earned his dental degree at Penn and was named Resident of the Year at Albert Einstein Medical Center. As a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, he handles the sleep side of Night Health care.
Dr. Viktoriya Halkina, DDS, trained at NYU College of Dentistry after research work at Rockefeller University, where she contributed to three published neuroscience studies. She also holds a master's in oral biology, and she balances appearance, comfort and longevity when planning treatment.
Insurance, Membership & Financing
Patients with PPO coverage will find us in network with many plans, including Delta Dental, Cigna, MetLife, Aetna and Horizon BCBS. HMO, DMO, Medicaid and Medicare plans are not taken.
Uninsured families can join DAG Prime Savings for no deductibles, no copays and 20% off general treatment. CareCredit and Sunbit are available for larger plans. The office also takes cash, checks and most major credit cards, and every cost is reviewed before treatment begins.
What Others Are Saying
Can’t thank the doctor and his team enough! Always very nice and welcoming. Top-notch! Will continue to always go back when needed!
Cody S.
My husband and I are new patients at Dental Arts Group! We are very happy with the doctor and the entire team! If we could we’d give them 10 stars! Thank you again!
Peggy J.
My husband and I have had the best experience with this office. The team is helpful and friendly, we are always greeted with a smile! The doctor is an amazing dentist. He always makes each visit a piece of cake! He listens to our concerns and explains what to expect and steps he will be taking. If we could, we would give this office 100 stars. Definitely recommend if you need a dentist. Could not thank them enough for making us smile again!
Mary H.
Excellent team and atmosphere. The front desk is helpful and friendly, as was the hygienist that took care of me. The doctor was amazing as well. I’m happy to say after many years of trying to find a new dentist, I’ve finally found where I’ll be visiting from now on.
Kristian F.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Dental Arts Group from Waretown, and how do I get there?
We are roughly 10 miles from Albert Music Hall, about a 14-minute drive. Take Wells Mills Road (County Route 532) west to Parkway Exit 69, ride south to Exit 63 and follow Route 72 west to Barnacle Drive. For anyone choosing a dentist near Waretown, nearly all of the drive is on the Parkway.
Can my teen get Invisalign while playing sports?
Yes. Invisalign aligners are removable, so a teen can take them out for a game and wear a mouthguard instead, then put the aligners back in afterward. The key is getting back to at least 22 hours of wear each day. Treatment time varies by case, and steady wear keeps it on track.
Do sealants need to be replaced as kids get older?
Sometimes. Sealants can last for years, but chewing can wear them down or chip an edge. Our dentists check them at each cleaning and touch up or reapply any that are worn. Newly erupted molars, including the second molars that appear around the middle school years, can be sealed once they come in.
What can parents do at home to prevent cavities between visits?
Twice-daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste and daily flossing do most of the work. Limiting sweet drinks and constant snacking gives teeth time to recover between meals. Water is the best drink between meals, and our Patient Education materials show kids proper brushing and flossing technique in simple terms.
How often should children and teens have checkups?
Most children and teens do well with a checkup and cleaning every six months. Kids with braces, frequent cavities or gum irritation may need closer follow-up. Fridays start at 6:00 AM, which can help fit a visit in before school, and Mondays run until 6:00 PM for after-school visits.
Schedule Your Visit from Waretown
Ready to set up care with a dentist near Waretown? Call 609-739-8975 or book online, and our team will help you choose a time that suits your commute. Our Manahawkin dentist page has more on the practice, and the Areas We Serve page lists every Ocean County community we welcome.
