Convenient Access from Mystic Island
Lagoon living comes with long drives to almost everything, so it helps that Dental Arts Group is only about 21 minutes away in Manahawkin. For residents who want a dentist near Mystic Island with experience in implants, dentures and gum care, the trip is mostly one straight road and the Parkway. We see patients from the lagoon streets, Osborn Island and the rest of the community.
Begin at the volunteer fire company on Radio Road and follow Radio Road (County Route 601) north for roughly 2.5 miles into Tuckerton, where it meets Route 9. Turn onto Route 539, continue north to Garden State Parkway Exit 58, and ride the Parkway north to Exit 63. Route 72 west then brings you about a mile to Barnacle Drive. Expect about 13 miles and 21 minutes for the whole trip.
The office address is 1322 NJ-72 Ste 1, Manahawkin, NJ 08050, in Suite 1 of the office building on Route 72 West. Save our location on Google Maps before you leave. On the way north you pass through Tuckerton and the western side of Little Egg Harbor.
Mystic Island Residents Deserve a Dental Home That Lasts
Mystic Island is a census-designated place within Little Egg Harbor Township in Ocean County, a large and mostly waterfront community first planned as a resort. Developers began building "Mystic Islands" in 1959 on land once called Hickory Island, dredging lagoons until the state stepped in during the early 1970s. Unfinished lagoons still mark Calabreeze Way and Osborn Island today.
The history shows up in small ways. Radio Road takes its name from the Tuckerton Wireless Tower, built in 1912 and long since taken down, and concrete anchor footings from the tower still sit in the neighborhood, including one on South Ensign Drive. At the end of Radio Road, the small bay beach at Graveling Point draws kayakers, anglers and, in early summer, spawning horseshoe crabs.
Many of the original bungalows are being replaced by larger homes raised on pilings, much like on Long Beach Island. Some houses are lived in all year, others mainly in season, and the population is older than average. A practice serving these households needs flexible scheduling, steady records and real experience replacing teeth.
Scheduling is built around weekdays. Mystic Island patients who like to beat the Parkway traffic can book a 6:00 AM start on any Friday, while Tuesday through Thursday open at 8:00 AM and Monday runs until 6:00 PM. We are closed on weekends, so most families pick the window that matches their week and book a few months ahead.
For anyone splitting the year between two homes, we keep x-rays, photos and treatment notes on file between visits. That way a checkup in spring can pick up exactly where the one in fall left off, and our dentists can compare changes over time.
What Lagoon-Community Patients Should Know About Their Smiles
Teeth that have served for sixty or seventy years usually carry decades of fillings and crowns. As gums recede, root surfaces become exposed and more prone to decay. Regular checkups catch these changes before they need major work.
Replacing teeth is a frequent topic in Mystic Island. A single implant restores one gap without touching the neighbors, while implant-supported dentures use two to four implants to anchor a full arch. Many people who have struggled with a slipping denture find that kind of stability makes eating and speaking far easier.
When a tooth has to come out first, our dentists plan the extraction and the replacement together. That gives you a clear path from the first visit to the finished result, rather than a gap that lingers for months without a plan.
Grinding and clenching also take a toll with age, wearing teeth flat and stressing the jaw joints. A custom night guard, printed from a quick digital scan, protects both. For part-time residents, a well-fitting guard also travels easily between homes.
Finally, gum disease often goes unnoticed until teeth feel loose. Periodontal maintenance cleanings, which may increase to every three months, keep treated gums stable over the long term.
New Mystic Island patients begin with The DAG Comprehensive Exam, a detailed baseline repeated every three to five years. It includes digital x-rays, a gum exam, intraoral photos, an oral cancer screening, a review of existing crowns and fillings, and a consultation about any missing teeth. It also screens for sleep-disordered breathing, which matters when snoring keeps a household awake.
Services for Anyone Searching for a Dentist Near Mystic Island
These are the treatments our lagoon-community patients ask about most. Each is handled at our Route 72 office, and costs are discussed with you before any work begins.
Implant Solutions
Single titanium implants, TeethXpress® with Laser-Lok implants, and implant-supported dentures are all offered through Implants & Dentures, along with traditional full and partial dentures.
Night Guards
Night Health covers custom 3D-printed night guards for grinding and TMJ protection, plus oral appliances that treat snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea.
Gum Care
Screening, scaling and root planing, a re-check one month later and ongoing maintenance are the core of our Healthy Gums program.
Repairs
Chipped teeth and old metal fillings can be replaced with tooth-colored composite or digital ceramic crowns through Cavity Repair.
Brighter Smiles
Professional in-office treatment and take-home kits are both available through Teeth Whitening, a simple lift before a family event or a summer of guests.
Our Patient Education pages cover brushing, flossing, bad breath and periodontitis, a handy reference between visits.
Meet Your Mystic Island Dental Team
Patients here are cared for by Dr. Gregory Strait, DMD, and Dr. Viktoriya Halkina, DDS. Dr. Strait, an American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine Diplomate, builds custom oral appliances for snoring and sleep apnea. Dr. Halkina studied psychology at Hunter College before dental school at NYU, and her team-minded style puts comfort first.
Insurance, Membership & Financing
Retirees without dental coverage often choose DAG Prime Savings, which includes an annual exam and cleaning plus 20% off general treatment. We are also in network with many PPO plans, such as Delta Dental, Cigna, MetLife, Aetna and Horizon BCBS. CareCredit and Sunbit offer monthly payments for implant work.
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 Mystic Island, and how do I get there?
The office is about 13 miles from the Mystic Island fire company, typically 21 minutes by car. Radio Road leads north to Route 9 in Tuckerton, then Route 539 to Parkway Exit 58, the Parkway to Exit 63, and Route 72 west. Anyone looking for a dentist near Mystic Island will find the route simple.
What parts make up a dental implant?
A dental implant has three parts: a titanium post placed in the jawbone, an abutment that connects to it, and the visible restoration, such as a crown. Once the post bonds with the bone, it acts like a natural root. Implants can also anchor dentures, typically using two to four posts per arch.
Do you make custom night guards for teeth grinding?
Yes, we make custom night guards that are 3D-printed from a simple three-minute digital scan, with no messy impression trays. They protect teeth from grinding and clenching and help ease strain on the jaw joints. A guard made from your own scan fits closely, which makes it easier to wear every night.
How often do gum disease patients need cleanings?
Many patients treated for gum disease need cleanings more often than twice a year, sometimes increasing to every three months. These periodontal maintenance visits remove bacteria before pockets deepen again. After a deep cleaning, a re-evaluation about one month later helps our dentists set the right interval for you.
Do denture wearers still need regular dental checkups?
Yes, even with no natural teeth, a checkup still matters. Our dentists examine the gums and soft tissues, screen for oral cancer, and check that the denture fits and bites evenly. A denture that has started to rock can cause sore spots, and catching that early keeps chewing comfortable.
Schedule Your Visit from Mystic Island
When you are ready for a dentist near Mystic Island who takes time with you, call 609-739-8975 or book online. We open at 6:00 AM every Friday and stay until 6:00 PM on Mondays. Read about our Manahawkin dentist office, or see the other communities on our Areas We Serve page.
