Convenient Access from Ship Bottom
Ship Bottom is where the Route 72 causeway lands on the island, so the drive to Dental Arts Group in Manahawkin is about as simple as a shore trip gets: roughly 13 minutes from the original Ron Jon Surf Shop on 9th Street. Anyone weighing a dentist in Ship Bottom, NJ can reach our chairs without a single turn until the last block.
From Ron Jon, head west on Route 72 and climb onto the Manahawkin Bay Bridge, which the state formally named the Dorland J. Henderson Memorial Bridge. Stay on Route 72 across the bay and through the Manahawkin business strip for about 8 miles, then turn onto Barnacle Drive for the final few yards. Our office is 1322 NJ-72 Ste 1, Manahawkin, NJ 08050, Suite 1 in a multi-tenant office building on Route 72 West.
Call it 8 miles and 13 minutes on an ordinary weekday. On a sunny July changeover day the bridge can back up and the trip runs longer, which is one reason many islanders prefer weekday visits. You can open our location in Google Maps before you leave. Neighbors in Surf City and Long Beach Township funnel onto the same bridge, so the whole middle of the island shares this route.
Why the Gateway Town Feels Close to Our Office
Ship Bottom calls itself the Gateway to Long Beach Island, and for this Ocean County borough that location is a real advantage. Every car leaving the island passes through the borough, which means a cleaning or a filling can fit around a grocery run, a hardware stop or a school pickup on the mainland side.
The town also has a story people like to repeat. Its name comes from an 1817 shipwreck, when rescuers chopped through an overturned hull to free a woman trapped inside. That spirit of neighbors looking out for neighbors is the tone we aim for at the front desk: quick answers, clear costs and no runaround.
Year-round households here have a natural rhythm with the mainland. Younger children attend the Long Beach Island Grade School in town, while older students head over the bridge to Southern Regional in Manahawkin. Parents already making that crossing can line up family checkups on the same side of the bay, often on the same afternoon.
Getting around once you are back on the island is easy too. Long Beach Boulevard, which doubles as County Route 607, carries the free LBI Shuttle in season, and the Ocean Ride OC9 bus links the island with the mainland. For most patients, though, the car ride is so short that it barely registers on the day's to-do list, and the bay views on the bridge are a nice bonus.
What Ship Bottom Residents Should Know Before Summer
A small borough that swells many times over in summer creates two very different patient groups. The year-round crowd wants a steady dental home they can count on through the quiet months. Seasonal renters and part-time owners mostly want to know where to go if something breaks while they are down the shore.
We see both. Winter and early spring are the easiest seasons to book routine work, because the causeway is clear and parking around Ship Bottom is no longer a contest. Scheduling a checkup before Memorial Day also gives us time to finish any filling or crown before the busy weeks arrive.
For visitors, the important point is that a toothache does not have to ruin a vacation. Our office runs a new-patient exam built for urgent visits, and a cracked tooth or swollen gum gets a clear explanation and a plan. Because the drive is so short, Ship Bottom is one of the easiest places on the island to get to us in a hurry.
One more practical note: dental records travel well. If you keep a dentist back home, copies of your x-rays and treatment notes can be shared at your request so the work done here fits into your long-term plan. Year-round patients get the opposite benefit, a single chart that follows them through every season, from the first fluoride varnish to a crown decades later.
What to Expect When You Need a Dentist in Ship Bottom, NJ
These four services match the questions we hear most often from people coming off the causeway. Each new patient starts with The DAG Comprehensive Exam, which covers digital x-rays, a gum check, intraoral photos and an oral cancer screening.
Checkups and Prevention
Our Cavity & Disease Prevention visits include cleanings, digital x-rays, sealants and in-office fluoride varnish. Year-round Ship Bottom families use them to keep small problems small between beach seasons.
Fillings and Crowns
When a tooth chips on a hard pretzel or an old filling gives out, Cavity Repair covers white composite fillings and digital ceramic crowns in zirconium or lithium disilicate.
Root Canal Care
Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, pain when biting or a swollen gum can point to infection. Our Endodontics page explains root canal care and retreatment so you know what the signs mean.
A Brighter Smile
Weddings and reunions fill island calendars every summer. Teeth Whitening is available in the office, and take-home whitening is another option for people who prefer to work at their own pace.
Meet Your Ship Bottom Dental Team
Two general dentists share the schedule. Dr. Gregory Strait, DMD, earned his degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and was named Resident of the Year during his residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center. Dr. Viktoriya Halkina, DDS, holds a master's in oral biology and her dental degree from the New York University College of Dentistry.
Insurance, Membership & Financing
The $69 Exam & X-Ray is for new patients only and suits a sudden toothache or an overdue checkup. We are in network with many PPO plans, such as Delta Dental, Cigna, MetLife, Aetna and Horizon BCBS, and we also work with CareCredit for larger treatment.
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 Ship Bottom, and how do I get there?
We are about 8 miles from Ship Bottom, usually a 13-minute drive. Take Route 72 west over the Manahawkin Bay Bridge and stay on it through Manahawkin until Barnacle Drive. For anyone who wants a dentist in Ship Bottom, NJ without a long trip, it is one of the shortest drives on the island.
Can I be seen as a new patient for a toothache while I am staying at the shore?
Yes, new patients with a toothache can book our $69 Exam & X-Ray, which is offered to new patients only. The visit includes an exam and x-rays so our dentists can find the cause and lay out your options. Many summer visitors use it, and we can coordinate with your home dentist if you prefer to finish treatment there.
Is professional whitening done in the office or at home?
Both options exist at our office. In-office whitening is done in a single appointment under the supervision of our team, while take-home whitening lets you lighten your teeth gradually on your own schedule. The right choice depends on how quickly you want results and how sensitive your teeth tend to be.
What material are your crowns made from?
Our crowns are digital ceramic crowns made from zirconium or lithium disilicate. Zirconium is very strong and suits back teeth that take heavy chewing forces, while lithium disilicate offers a natural look for teeth that show when you smile. Our dentists recommend the material after examining the tooth and your bite.
When is the easiest time to cross the causeway for a summer appointment?
Weekday mornings are usually the easiest time to cross in summer. Changeover days at the start and end of rental weeks bring the heaviest traffic on Route 72, so a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday slot starting at 8:00 AM, or a Friday visit starting as early as 6:00 AM, helps you get back to the beach before the midday rush.
Schedule Your Visit from Ship Bottom
Whether you live in Ship Bottom all year or rent for a few weeks, picking a dentist in Ship Bottom, NJ comes down to a short drive and a team that explains things clearly. Call 609-739-8975 or book online, and visit our Manahawkin dentist page for more about the office. You can also browse the other towns on our Areas We Serve page. We open Monday at 9:00 AM, Tuesday through Thursday at 8:00 AM and Friday at 6:00 AM, and we are closed on weekends.
