Halloween candy buybacks: There’s one near you

You've heard of gun buybacks to take back the streets.

Increasingly, however, Halloween comes with candy buybacks to take back kids' teeth.

At least several dozen dentists and orthodontists promise to pay cash for unopened candy at offices throughout the area.

In turn, the candy usually gets shipped (along with toothbrushes) to U.S. troops a program called Operation Gratitude.

Deals, and especially days vary, judging from ads posted at the Facebook page for the National Halloween Buyback Program, which coordinates efforts across the country.

The general going rate is $1 a pound, with a five-pound limit, as offered, for example, by from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday by Jennifer Yue in Paoli, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Doc Bresler's Cavity Busters in Northeast Philadelphia and Dresher.

Monday's also popular, and some offices have multiple dates. Monday and Wednesday are the options at Magic Smile Dental in Linden, N.J., Monday through next Thursday at Ocean Pediatric Dental Associates in Toms River, N.J.

Nov. 8 – a week from Saturday – is the day of the fourth annual "Sweet Swap" at Dr. Winah Gallagher & Associates in Sellersville.

Some offices give raffle tickets that win can win prizes worth more than $1.

And expect to get a toothbrush, too.

The 12 area Dental Solutions offices, in lieu of cash, are giving out "goodie bags" that include brushes, floss and toothpaste, on Monday.

The hauls, of course, can get huge.

"Last year we collected over 900 pounds of candy for the Stockings for Soldiers Program in Delaware," said West Chester dentist Ron Briglia.

Some 2,000 pounds were collected by Robert Riesenberger's office in Doylestown, which paid $1 a pound without a limit, a spokeswoman said.

About 130 tons has been collected from across the country, since about 2007, when Chris Kammer, a founding member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, got a few hundred dentists to begin the National Halloween Buyback Program with its tie-in to the troops.

"This year, we have over 3,000 registered participants," Kammer emailed. "While most are dental related, we've seen and influx of schools, medical facilities and even a few boy/girl scout troops."

Kammer wasn't the first, he acknowledges. For example, Gordon Groissler, with three offices in Maryland, will be celebrating his 10th annual candy buyback this year.

To find a participating dentist or orthodontist near you, browse the list below, or pinpoint a place by entering your zip code at the program's home page. Call or email to find out hours and rewards.

Contact staff writer Peter Mucha at 215-854-4342 or pmucha@phillynews.com. Follow @petemucha on Twitter.

Candy Buybacks in the Philadelphia Area

PENNSYLVANIA

Briglia Dental Group
600 East Marshall Suite 201, West Chester, Pa., 19380
Phone: 610-692-4440
Email: ronbrig@yahoo.com 
www.brigliadentalgroup.com

Thorndale Dental Associates
3105 C. G. Zinn Road, Thorndale, Pa., 19372
Phone: 610-384-2541
Email: www.thorndaledental.com
 
Alvarez Orthodontics
5995 Route 378, Suite A, Center Valley, Pa., 18034
Phone: 610-282-3228
Email: smile@alvarezorthodontics.com
www.alvarezortho.com
 
Dr. Winah Gallagher & Associates
920 Lawn Avenue, Suite E1, Sellersville, Pa., 18960
Phone: (215) 453-6630
Email: info@sellersvilledentist.com
www.sellersvilledentist.com
 
Children First Dental Associates, P.C.
130 Almshouse Road, Suite 101, Richboro, Pa., 18954
Phone: 215-355-3141
Email: childrenfirstdental@verizon.net
www.childrenfirstdental.com
 
Michael Kaner DMD
619 Shortleaf Street, Trevose, Pa., 19053
Phone: (215) 357-1306
Email: trevosedental@aol.com
www.trevosedental.com
 
Mona N, Patel, D.M.D.
1919 Susquehanna Road, Abington, Pa., 19001
Phone: 215-884-3477
Email: monadmd@comcast.net
www.monapateldmd.com
 
Dr. Robert Riesenberger DDS PC
301 South Main Street, Suite 1 West, Doylestown, Pa., 18901
Phone: (215) 348-5222
Email: cjjsmcclain@yahoo.com
www.drrobdentist4kids.com
 
Complete Care Dental
1300 MacDade Blvd, Suite 5, Woodlyn, Pa., 19094
Phone: 610-833-1919
Email: completecaredental@ymail.com
 
North Penn Pediatric Dental Associates, LLC
2100 North Broad St, Suite 203, Lansdale, Pa., 19446
Phone: 215-855-4092
Email: thekidsdentists@gmail.com
www.nppda.com
 
Neville Dental Care
295 Buck Rd. Suite 305, Holland, Pa., 18966
Phone: (215) 364-0444
Email: info@nevilledentalcare.com
www.nevilledentalcare.com
 
Dental Solutions
722 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pa., 19106
Phone: 215-922-5100
Email: tkanoc@nedentalmanagement.com
www.dentalsolutionscreatingsmiles.com
 
Dental Solutions
187 West City Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, Pa., 19004
Phone: 610-667-9713
Email: syoung@nedentalmanagement.com
www.dentalsolutionscreatingsmiles.com
 
Dental Solutions
2385 W Cheltenham Avenue, #574, Philadelphia, Pa., 19150
Phone: 215-886-7177
Email: fdawson@nedentalmanagement.com
www.dentalsolutionscreatingsmiles.com
 
Dental Solutions
6162 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa., 19128
Phone: 215-483-1900
Email: jmcguirk@nedentalmanagement.com
www.dentalsolutionscreatingsmiles.com
 
Dental Solutions
515 Baltimore Pike, Springfield, Pa., 19064
Phone: 610-543-4900
Email: sboppell@nedentalmanagement.com
www.dentalsolutionscreatingsmiles.com
 
Dental Solutions
1501 E Wadsworth Avenue, #A, Philadelphia, Pa., 19150
Phone: 215-247-1040
Email: cbeaman@nedentalmanagement.com
www.dentalsolutionscreatingsmiles.com
 
Dental Solutions
9229 Roosevelt Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pa., 19114
Phone: 215-969-0900
Email: mhanlin@nedentalmanagement.com
www.dentalsolutionscreatingsmiles.com
 
Jennifer A Yue, DDS
23 Paoli Pike, Suite 100, Paoli, Pa., 19301
Phone: 610.644.8815
Email: www.drjensfriendlydentistry@gmail.com
www.drjensfriendlydentistry.com
 
Dr. Robert Riesenberger Children's Dentistry
301 S. Main Street, Suite 1 West, Doylestown, Pa., 18901
Phone: 215-348-5222
Email: cjjsmcclain@yahoo.com
contact@drrobdentist4kids.com
 
Neville Dental Care
295 Buck Road, Suite 305, Holland, Pa., 18966
Phone: 215-364-0444
Email: info@nevilledentalcare.com
www.nevilledentalcare.com
 
Newtown Dental Care
7 Cambridge Lane, Newtown, Pa., 18940
Phone: 215-968-7787
Email: admin@newtowndentalcare.com
www.newtowndentalcare.com
 
Doc Bresler's Cavity Busters
240 Geiger Road, Philadelphia, Pa., 19115
Phone: 215-677-0380
Email: Bridget@cavitybusters.com
www.cavitybusters.com
 
Doc Bresler's Cavity Busters
1650 Limekiln Pike, Dresher, Pa., 19025
Phone: 215-643-1300
Email: Jdilacqua@cavitybusters.com
www.cavitybusters.com
 
Sellersville Family Dental
920 Lawn Avenue, Suite A-2, Sellersville, Pa., 18960
Phone: (215) 258-1090
Email: sharon@drparkonline.com
www.drparkonline.com
 
Growing Smiles in Floral Vale, Dr. Sheryl Radin
808 Floral Vale Blvd, Yardley, Pa., 19067
Phone: (215) 860-9808
Email: barbara@growingsmilespa.com
www.growingsmilespa.com
 
Thorndale Dental
3105 C G Zinn, Thorndale, Pa., 19372
Phone: 610-384-2541
Email: thepractice@thorndaledental.com
www.thorndaledental.com
 
Ufberg Dental
664 Lancaster Ave, Berwyn, Pa., 19312
Phone: (610) 251-2227
Email: ajudmd@verizon.net
www.Ufbergdental.com
 
Dentistry on the Hill
427 Shadeland Ave., Drexel Hill, Pa., 19026
Phone: (610) 259-5369
Email: ajudmd@verizon.net
www.dentistryonthehill.com
 
New Jersey
 
Florence Family Dental, PC
180 Delaware Avenue, Florence, N.J., 08518
Phone: 609-499-4915
Email: trishblum@comcast.net
www.florencefamilydentalNJ.com
 
Monroe Pediatric Dentistry
18 Centre Drive, Suite 204, Monroe Township, N.J., 08831
Phone: (609) 409-0499
Email: info@monroepediatricdentistry.com
www.monroepediatricdentistry.com
 
Dental Solutions
1450 Clements Bridge Road, Deptford, N.J., 08096
Phone: 856-845-6222
Email: wcarpo@nedentalmanagement.com
www.dentalsolutionscreatingsmiles.com
 
Dental Solutions
61 South Black Horse Pike, Blackwood, N.J., 08012
Phone: 856-227-2740
Email: ehniedziejko@nedentalmanagement.com
www.dentalsolutionscreatingsmiles.com
 
Dental Arts of South Jersey
1001 Laurel Oak Road, Suite C1, Voorhees, N.J., 08043
Phone: 856-783-5777
Email: blutz@dentalartsofsouthjersey.com
www.dentalartsofsouthjersey.com
 
Beautiful Smile LLC
146 Haddonfield-Berlin Rd, Gibbsboro, N.J., 08026
Phone: 856-346-8900
Email: Charmen.douglas@gte.net
www.BeautifulMouth.com
 
Your Child's very Own Dentist
776 Grove Road, West Deptford, N.J., 08086
Phone: (856) 848-2211
Email: babydental@aol.com
www.kidsowndentist.com
 
Your Child's very Own Dentist
400 Greentree Road, Sewell, N.J., 08080
Phone: (865) 589-6886
Email: babydental@aol.com
www.kidsowndentist.com
 
Dr. Frank Batastini Orthodontics
188 Fries Mill Rd, Suite F-3, Turnersville, N.J., 08012
Phone: 856-262-0500
Email: bracesbraces@comcast.net
www.bracesbraces.com
 
 
Delaware
 
Delaware Smile Center
201 Carter Drive, Middletown, DE, 19709
Phone: (302) 285-7645
Email: dscmarketingpr@gmail.com
www.desmilecenter.com
 
All About Smiles, P.A.
4543 Stoney Batter Rd., Wilmington, DE, 19808
Phone: (302) 239-1641
Email: allaboutsmiles@verizon.net
www.allaboutsmilesde.com