By Mary Ellen Zangara Special Writer
Drs. John Chen, Gary Small and Nirali Trivedi at Manville Dental Group on Washington Avenue in Manville will be offering a chance for local kids to get a free checkup, Friday.
The project is part of the American Dental Association’s Give Kids a Smile project, a national clinic day held each year launching National Children’s Dental Health Month. The focus is on providing oral health care to low-income children regardless of their financial situation or economic status.
The program provides education, preventative and restorative care to children who do not have access to care. The staff is volunteering its time and services. Fliers were sent home through the schools for children in grades K-6.
The clinic with a motto of “If your smile is not becoming to you, you should be coming to us” treats all ages.
Drs. John Chen and Gary Small opened the Manville Dental Group on Dec. 22, 1976, after taking over an existing practice.
”We took over the existing practice that was in town for about 18-plus years at 25 S. Main St. Ever since then, it has been the Manville Dental Group,” said Dr. Chen.
The practice outgrew the old location and moved to the present location of 7 Washington Ave. 11 years ago.
Both Dr. Chen and Dr. Small graduated from UMDNJ, but Dr. Chen focused on children during his residency at Baltimore Children’s Hospital, while Dr. Small spent his residency at the Staten Island Sea View Hospital emphasizing senior care.
In 2000 Dr. Nirali Trivedi joined the practice as an associate dentist, and in 2002 Dr. Raji Karandikar came on board. Last year, Dr. Trivedi became a partner in the dental group.
”I am extremely thrilled about joining a partnership that has been devoted to their patients for the past 30 years,” said Dr. Trivedi. “I hope that I can bring the same devotion to the practice in the future.”
Drs. Chen, Small and Trivendi are members of the Academy of General Dentistry.
The clinic’s 15-member staff includes four dental assistants, two hygienists, and four business assistants in addition to the doctors. All of the dentists have taken extensive classes on cosmetic procedures including implants, bleaching and porcelain laminates and over 70 percent of the staff is CPR certified.
”Our practice has always believed in having full-time dental hygienists for routine cleanings and a conservative periodontal treatment to ensure that care is always available and convenient for our patients,” Dr. Small said.
Many of the staff members are multi-lingual, able to speak with patients in Chinese, Hindi, Polish or Spanish.
And two dental assistants Grace Lozinski and Sylwia Deville are sisters, while two members of the business department staff Joanne Perry and Nicole Kurz are mother and daughter.
The Manville Dental Group strives to excel on the services they offer, including newer services, such as one hour in-office bleaching, at home bleaching kits, porcelain teeth veneers and implants.
Patients will also find remodeled lobby and reception areas, and new digital X-ray equipment.
The clinic’s Web site, manvilledentalgroup.com includes coupons offers for patients, such as one free consultation and exam, cleaning for $80 and coming soon, a $200 savings on one-hour bleaching.
The doctors like Manville and are here to stay according to Dr. Chen.
”I am not planning to move,” he said. “Actually we could do a little more expansion because the space is a little tight.”
The Manville Dental Group works with hundreds of insurance plans from the traditional PPO’s to fee for service programs and offer financing through Care Credit, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. Manville Dental Group is located at 7 Washington Ave. and can be reached at 908-722-6500.
They are accepting new patients and their hours are Monday and Wednesday 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. and Fridays from 8:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. The office is also open every other Saturday from 8 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Additional information about the Manville Dental Group can be obtained by visiting their Web site at manvilledentalgroup.com.
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