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Dentist Lucy Slutsky is worried about your teeth.
Halloween means collecting lots of candy. And to dentists, that means tooth damage. But Dr. Slutsky is fighting back by offering one act of charity in response to another.
Instead of just buying back Halloween candy, she's going further.
On Sunday, Nov. 1, she will open her office at 100 Northfield Ave., in West Orange from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to accept and weigh children's donations of Halloween candy that will be sent to U.S. soldiers overseas. In return for their acts of charity, the children will receive a certificate thanking them for thinking of others plus some free dental work.
At the same time they donate their candy, the children will be offered an appointment for a free dental examination, cleaning and fluoride treatment.
"I'm trying to turn unhealthy contests for gathering more candy into a healthy contest - collecting candy to be donated to a better cause," she said. "As a reward for their generosity, I'll help them protect their teeth."
The offer is open to new patients, 18 and under. The examination, cleaning and fluoride treatment would normally cost a total of $172.
Dr. Slutsky, a dentist since 1996, opened her West Orange general dentistry office in 2005. She and her husband, Eric, an ophthalmologist in Butler, have 5-year-old girl and an 18-month old boy.
"I became a dentist because I wanted to help people keep their teeth for life," Dr. Slutsky explained. "Sugar destroys teeth. How could I stand by and do nothing while children wreck their teeth.
"My goal is to encourage people to learn good dental care and to have them eat less candy," she said. "I'm trying to turn Halloween from an excuse to gorge on candy to an opportunity to learn charity and how to take better care of your teeth."
Dr. Slutsky said she and her husband expect to have fun weighing the candy with the children and helping them learn how they can give to others and benefit themselves at the same time.
"I'm not saying never eat candy," she said. "Taste some of the Halloween goodies you collected. That's fine."
Ever the dentist, she added: "But please, remember to brush soon after to try to clean the sugar off your teeth."
— ANDY LAGOMARSINO, NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
