It takes a village to provide high-quality dental care, and we have exceptional, friendly team members ready to help you achieve your best smile. Were committed to our patients and go the extra mile to ensure that you and your family have a positive experience while youre here!

Dr. Kathleen Arzinger (Dr. A) has over 30 years of experience in general dentistry. She enjoys helping patients achieve the smile they desire through superb cosmetic and restorative skills. Dr. A received her undergraduate degree from the Franklin & Marshall College and her Doctor of Dental Medicine from the New Jersey Dental School. After her residency at New Jersey Dental School, Dr. A started her own loving practice here in Ridgefield Park. Dr. Arzinger is a proud member of the ADA, Bergen County Dental Society, and the New Jersey Dental Society. She has recently been Awarded By the New York Top Docs as a preferred Dentist in 2011 and has been featured on the Dr. Oz show.

Dr. John Taltavall (Dr. T) is a compassionate and detail-oriented dentist in Ridgefield Park, NJ, who practices general dentistry and specializes in cosmetic dentistry. He spends much of his time with his wife and three children when he isnt in the office treating our lovely patients! Dr. John Taltavall graduated from University Of Medicine and Dentistry Of New Jersey-D.M.D. in 1992 and practices general and cosmetic dentistry here at Village Dental. His clinical expertise will bring a smile to your face. He is very approachable and loves getting your emails. Feel free to write or call. He is also a member of several accredited organizations including the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM), the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID), the American Dental Association (ADA), New Jersey Dental Association (NJDA), and the Tri-County Dental Association.

Kristie Mukherjee is a compassionate and friendly dentist and endodontist who strives to provide comfort and excellent dental care to her patients in Ridgefield Park, NJ. Dr. Mukherjee is a member of the American Dental Association and the American Board of Endodontics. She began her medical education at New York University, where she earned her doctor of dental surgery degree. She then received two GPR certificates from the Manhattan VA Medical Center and the Bronx VA Medical Center. In addition, she received her endodontics education from the Manhattan VA Medical Center. Dr. Mukherjee provides care such as rotary endodontics, vertical and lateral obturation, ultrasonic preparations, and digital radiography. She also offers services such as root canals. Dr. Mukherjee has been in practice since 2003 and enjoys providing her patients with the care, consideration, comfort, and education that they need to care for their mouths after they leave her chair.

Dr. Yoojun Park is a periodontist who caters to the locals in and around Ridgefield Park, NJ. Fluent in English and Korean, she currently practices at Village Dental and does her best to make sure that patient visits are comfortable and enjoyable. Dr. Park earned her dental degree from Columbia University. She attended the Temple University, Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry, where she completed a masters degree in oral biology and received a certificate in periodontology and oral implantology. She is also certified by the American Board of Periodontology. Dr. Park looks forward to working with her patients to help provide preventative care education and practice healthy oral hygiene. She understands the importance of quality care and believes in delivering it seamlessly along with professional patient care.

Looking to save big on your dental care? We proudly offer an exclusive in-house membership plan. This plan gives our patients access to routine preventive care at no extra cost with great discounts on our other services. Contact our office to enroll and start saving today!

Hello, Im Katie. I have been the Patient Care Coordinator here at Village Dental for a while now. I grew up in Wayne, NJ, and am now living happily with my fianc, 2 dogs, and 2 cats in Garfield, NJ. I am currently in a school outside of working here to become a registered nurse. Aside from being a student, I enjoy doing things such as hiking, cooking, travel, interacting with animals, helping others, listening to an eclectic selection of music, art, learning, and trying new things!

I love developing personal relationships with each and every one of my patients. Working here at Village Dental has not only allowed me to have a constant learning experience, but I have ultimately gained great life-long relationships with our Village Dental family. My goal is to make you feel as comfortable as possible for your visit with us! I am looking forward to meeting you!

My name is Carole and I have been in the dental field since 2001. I started first as a dental assistant, and now as a registered dental hygienist. I earned my Associates degree in Dental Hygiene from Bergen Community College in 2010. I have always had a great interest in dentistry and I now have the ability to provide my patients with the utmost care!

Outside of the office, I enjoy spending with my family. Over the years, I have shared many wonderful memories, experiences, and life milestones with the families of Village Dental and hope to be a part of many more to come!

I keep current and active with continuing education. Im fluent in English and Spanish. I enjoy working with patients and improving their oral health. I educate my patients and teach them about practices to maintain good oral health.

The part I enjoy the most is building lifelong relationships with our patients and helping them gain the confidence that comes from a healthy and beautiful smile! I am truly blessed to be part of such an amazing team!

I love being a dental assistant and helping my patients maintain and achieve beautiful and healthy smiles. I enjoy working with my dental team every day. I especially like helping my patients work through their dental fears.

The complications of the virus are actually more likely to result in death than the actual virus. Though COVID-19 is a virus, these complications are the result of bacteria. Studies are showing that eighty percent of patients in the ICU have elevated levels of harmful bacteria, necessitating antibiotic treatment. When it comes to the severity of COVID-19 infections, this information indicates that bacteria play a big part.

This is where good oral health and hygiene come in. The transfer of harmful kinds of bacteria between the lungs and mouth can be reduced by taking care of your mouth. Some studies have discovered that better oral health can lower the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia in ICU patients, as well as help, prevent bacterial superinfection.

While it may be scary to have a dental visit during COVID-19, this actually is the best time to make sure that youre in the best oral health you can be in. Having good oral health is not only in the best interest of your overall wellbeing, it may lessen your risk of COVID-19-related complications.

We previously pointed out the connections between gum disease and the complications of COVID-19, but since then, more research has been done on this topic. Most notably is a study published in the European Federation of Periodontologys Journal of Clinical Periodontology.

The team performing the study in Qatar looked at 568 patients who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 between February and July of 2020. Of the patients in the study, 40 had suffered complications, which consisted of being put in intensive care, placed on a ventilator, or dying. The study looked at a number of factors for their connection with COVID-19, including heart disease, asthma, diabetes, body mass index, blood pressure, smoking, and others.

One of the studys co-authors, Professor Lior Shapira of the Hebrew University, said, The results of the study suggest that the inflammation in the oral cavity may open the door to the coronavirus becoming more violent. Oral care should be part of the health recommendations to reduce the risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes.

As of November of 2020, there have been more than 56 million cases of COVID-19 worldwide. While 39 million of those have recovered, the virus has claimed the lives of over 1.3 million people, with many cases still active.

While an outbreak of this size and severity is a new experience for most of us, it is hardly unique. Many such outbreaks have happened throughout history, and without the benefit of modern medicine, they have resulted in far higher death tolls than COVID-19.

There are records of what is believed to have been Smallpox as far back as 300 BC in ancient Egypt. The disease is believed to have killed three out of every ten people who contracted it, and it has persisted all the way to the modern era. It wasnt until 1980 that vaccination efforts managed to eradicate the virus worldwide.

Known as the Black Death, the Bubonic plague first appeared in Europe and Asia in the mid-1330s and continued on until the early 1350s. The US had an epidemic in Los Angeles as recently as 1924. While antibiotics are available to treat the disease when caught early, the disease is still present, with around 1,000-3,000 cases annually around the world. The bubonic plague is believed to have killed more than 20 million people in Europe alone.

Believed to have been around since the 4th century BC, the first known Cholera pandemic began in India in 1817, with a second occurring in 1829. This second outbreak became a pandemic, spreading through Europe, and North America. There were multiple Cholera pandemics between the years of 1852 and 1923, and outbreaks continue even today, with approximately 2.9 million cases and 95,000 deaths annually across the world. The spread of Cholera can be prevented with proper sanitation and clean drinking water.

Caused a type of H1N1 flu virus, the Spanish Flu was first identified in the US in 1918. The spread of the virus was likely expedited by troop movements during World War I, with the virus infecting 500 million people across the world. More than 50 million people died from this variant of the flu. The pandemic was eventually stopped through quarantine, disinfectants, and improvements in personal hygiene.

Spread by a parasite carried by mosquitos, Malaria has likely existed since the Stone Age and is still around today. Most cases are now in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, as a program started by the World Health Organization in 1955 helped to eliminate the disease in many parts of the world. Currently, there are about 2,000 cases of malaria diagnosed in the world annually.

Fortunately for us, research on COVID-19 has progressed quickly and promising vaccines are already in development. In the meantime, practices like ours are using modern medical knowledge to help prevent the spread of infection through safety protocols that keep both our dental team and our patients safe.

Rest easy knowing we prioritize yourcomfort and safetyat Village Dental so you can have a stress-free experience from start-to-finish. We know that the dentists office can be anxiety-inducing for many patients so we offersedation dentistry,including nitrous oxide and IV sedation, that induces safe relaxation.