DATE: Friday, April 11, 1997                TAG: 9704090121

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: THUMBS UP! 

SOURCE: BY SCOTT MCCASKEY, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   64 lines

ORTHODONTIST WORKS MAGIC ON KIDS

The children waiting in Dr. Kenneth Albinder's office all seem to be happy, despite the fact they're about to get their teeth worked on.

That's because Albinder takes extra efforts to make sure their visit to the orthodontist is much more than getting their teeth straightened. Between wiring, he holds parties and special events, performs magic tricks, and shares jokes with his youthful clientele.

``He's pretty cool,'' Chesapeake resident Carl W. Evory, 11, said of Albinder. ``He does some neat magic stuff and listens to our jokes, too. And he has a Nintendo.''

About 75 percent of Albinder's patients are children. Along the office walls hang pictures drawn by the youths for a Valentines' Day art contest. On a shelf sits a large jar for an upcoming prize drawing. For holidays such as Halloween, the doctor and his staff dress up. Every summer they host ``Beach Week,'' when refreshments and summer-related gifts are given to the children.

``I try to make this a fun office for the kids, a place they want to come to,'' said Albinder, who learned magic and joined the Society of American Magicians so he could better entertain his patients.

Outside of the office, the doctor sponsors roller skating parties in the spring and fall. He also has held dental health clinics at area schools. In February, Albinder's office donated 700 Tootsie Roll pops for an Operation Smile fund-raiser at Butts Road Intermediate school, which is attended by many of Albinder's patients.

``I love the skating parties, they're always a success,'' said Loren M. Evory, 13.

Albinder, who has been in practice for 25 years, with offices in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, says he is trying to ``payback the community'' for helping him create a successful practice.

``We've have been very well received by the citizens of Chesapeake,'' he said.

Chesapeake resident Muriel A. Evory was referred to Albinder by her dentist when her sons needed braces.

``I recommend him to all my friends,'' said Evory, 40. ``He takes a real interest in the kids. Those magic tricks and other things keeps them occupied.''

Albinder, 56, is a Brooklyn, N.Y., native. He received a degree in dentistry from the University of West Virginia and his degree in orthodontics from the University of Pittsburgh. A Virginia Beach resident, he says he came to Hampton Roads because he wanted ``a warmer climate.''

The doctor noted that the process of straightening teeth has changed in recent years and that orthodontic work isn't as feared now as it was in the past. All of his five children have had braces.

``Kids aren't terrified of braces like they used to be,'' he said. ``Braces are so prevalent now and the procedure isn't nearly as painful as it once was because of new technology and space-age materials.''

Carl Evory says he actually doesn't mind going to the orthodontist, with one exception.

``The only thing they need now is a Coke machine,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by L. TODD SPENCER

``I try to make this a fun office for the kids, a place they want to

come to,'' says Dr. Kenneth Albinder, who learned magic and joined

the Society of American Magicians so he could better entertain his

patients.

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