Education and Training
Did you know? All orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are orthodontists. While many dentists will take brief training seminars in order to offer isolated orthodontic treatments to their patients, orthodontists such as Dr. Durk Irwin receive two-to-three additional years of specialized training after they become dentists. Read on to learn more about Dr. Irwin’s extensive education and training.
Durk began his education at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. After earning a Bachelors Degree in Science, he moved on to Oregon Health Sciences University, where he received his D.M.D. (Doctor of Dental Medicine) degree. Dr. Irwin gained experience practicing General Dentistry in Astoria, Oregon for a year before entering his orthodontic residency at New York University School of Dentistry. He earned his specialty certificate in orthodontics from NYU in 1997 and has been engaged in the private practice of orthodontics in the Vancouver, WA area ever since.
At Work
The field of orthodontics is always changing. From techniques to approaches to the materials being used, there is always something new to explore. Dr. Irwin stays abreast of these changes in order to provide his patients with the fastest, highest quality, and most comfortable treatment options available.
Dr. Irwin is committed to providing exceptional orthodontic care in a professional, yet relaxed, family environment. Going to the orthodontist is probably not most people’s idea of a good time; and yet Durk and his team manage to make the experience pleasant and—dare we say fun?—for their patients, while obtaining optimal treatment results for them as well.
Dr. Irwin’s patients love having him as their orthodontist, as is made apparent by the ever-growing number of glowing reviews they write about him on Google, Facebook, and Yelp.
Durk finds great satisfaction in the ability to make a real difference in his patients’ lives through orthodontic treatment. His comprehensive approach is primarily a non-extraction philosophy. He starts treatment early in young children to help facilitate favorable jaw growth and development to accommodate all the developing permanent teeth. By guiding jaw growth and development in children, he is able obtain a big, beautiful, and stable smile while keeping all permanent teeth in most patients.
Dr. Irwin has also improved function for and has helped numerous adult patients achieve that “Hollywood smile” they’re hoping to achieve. He understands that adults seeking orthodontic treatment require a different approach than children and teens. Regardless of age, he creates customized treatment plans that strike a balance between his patients’ unique orthodontic needs and goals, budgetary considerations, and lifestyle demands.
Dr. Irwin’s Professional Affiliations
- Washington State Dental Association
- Oregon Dental Association
- American Dental Association
- American Association of Orthodontists
At Home
Family is extremely important to Durk. He has five children with his wife Kimm and they mean the world to him. He especially loves being Papa to his 4 grandchildren. Durk loves spending time outdoors enjoying nature and its wonders. Whatever the season, you will find him enjoying some sort of outdoor sport or activity. He loves everything from skiing and snowmobiling, to camping, fishing, and hiking. Another of his pastimes is trail riding horses in the mountains, and he also loves playing cowboy on his working cattle ranch.