Community Involvement

At Washington Dental Associates, we are dedicated to helping our patients achieve and maintain their optimal level of oral health in order to help them lead healthier, happier lives. What many patients don’t know is that our team is just as dedicated to helping our friends and neighbors in Bergenfield, Tappan, and around the globe, whether they’re our patients or not. Our Bergenfield dentists and dental team members participate in numerous community events, activities, and organizations to promote healthy lifestyles and give to those in need.

If you want to learn more about some of our community activities, keep reading below. We would love to hear from you if you have events and activities that we can help with, so please don’t hesitate to give our team a call or talk to us during your next visit.

Smile Pink

What does Breast Cancer Awareness Month have to do with Dentistry??

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. What does Breast Cancer Month have to do with Dentistry? Not much, except for the fact that everyone knows a friend or family member who has been diagnosed or survived breast cancer. This hits close to home. One of our hygienist and some of our dearest patients and friends have battled breast cancer. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. One woman every 2½ minutes will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Over 200,000 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and 40,000 of them will die from the disease. Breast cancer also occurs in men. In fact, over one thousand men will be diagnosed this year.

My husband and I are both dentists and when our hygienist was going through her battle with breast cancer 10 years ago, we wanted a way to show our support and make a difference. Every year during the month of October, we started putting the “Bling on” for people who want to raise awareness and donate money for breast cancer research.

For a $25 donation (100% of the money will go towards breast cancer research), you can get a stylish Pink Gem Smile. To create this fashionable, cutting edge and stylish smile, a pink gem is temporarily bonded (glued) on your tooth by one of the Doctors. Get your BLING on and show your support and create awareness for breast cancer research during the month of October.

You can keep the pink gem indefinitely or come back to the office and have it removed at the end of the month. It only takes 5 minutes to put on and can easily be removed. There will be no changes to your tooth and no charge to have it removed.

To donate or get the stylish “Pink Gem Smile” visit give us a call at 845-359-1763 (Tappan) or 201-384-2425 (Bergenfield) and let us know you want to “bling” your teeth.

Washington Dental Associates Take a Stand Against Sweets this Halloween

What’s a ghost’s favorite candy? BOO-ble gum!

This Halloween, trick-or-treaters can bring their excess candy to Washington Dental Associates in Bergenfield, NJ or Smile More Dentistry in Tappan, NY. and receive prizes and a chance to win an amazon $25 gift certificate. Drs. LaCap and Tong are leading this anti- decay movement by giving away $1 for every pound of candy exchanged.

“Ditch the candy, that’s what we’re saying. Visiting your dentist twice a year and brushing daily are great preventative measures, but doing away with excess sweets altogether would really give your teeth a healthy boost,” says Dr. Tong. “Kids can still have all of the fun of trick-or-treating and maybe eat a few of their favorite candies. Eating all the candy from trick-or-treating can do a lot of damage. Exchanging the excess candy for toys, games and prizes is much healthier and more fun. Plus, if you bring in 5lbs or more, your child can get a free sealant worth $75.”

Global sugar consumption for kids increases by about 2% annually and currently sits at 50 million tons per year, which means parents need to be sure their kids’ teeth are being cared for more than ever. Candy, as well as hurting children’s teeth, can lead to hyperactivity and weight gain. In some cases, the wrong types of candy can also lead to broken teeth and damaged braces.

Drs. Lacap and Tong are a husband and wife dental team who have been providing cosmetic, family and children’s dentistry for over 32 years in the Bergen/Rockland County area. For more information call 201-384-2425 (NJ), 845-359-1763 (NY) or visit www.SmileMoreDentist.com

Bergen county dental office offers a day of FREE dentistry for the community.

Dentists Dr. Mariliza LaCacap, her husband Dr. Darren Tong, as well as the rest of their team, will be providing free dentistry for members of the community who do not have the means to pay for regular dental care.

This is an annual initiative they have been taking as a way of paying it forward to the Bergenfield community, a town their office has been servicing for over 30 years. Washington Dental Associates is one of the few dental offices in the Bergen County area that holds a program like this.

"It’s heartbreaking to see a child’s smile destroyed by severe tooth decay," said Dr.Tong, a pediatric dental specialist. "Imagine not being able to eat, sleep or pay attention in school because you have a mouthful of toothaches."

The event will be on a "first come, first served" basis beginning at 9:30am and running until 3pm. Each person will be able to receive one free filling, extraction, or dental cleaning. "We chose the month before Thanksgiving for our Day of Free Dentistry because we are so thankful for the blessings that we have received throughout our dental careers." Dr. LaCap said, "Our entire team is excited to be able to give much needed care to those who cannot afford the treatment. As a growing number of Americans are out of a job or just don’t have the financial means to afford proper dental care, we felt this was a great way to help address the problem and to pay it forward to the Bergen County community."

"Our goal for the day is simple – make people smile. Believe me, the smiles and thanks we receive from all the people we treat make the hard work one of the most rewarding experiences of our lives." said Dr. Tong.

Our Story

Dr. LaCap is the founder of our three dental offices, and she and her husband, Dr. Tong, are the proud parents of five children. They feel blessed to have such an abundance of gifts in their lives, and they are dedicated to sharing with others. We truly believe in paying it forward.

As a child, Dr. LaCap’s parents struggled to afford the dental care needed for Dr. LaCap and her siblings. She has experienced the difficulty of sitting in class with tooth pain, and she never wants to see this happen to other children. While Dr. LaCap’s childhood was happy and she knows her parents worked hard and did their best, she also knows from personal experience that sometimes people need a helping hand. She knows because a dentist gave her family the help they needed. The dentist offered Dr. LaCap and her brothers the dental care they needed to remove dental infection and relieve toothache pain.

This kind and gentle dentist gave Dr. LaCap her first experience with how a dentist’s generosity can impact lives. As an adult, Dr. LaCap is passionate about giving this same gift to other children and families in need of a helping hand. Whether she’s volunteering as a troop leader, class mom, and confirmation teacher or providing free dentistry in our practice and on mission trips around the world, Dr. LaCap loves having the opportunity to help kids smile. If you want to help our dentists and team members offer dentistry from the heart, we welcome your involvement as a volunteer or through donations. Your time, talent, and dollars will all be put to good use helping those in need right here in Tappan and Bergenfield and around the world.

Our Goals

For the past 25 years, our office has donated over $150,000 in dental work to children and adults in communities both near and far. We believe there is power in paying forward the kindness and generosity that has been shown to us! Dr. Tong and Dr. LaCap feel blessed to work with such an amazing team of dental experts, and they love having the opportunity to share their time and talents with those in need. They believe that giving frees them from the familiar territory of their own needs by opening their hearts to the world occupied by the needs of others, and they love to give back in any way they can. Because of Dr. LaCap’s personal experience, dental care for children holds a special place in her heart, and she and Dr. Tong are the proud parents of five children of their own.

Our Previous Community Projects

We participate in numerous community events and charitable organizations, and we love having a chance to give back. Some of our annual projects include:

New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome

Our office prides itself on diversity and inclusivity. We care about our patients, our community and our smile team. Every year we choose a charitable organizations to align with and donate to. This year we have chosen New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome (NJCTS) because one of our wonderful smile team members, Amanda was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at the age of 5. Amanda is an inspiration to us. She has overcome so much in her life. In spite of her situation, she goes above and beyond in helping our patients achieve health and confidence thought a healthy and beautiful smile.

Dr. Mariliza LaCap and their smile team are doing their part in raising is helping with Breast Cancer Awareness. Owners of Washington Dental Associates, Dr. LaCap and her husband, Dr. Darren Tong are supporting Breast Cancer Awareness by giving everyone the opportunity to donate $10.00 to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation of Northern New Jersey and receive, as a "Thank you!" $50.00 in dental services.

"Over 8 years ago, one of our lovely hygienists, Diane, lost her mother and later her sister to breast cancer. 1 year later she discovered she had the genetic marker for breast cancer.

She made the painful decision to go forward with a mastectomy to avoid the same fate. During the same year, 2 of our patients went through treatment and survived breast cancer.

In honor of breast cancer survivors and in memory of those that lost their lives to breast cancer, we have supported and donated to cancer awareness, along with Susan G. Komen foundation of New Jersey," Dr. LaCap says.

You can also show your Support through the month of October with your very own stylish Pink Swarovski Crystal Smile for a $25 donation. 100% of this donation will go towards the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The Pink Swarovski Crystal is applied to the tooth with a temporary dental adhesive. It is safe and takes less than 5 minutes for a dentist to apply. After the month of October, we can remove it for you, or you can keep it on as long as you'd like.

October is Susan G. Komen & Breast Cancer Awareness Month

We realize you have many choices when it comes to finding the right Bergenfield and Tappan dentist, and we're thankful you've chosen our practice for your dental needs. As a way of saying "thank you" and supporting a cause we truly believe in, if you donate $10 or more to the Susan Komen foundation of North Jersey to help us support breast cancer awareness, we'll give you $50 off your next dental service!

Why are we doing this?

Many years ago, one of our lovely hygienists, Diane, lost her mother and her sister to breast cancer. One year later, she discovered she had the genetic marker for breast cancer. She made the painful decision to go forward with a mastectomy to avoid the same fate. During this same year, two of our patients went through treatment and survived breast cancer. In honor of survivors everywhere and in memory of those who have lost their lives to breast cancer, we have supported and donated to cancer awareness regularly organizations regularly.

Everyone knows a friend or family member who has been diagnosed with or survived breast cancer. Call our office to make an appointment and Smile Pink for the cure.

"Over 8 years ago, one of our lovely hygienists, Diane, lost her mother and later her sister to breast cancer. 1 year later she discovered she had the genetic marker for breast cancer.

She made the painful decision to go forward with a mastectomy to avoid the same fate. During the same year, 2 of our patients went through treatment and survived breast cancer.

Halloween Candy Buy Back

What’s a ghost’s favorite candy? BOO-ble gum!

At Halloween, trick-or-treaters can bring their excess candy to Washington Dental Associates in Bergenfield to receive $1 for every pound of candy, as well as a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to Toys R Us.

What are we going to do with all that candy? The doctors are working with Operation Gratitude who will ship the candy to our troops overseas. “The soldiers look forward to these care packages full of treats because it reminds them of home. They know we are thinking about them," says Dr. LaCap. "Not to worry about our troops and tooth decay – we will also be sending them toothbrushes!"

“Kids can still have all of the fun of trick-or-treating and maybe eat a few of their favorite candies. Eating all the candy from trick-or-treating can do a lot of damage. Exchanging the excess candy for toys, games, and prizes is much healthier and more fun,” said Dr. Tong. “Plus, if you bring in 5 pounds or more, your child can get a free sealant that’s regularly worth $75.”

Day of Free Dentistry

Over the past 5 years, over $100,000 of dental work has been donated and rendered. All team members and Doctors from this office volunteer their services and time. This is truly is an office with a heart.

On Tuesday, October, 8th Washington Dental Associates and Smile More Dentistry will host their Day of Free Dentistry. The event will be on a "first come, first serve" basis. The line usually begins as early as 7 am with people lined up around the block. Dr. LaCap and Dr. Tong, with their team, will provide each patient with a filling, extraction, or a dental cleaning.

Day of Free Dentistry Flyer

Teacher & Nurse Appreciation

During the second week of May, we offered special incentives for our teachers and nurses. They receive a special $50 certificate toward any treatment at our office as well as one for a complimentary exam, X-rays, and dental consultation (a $250 value)! That’s a sweet deal we’ve created just to say thank you during Teachers & Nurses Appreciation Week. We sincerely appreciate everything teachers and nurses do in our community. Between educating our children and nursing the sick back to health, we know your job is important, and so are you!

Giving Back to our Hometown through Bantay Bata

Bantay Bata is a child welfare program that not only rescues and rehabilitates sick and abused children, but also provides shelter, therapy, and quality home care for rescued children until they can be reunited with their families or referred to proper child care services. Through the years, our office has had "White-a-thons" and "Sealant-a-thons" to help raise money for this organization. Please do not hesitate to ask about any upcoming promotions, or how you can donate to this great cause.

World Mission Partners

We participated in a mission trip to the Dominican Republic and Haiti offering humanitarian aid, dental care, oral hygiene, and public education. We also accepted and matched flip-flop donations, and provided donated clothing items. Your continued generosity is our strength!

Costa Rica Mission Partners & Abraham Project Mission

In August of 2015, we worked with Costa Rica Mission Partners (CRMP) and the Abraham Project Mission to lend a hand helping those who need it most. Drs. Tong and MacLaga, as well as team members, Ana DeJesus and Lisa LaFazia and Dr. Tong’s sons, Brandon and Stephen, assisted in the clinical area, providing dental care. Dr. LaCap and the other three children, Tyler, Jason, and Lauren, worked hands on with young people distributing necessary items and toys to children in a local orphanage. We’re so happy our families, both at work and home, had this opportunity to lend a helping hand in Costa Rica.

Giving Back to Our Veterans!

Bergenfield, NJ & Tappan, NY...Washington Dental Associates & Smile More Dentistry are giving back to Veterans and saying, "Thank you for your service!" this November!

"Veteran’s Day is one of the most important days of the year. It is time to recognize and honor those who have served our country. Within the last few years, Nina, one of our wonderful hygienists, lost her cousin while he was serving our country. This is so heartbreaking.

We support and appreciate every man and woman who served our country in the past, present and future," says Dr. LaCap.

They start saying, "Thanks" in early November with their Candy Buy Back Day on November 2nd. They will buy back children’s candy and send it overseas to the troops through Operation Gratitude. Then on Veteran’s Day, November 11th, all veterans including active, retired or former U.S. military can choose one free treatment (cleaning, filling or extraction). Veteran’s can call them at their Tappan, NY location, 845-359-1763, to make an appointment for Veteran’s Day treatment.

Also, they consider the month of November, "Their Veteran’s Month," so any veteran during the month of November can get 30% off any dental treatment (excluding invisalign). Please provide them proof of service, a military or VA card, or discharge papers.

For questions or information about Veteran’s Specials and other ways they give back to the community, the Doctors can be reached at 201-384-2425.

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