476 reviews

Orthodontist in Saint Louis, MO

13302 Manchester Rd, Des Peres, MO 63131

Open
Closes at 7:00pm

SundayClosed

Monday9:00am - 7:00pm

Tuesday8:00am - 5:00pm

Wednesday8:00am - 5:00pm

Thursday8:00am - 5:00pm

FridayClosed

SaturdayClosed

Hi, my name is Dr. Debra Fink.I was born and raised in St. Louis and I am an orthodontist. I was chosen by St. Louis Magazine as one of the Top Dentists 2013 and was repeatedly chosen for this honor through the fifth year in a row, as one of theTop Dentists 2017.

I am a practitioner, lecturer, author, and researcher in the field of orthodontics and my clinical and research training includes graduation fromWashington University School of Dental Medicine for both dental training (Doctorate of Dental Medicine,cum laude, 1988) and orthodontic training (Master of Science, 1990). I also received a masters degree cum laudein biochemistry from the University of Scrantonin 1980.

I initiated and have participated in cutting-edge clinical research regarding Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) at Washington University School of Medicine, Program in Physical Therapy since 2002, and servedon the staff at Barnes Jewish Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology, for more than 12 years.

I am an active participant in the orthodontic community and I maintain affiliations with the following professional organizations: the American Dental Association, the Missouri Dental Association, the Greater St. Louis Dental Society, the American Association of Orthodontists, and Omicron Kappa Upsilon.

I am married to Joel Fink. We have four children:Jason, a real estate attorney in New York City;Ezekiel, a neurologist in Houston;Leah, a housewife with a law degree in Seattle;and Molly, an intern psychologist in Los Angeles. We have nine grandchildren. I am an avid swimmer, hiker, reader, and photographer, and I love to cook in my spare time.

We recognize that all our patients are unique and deserve to receive orthodontic care that reflects their individual needs. Our experienced and talented team is committed to working with you and your family to create a comfortable, stress-free, and rewarding orthodontic experience every time you visit our practice.

I love welcoming new patients and families to our practice. Its wonderful to be part of giving each person a beautiful smileone thatmakes them feel good about themselves. Ive worked in the field since 1971 and joined Dr. Debra Fink and the team in 2005. I am lucky because I get to meet new patients and introduce them to orthodontics, and then watch them gain self-esteem with a new smile! I review their finances and insurance, answer questions, and get them off to a great start.

I am responsible for making sure the office runs smoothly and that our patients and their families have a positive experience while they are with us. I started my career in 1994 as a certified dental assistant and quickly progressed to lead assistant with cross training in all areas of the dental office. I joined Dr. Fink in 2015.It has been a joy to come to work each day with a group that has such a positive outlook and strong work ethic. Dr. Fink is a phenomenal orthodontist and a perfectionist who never stops working until a smile is just right.

I am married to my high-school sweetheart Charles, who is the love of my life. I have two children:a son Justin and daughter Brooke who are everything I could hope they would be and more. My daughter is a mother to my beautiful grandson Mason. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, going to the movies, and spending time with my friends and family.

We have the best patients imaginable! Its so much fun to see themstart to feel better about themselves and become happier as they see their smile change. The day we remove their braces and they look in the mirror is amazing: Theyre laughing and grinning and were thrilled for them! I started working in the dental field in 1982 and joined our team in 1997. I make sure our clinic runs on time. I also deliver retainers, order supplies, and remove braces.

Its amazing to watch a person change during orthodontic treatment. Peopleoften start feeling self-conscious about their teeth. During treatment, they start to feel better about their appearance and by the end their smiles dont stop! I love being part of making those smiles happen. Ive been a certified orthodontic assistant since 2000 and joined Dr. Fink in 2012. Working with the doctor, I help give patients their best smiles possible!

I enjoy the friendships that grow with patients and families. During treatment, because we see each other regularly, I learn about their lives and interests. Hearing about a persons latest adventures, their success at work or school, and sharing in their excitement at getting a new smile, are all wonderful. I joined the team in 2012 after working in the dental field since in 1996. Its a joy to be part of a great team and helping to create perfect smiles!

My awesome husband Kelly and I have been married for more than 20 years. I have two adult sons, Andrew and Adam, and three grandchildren:Alice, Aiven, and Mason. I love being outdoors and time spent at the beach.

Our patients make me love coming to work! I look forward to hearing about their day, sharing stories, and celebrating their achievements. Its incredibly rewarding to help people I care about achieve a lifetime of smiles they love sharing. Im currently a certified orthodontic assistant, and in 2014 I became part of this smile family. My days are spent helping patients during visits, working chairside, and offering education and encouragement.

I love teeth! And anything to do with them (smiling, eating, talking you name it)! As an RDH, I get to work one on one with you or your children to discover how best to care for your oral health for optimal orthodontic success. I love my job, the great ladies I work with, and all of our patients. I get to learn our patientsstories, interests, and hobbies while focusing with them on knowledge of their own gum health. Together we work to achieve apersonal best standard of optimal gum health during their care with Dr. Fink.

My husbands job as an orthopedic surgeon brought our family (complete with two girls and two Guinea pigs) to St. Louis. We cant get enough of the St. Louis storms and delicious eats! When were not here, youll find us vacationing across the U.S., with multiple trips to visit family in Utah and Texas. Cheers to fantastic adventures with friends and family any time of the year!

I enjoy becoming friends with patients and parents. Watching people I care about develop great oral health and a smile they love keeps me loving my work. The day they finish, and see their beautiful new smile, is the best! I started working as a dental assistant in 2015 and joined our team the same year. I handle our practice advertising and help out at the front desk, too:answering the phones and scheduling visits.

When Im not working, I love pretty much anything that gets me outdoors, especially camping and riding four wheelers and dirt bikes. I also love time with my boyfriendDustin, and spoiling my nephews, Christopher and Jackson.

Dr. Couch did not have braces as a child but he decided that the time was right to start treatment with Dr. Fink as an adult in April of 2013 and as of April 2014, the AAO site reports that, his teeth already look perfectly straight. As a new inductee to this orthodontic Hall of Fame, Dr. Couch noted that not only did the orthodontic treatment provide aesthetic benefits but it also helped him to develop healthier habits, such as drinking less coffee and stopping his soda intake altogether. As a result, Dr. Couch reports that without question, [h]e recommends orthodontic treatment to other adults.

The American Association of Orthodontists reports that in a survey of adult orthodontic patients, 75% reported that their post-orthodontic treatment smile resulted in improvements in their careers or personal relationships. In fact the AAO recently completed a survey which shows that adults are seeking orthodontic treatment in record numbers: adult patients now account for approximately 20% of all orthodontic patients. In addition, from 2010 to 2012, the number of adult orthodontic patients increased 14% to a record high of 1,225,850 patients. The president of the AAO noted that in the past adults often spent decades avoiding orthodontic treatment due to misplaced concerns, but innovative, discreet orthodontic treatment options allow adults to enjoy the aesthetic and health benefits of orthodontic treatment in a virtually undetectable manner.

The American Association of Orthodontists was founded in 1900 and is the worlds oldest and largest dental specialty organization, with over 17,000 members. As of 2012, its members were treating about 5,876,000 patients per year, which is also a record high. The AAO is committed to encouraging and sponsoring important research to enable its members to provide the highest quality of care to patients and Dr. Fink is a proud member of the AAO.

Orthodontic treatment for children not only creates beautiful smiles and promotes confidence and self esteem, but it is also necessary in many cases to correct bite issues that can have adverse effects on the way children talk, chew their food and maintain their general oral health.

In their early years, childrens teeth and jawlines undergo significant growth so they are more easily aligned. After the molars erupt, which usually happens in the sixth year, the space in the mouth for teeth actually begins to decrease. So, once you have detected a possible problem it is best not to wait for an orthodontic evaluation because your childs teeth will not straighten out naturally and will likely become less straight over time.

As a result, if you notice any of the following you should generally seek an orthodontic evaluation for your child: thumb or finger sucking or tongue thrusting habits that remain after the permanent teeth have begun to emerge, permanent teeth that have gaps or are crowded or overlap, unusually early or late loss of baby teeth, difficulty chewing or biting, jaws that shift, pop, click or make any other sounds, speech problems, open mouth breathing, biting the cheeks or the roof of the mouth, facial imbalance or jaws that are out of proportion to the rest of the face, grinding or clenching of the teeth, and/or the upper and lower front teeth have a significant space between them or do not properly align from top to bottom and/or left to right when the upper back teeth are lowered and touch the lower back teeth.

the upper and lower front teeth have a significant space between them or do not properly align from top to bottom and/or left to right when the upper back teeth are lowered and touch the lower back teeth.

Early orthodontic treatment is necessary in only a small percentage of children, so the evaluation typically is just for observation and Dr. Fink will continue to monitor your childs progress at no charge. If a problem is or becomes evident, taking action early may prevent more serious problems from developing and avoid the extraction of permanent teeth. This will most likely make later stages of orthodontic treatment quicker, more comfortable and less complicated and expensive.

Dr. Debra Fink is a leading St. Louis orthodontist and her treatment philosophy and ultimate goal is to complete the appropriate orthodontic treatment for each patient in the shortest possible time, while focusing on patient comfort and preventing teeth extraction.

In cases where early treatment is needed, there will be two phases of orthodontic treatment that combine directing jaw growth into the best possible position with aligning and straightening the teeth. The primary advantage of a two-phase treatment process is to maximize the opportunity to accomplish a healthy, stable, functional and beautiful smile for your child.

The first phase of treatment usually begins between the ages of 7 thru 10 and it is necessary to guide the jaw into the position that allows permanent teeth to erupt into the proper positions because teeth will usually come in straighter if they have the room to do so. That is, if the teeth are provided with the environment to erupt into the correct position then the original gums, bone and supporting tissue will naturally support straight teeth. This in turn provides a healthier, more esthetic and more stable position for each individual tooth and establishes the proper orientation and functionality of the upper and lower jaws. As a result of this phase of treatment, your child most often can avoid teeth extraction and surgical procedures to correct the relationship of the upper and lower jaws.

The first phase of treatment almost always leads to a second phase, but there will be an intermediate or resting period during which your childs remaining permanent teeth erupt. Dr. Fink will monitor your childs progress about every six months and then when it is appropriate your child will most likely begin the second phase of treatment.

The second phase of orthodontic treatment usually involves some form of braces and addresses the alignment of all permanent teeth with the goal of moving each tooth into the proper location in the mouth where it will be in harmony with the lips, cheeks, tongue and the other surrounding teeth. When this occurs, your child will have a beautiful and healthy smile and his/her teeth and jaws will function together properly. The final part of this phase of orthodontic treatment is called retention, and it uses retainers to maintain the final results of treatment.

Early treatment at Dr. Fink's St. Louis orthodontic office produces a wide-ranging set of benefits for your child that most often include: improving the facial appearance and providing a nicer smile, lowering the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth, preventing crowding in the mouth by making room for permanent teeth and guiding them to better positions, avoiding the need for permanent teeth extraction, reducing the likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correcting the results of thumb or finger sucking habits or regular tongue thrusting, eliminating difficulties with speaking, chewing, swallowing and closing the lips comfortably, and eliminating crossbites that can lead to asymmetric facial growth.

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Rating 5 out of 5 based on 476 reviews

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Find the best dentist in: Missouri / St. Louis County / Saint Louis / 63131

Debra F. Fink Orthodontics

Reviews

Rating 5 out of 5 based on 476 reviews