Convenient Access from Surf City
Surf City sits one short hop north of the causeway, and the drive from Borough Hall to Dental Arts Group on Route 72 in Manahawkin takes about 14 minutes. For year-round residents comparing options for a dentist in Surf City, NJ, that short hop over the bay keeps routine care easy to keep up with.
Start at Borough Hall at 813 Long Beach Boulevard, the building that sits beneath the water tower. Head south a few blocks into Ship Bottom, where Long Beach Boulevard meets the causeway, and bear west onto Route 72. The highway carries you across Manahawkin Bay and through the Manahawkin business district for close to 8 miles before a quick turn onto Barnacle Drive.
The whole trip covers roughly 9 miles. Our door is at 1322 NJ-72 Ste 1, Manahawkin, NJ 08050, Suite 1 of an office building on Route 72 West, and our Google Maps listing will guide you to the spot. Patients from Ship Bottom, just south, and from Beach Haven West on the mainland side of the bay make a similar drive.
A Steady Dental Home for Surf City Residents
Surf City has a longer history than most island towns. It began in 1894 as Long Beach City, carved out of Stafford Township, and took its present name in 1899 to avoid confusion with places such as Long Branch. Before that, locals knew the area as Buzby's Place.
Today the borough mixes summer bustle with a settled, older year-round community. Many residents are retirees or close to it, and they tend to want the same faces at every visit in this corner of Ocean County. That kind of continuity is exactly what a two-dentist office can offer.
Life here moves along Long Beach Boulevard, County Route 607, which runs past the historic Surf City Hotel at 8th Street. The Surf City Yacht Club runs weekly summer races against other island clubs, and Mansion Cove tucks into the bay at the foot of South First Street. A dental visit on the mainland fits easily between those routines.
The off-season is when Surf City really feels like a neighborhood. Traffic on the boulevard thins out, the causeway runs clear and a morning appointment can wrap up in time for lunch back on the island. We encourage year-round patients to book cleanings and any planned work for the fall, winter and early spring, then keep summer visits light. That way, grandchildren arriving in July find a grandparent with comfortable teeth rather than a pending repair.
Dental Health Priorities for Surf City Adults
Mature smiles bring their own set of concerns. Many common prescriptions, from blood pressure pills to antidepressants, reduce saliva. A dry mouth raises the risk of cavities along the gumline, so we watch for it closely and may recommend in-office fluoride varnish.
Oral cancer screening matters more with every decade, and it is built into our exams. Our dentists check the tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth and lips, which is worth noting in a town where so many people spend long hours in the sun on the beach or the water.
Sleep is another quiet issue. Snoring that keeps a spouse awake can sometimes signal sleep apnea, and Dr. Strait is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. He treats snoring and sleep apnea with custom oral appliances, a practical option for Surf City patients who want an alternative to bulky equipment.
Finally, teeth that have served well for sixty or seventy years often show wear, chips or old dark fillings. Updating them can restore comfort and appearance at the same time, and our dentists explain every choice before work begins.
Bringing a current list of medications to each appointment helps us connect a dry mouth, a sore spot or bleeding gums with its likely cause. New patients also get a review of existing dental work during the comprehensive exam, so older crowns, bridges and fillings are checked one by one under 2.5 to 6.0 times magnification. If teeth are already missing, the same visit includes a consult on replacement options, and the exam closes with a breakdown of what your insurance is expected to cover. That full picture lets Surf City patients plan work over a season or two instead of reacting to one problem at a time.
Finding a Dentist in Surf City, NJ: Treatments We Offer
These services line up with what older island adults and their families ask about most. Our Patient Education library covers brushing, flossing, bad breath and periodontitis if you like to read ahead.
Sleep and Snoring
Night Health covers medical-grade oral appliances for snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea, plus custom 3D-printed night guards for grinding and clenching.
Screenings and Cleanings
Every Cavity & Disease Prevention visit includes a cleaning, digital x-rays as needed and an oral cancer screening, with fluoride varnish for dry-mouth patients.
Gum Health
Gums recede and loosen with age. Healthy Gums care ranges from gum screenings to scaling and root planing and periodontal maintenance visits.
Refreshing an Older Smile
Decades of coffee, citrus and grinding leave their mark. Cosmetic Dentistry can replace dark old fillings with tooth-colored ones, cover worn edges with veneers or rebuild a tired tooth with a crown.
Meet Your Surf City Dental Team
Dr. Gregory Strait, DMD, belongs to the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and holds ABDSM Diplomate status. Dr. Viktoriya Halkina, DDS, studied psychology at Hunter College and worked as a neuroscience researcher at Rockefeller University before dental school. Together they focus on long-term oral health. Dr. Strait's stated goal is helping patients keep healthy teeth as long as possible, and he brings patients into treatment planning so decisions are shared rather than handed down.
Insurance, Membership & Financing
Retirees who dropped dental coverage often like DAG Prime Savings, our in-house membership with no deductibles, no copays and no annual maximum, plus 20% off general treatment. Couple plans are available, and the membership includes an annual comprehensive exam with cleaning, full-mouth x-rays and fluoride, a six-month check-up and two emergency exams. We do not take HMO, DMO, Medicaid or Medicare plans, but we accept many PPOs.
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 Surf City, and how do I get there?
Our office is roughly 9 miles from Surf City, about a 14-minute drive. Go south on Long Beach Boulevard into Ship Bottom, then follow Route 72 west across the bay to Barnacle Drive. For anyone choosing a dentist in Surf City, NJ, that puts checkups within a quarter hour of home.
Can medications cause dry mouth, and what can a dentist do about it?
Yes, many common medications reduce saliva and leave the mouth dry. Less saliva means less natural rinsing, so cavities can form faster, especially near the gums. Our dentists can track problem areas at each checkup and apply in-office fluoride varnish, which the office offers for patients taking dry-mouth medications.
Is a custom oral appliance an option for snoring?
Yes, a custom oral appliance is a common option for snoring. Dr. Strait, a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, makes medical-grade appliances that gently position the jaw during sleep. Our office describes them as first-line therapy for most mild and moderate sleep apnea patients, after a proper evaluation.
What happens during an oral cancer screening?
An oral cancer screening is a quick visual and hands-on check for unusual spots, sores or lumps. Our dentists look at the lips, tongue, cheeks, gums and floor of the mouth and feel the surrounding tissue. It is included in The DAG Comprehensive Exam and takes only a few minutes of your appointment.
Can porcelain veneers cover chipped or worn front teeth?
Porcelain veneers can often cover chips, wear and stubborn stains on front teeth. A thin shell is bonded to the front surface of each tooth to reshape and brighten it. Teeth with large fillings or heavy bite forces may do better with crowns, so our dentists compare both options with you first.
Schedule Your Visit from Surf City
When you are choosing a dentist in Surf City, NJ, a quarter-hour drive makes regular care realistic. Call 609-739-8975 or book online. Learn more about our Manahawkin dentist office, or see every island and mainland town on our Areas We Serve page. We see patients Monday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Tuesday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Friday from 6:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
