Our Office

Happy Smile Pediatric Dentistry opened in 2009 when Dr. Sarah Kim and Dr. Julie Cernigliaro teamed up to offer the children of Manhattan high-quality, compassionate dental care by combining advanced modern technology with knowledge and empathy. In 2021, Dr. Min joined our talented team.

Drs. Kim, Dr. Julie, and Dr. Min are board-certified pediatric dentists, diplomats of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, and members of both the international and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

Our office is located at 220 Madison Ave., Suite A in Midtown Manhattan, across the street from the Morgan Museum and Library and centrally located near both Grand Central Station and Penn Station.  

Rest assured your child’s dental visit will be fun, educational, and productive. The Happy Smile Pediatric Dentistry team creates healthy smiles, one child at a time. 

 
 
 
 

 

Meet the Dentists

 

Julie Cernigliaro, DMD

Dr. Julie Cernigliaro

Dr. Julie Cernigliaro earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, where she received the Community Service and Pediatric Dental Health award. In 2003, she completed her pediatric dental residency at the Northwestern Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. 

Dr. Julie has extensive training in treating children with special needs and became board-certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry in 2006. She has given both national and international presentations on pediatric dentistry. Dr. Cernigliaro currently is the Associate Director of the Pediatric Dental Program at the NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn. She is also a faculty member at the NYU College of Dentistry. Dr. Cernigliaro is well-traveled and has researched in various settings throughout the globe. 

She has published articles in The Journal of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and online at healthychildren.com. While completing her residency, she conducted dental research in Aracatuba, Brazil, and she’s provided dental care to children in need in Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean. She also recently traveled to Nepal to teach students at the dental school.

Outside of the office, she enjoys being a proud mother of two little girls, learning about other cultures, traveling, photography, and reading.

 
 
 

Sarah Kim, DDS

Dr. Sarah Kim

In 2003, Dr. Kim earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at the University of Southern California. In the top 10% of her graduating class, she received the Omicron Kappa Upsilon award for academic achievement from the National Dental Honor Society. Dr. Kim also won the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry award for her dedication to pediatric dentistry. In 2005, she completed her pediatric dental residency at the Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York.

In 2008, Dr. Kim became a board-certified diplomat of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, reaching the highest tier of education in her field. She has been involved with many outreach programs, such as the Dorcas Medical Mission and Youth With A Mission, to provide dental care to children in need throughout Mexico and South America.

Dr. Kim is an assistant at the Jersey Shore University Medical Center and teaches at the NYU College of Dentistry. She’s also a clinical instructor at the Mount Sinai Hospital.

When she isn’t caring for her patients, Dr. Kim enjoys music, playing the flute, reading, and crafting. She has been a classical flute player since the fourth grade.

 

Min Jung Kim, DMD

Dr. Min Jung Kim or “Dr. Min” attended the University of Pennsylvania College of Arts and Sciences, majoring in Biological Basis of Behavior. She completed her dental education at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, where she earned her Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry. She completed a postgraduate pediatric dentistry residency at NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn and is a board-certified pediatric dentist. 

Dr. Min strongly believes that prevention and oral health education are two of the most important principles of dentistry. She takes pride in delivering high-quality dentistry in a comfortable, caring environment. As a pediatric dentist, she is committed to helping patients develop a lifelong positive attitude towards dentistry. 

When she is not seeing patients, she likes to sing and listen to music. She was part of an a cappella group in college!

 
 

Aaron Shea, DDS

 

Dr. Aaron Shea graduated from Columbia University with a double major in Architecture and Art History and received his Doctorate of Dental Surgery at Columbia University School of Dental Medicine. He completed his Advanced Education in Pediatric Dentistry at NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn, where he was the recipient of the Best Clinical Research Award at NYU Langone. Dr. Shea believes that providing the best treatment possible for children requires both clinical experience and staying abreast of the latest research and literature in pediatric dentistry. Beyond the private practice setting, Dr. Shea has a strong interest in dental public health and serves as an attending instructor in the Pediatric Dental Department at Bronx Lebanon Hospital.

Dr. Shea strives to create a nurturing and friendly environment for children and takes pride in working with both parents and children. Through his humor and patience, he hopes to help his patients establish a lifelong commitment to excellent oral health and beautiful smiles.

Outside the clinic, Dr. Shea is an avid runner and loves to spend time with his pet pug, Moneypenny.