With the help of soldier friend, local doctor's care transcends borders

Sussex County-The lessons Dr. Steve Candio taught his patient Alex Ambrose are now helping countless of children halfway around the world. Candio, a dentist with an office in Sparta, and Ambrose, a 25 year old Hamburg resident currently stationed in Iraq, have joined hands in an effort to improve the health of children in the war torn country. Soon after his deployment, Ambrose, a second lieutenant in the army contacted Candio to inform him that many of the children he saw lacked basic dental health tools, such as toothpaste and toothbrushes. Candio immediately contacted Proctor and Gamble, a multi-national manufacturer of family, personal and household care products. At his urging, the company donated 200 brushes and tubes of toothpaste, which he later shipped to Ambrose to be distributed by members of the armed forces to children in need. "They are kids, they need help (and) this is a small thing I could do," said Candio. "Alex told me I could help them out and I did. We're all human beings. It doesn't matter if they are from Africa or Appalachia." Candio has been in practice for 28 years. His wife Beth works alongside him as a dental hygienist. The Candios have taught at the university level and are the only husband and wife to ever be on the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry (although appointed at different times). Beth is the president of the New Jersey Dental Hygienist's Association. Steve is currently finishing a dental textbook being published this year. He will introduce his book at a July 8 meeting of the Academy of General Dentistry. In January, Steve was issued his first patent which is not dental related (an amusement park attraction). Beth and Steve are the vice president and president of the Sussex County Charter