Convenient Access from Ocean Acres
Nautilus Drive to our front door takes about 6 minutes, which puts Dental Arts Group in Manahawkin within easy reach of any family that wants a dentist near Ocean Acres, and the drive never touches the Garden State Parkway. Our office is on Route 72 West in Suite 1, where our dentists care for young children, school-age kids, teens and the adults who drive them. Checkups, sealants, white fillings, gum care and Invisalign all happen under one roof.
Start at Ocean Acres Elementary School on Nautilus Drive and you are looking at a trip of roughly 2 miles. Follow Nautilus Drive south through the Stafford side of the development, past Nautilus Park next to the school and the Stafford Volunteer Fire Company station near the Route 72 end. A short stretch of Route 72 follows, then a quick turn at Barnacle Drive brings you to 1322 NJ-72 Ste 1. The building is a multi-tenant office building, and our door is Suite 1.
Your exact street changes the mileage a little, so open our listing in Google Maps before your first visit. Families east of the development in Barnegat and down Route 9 in Cedar Run make a similar short drive to see us.
A Family Dental Home Close to Ocean Acres
Ocean Acres began in the early 1960s as a tract of building lots west of the Parkway, and for years most homes were summer places. Growth stalled under a construction moratorium until sewer lines arrived in the 1990s. Then the building took off, and the Barnegat Township section filled in during the 2000s. Today the development is the newest and largest neighborhood in both Stafford Township and Barnegat Township, and it is full of year-round households.
That history explains why so many Ocean Acres driveways have a booster seat in the back. Younger families moved into newer houses, and the schedule now revolves around school drop-off, practice and homework. A dental office six minutes away makes it realistic to keep every child on a regular cleaning schedule instead of letting a visit slide.
We try to make those visits easy for parents, too. A parent can request their own checkup near a child's cleaning time, which turns two errands into one. When a child is nervous, we let them settle in at their own pace.
Timing matters as much as distance. Fridays open at 6:00 AM, early enough for some parents to fit a cleaning in before work, and Mondays run until 6:00 PM for an after-school slot. Tuesday through Thursday the office keeps 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM hours. We are closed on Saturday and Sunday.
What Ocean Acres Parents Should Know About Kids' Teeth
Ocean Acres Elementary School, which opened in 1999, serves the early grades for Stafford Township, so a lot of local children start school right in the neighborhood. Those early years are when baby teeth are most likely to develop cavities and when the first permanent molars come in. The deep grooves on those back molars trap food, and brushing alone often misses them.
Prevention covers most of what young kids need. Regular cleanings, digital x-rays when they are due, in-office fluoride varnish and sealants on the chewing surfaces of new molars all lower the odds of a filling later. Our Patient Education library covers brushing, flossing and sealants in plain language for parents who want to read ahead.
Kids on the Stafford side move on to Southern Regional for middle and high school, which is also in Manahawkin. By then, braces, sports and snacks between classes change the picture. Checking in twice a year lets our dentists spot early decay, crowding or gum irritation while the fix is still small.
The lakefront park off Buccaneer Lane, with its courts and bathing beach, keeps plenty of Ocean Acres kids busy in summer. Juice boxes, sports drinks and all-day snacking are part of that season, and together they raise the odds of a new cavity by fall.
Services From Your Dentist Near Ocean Acres
These are the services Ocean Acres households use most, listed in the order families usually need them.
Checkups, Sealants and Fluoride
Our Cavity & Disease Prevention visits include cleanings, digital x-rays, oral cancer screening, sealants and fluoride varnish for children, teens and braces wearers.
Tooth-Colored Fillings
When a cavity does show up, Cavity Repair uses white composite fillings that blend in, with digital ceramic crowns for teeth that need more support.
Care for Baby Teeth
A deep cavity in a primary tooth can reach the nerve. Our Endodontics care includes pulpotomy and pulpectomy treatment that can save a child's baby tooth until it is ready to fall out.
Clear Aligners for Older Teens
Invisalign starts with an iTero digital scan, and the clear aligners come out for meals and team photos. It works best for older teens and adults.
Meet Your Ocean Acres Dental Team
Two general dentists share the schedule here. Dr. Viktoriya Halkina, DDS, studied psychology at Hunter College, did neuroscience research at Rockefeller University and earned her master's in oral biology and her dental degree at NYU College of Dentistry. Her team-oriented, compassionate style suits young patients who need a little patience.
Dr. Gregory Strait, DMD, trained at Georgetown University and the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. He finished a residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center, where he was named Resident of the Year. He is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, which helps the parent in the house who snores. His approach centers on conservative dentistry that keeps natural teeth healthy for as long as possible.
Insurance, Membership & Financing
We are in network with many PPO plans, such as Delta Dental, Cigna, MetLife, Aetna and Horizon BCBS. The office does not take HMO, DMO, Medicaid or Medicare plans. Families without insurance can look at the DAG Prime Savings family plan, which has no deductibles, copays or annual maximum.
We also accept cash, checks and most major credit cards, and we work with CareCredit and Sunbit. Every cost is reviewed with you 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 Ocean Acres, and how do I get there?
We are about 2 miles from Ocean Acres Elementary School, typically a 6-minute drive. Take Nautilus Drive south to Route 72, go a short way on Route 72, then turn at Barnacle Drive to Suite 1. For families who want a dentist near Ocean Acres without Parkway driving, this local route is about as simple as it gets.
Do you see young children for checkups and cleanings?
Yes, our dentists see children as well as teens and adults. Young patients get gentle cleanings, a check for early cavities and, when it helps, fluoride varnish. The goal of an early visit is a calm, positive first experience in the chair, so later checkups feel routine.
Are sealants worth it for my child's new molars?
For most kids, yes. Sealants are thin protective coatings painted onto the chewing surfaces of back teeth. They fill the deep grooves where food and bacteria collect, which makes those teeth easier to keep clean. They are most often placed on permanent molars soon after they come in, and our dentists will tell you whether your child's teeth would benefit.
What is the easiest way to schedule checkups for the whole family?
Call our front desk or book online, and mention every family member who needs a visit. We will look for times that sit close together so you can make one trip. Mondays run until 6:00 PM, Tuesday through Thursday start at 8:00 AM, and Fridays open at 6:00 AM.
Why do kids get cavities even when they brush?
Brushing helps a lot, but it often misses the grooves of back molars and the spaces between teeth. Frequent snacks and sweet drinks also keep teeth under constant acid attack. Flossing, regular cleanings, sealants and fluoride varnish close those gaps, and a checkup can catch a small spot before it needs a bigger repair.
Schedule Your Visit from Ocean Acres
When you want a dentist near Ocean Acres who can see the whole family in one short trip, call us at 609-739-8975 or book online. New patients without insurance can start with our $99 cleaning, exam and x-ray, offered when there is no periodontal disease. Learn more about our Manahawkin dentist office, or browse the other towns on our Areas We Serve page. Ocean County families from every corner of the development are welcome.
