Dr. Duane Shank lives in St. James and has practiced orthodontics eight minutes away, at 200 E Main St. in Smithtown, since 1991. Dr. Shank is a board-certified orthodontist treating children, teens, and adults with braces and clear aligners. Consultations are free.
Dr. Shank, his wife, and their four children live in St. James. He drives down 25A to work the same way most of his St. James patients drive to see him.
There is a version of this page that a practice anywhere in Suffolk County could have written, with a stock photograph and the words “proudly serving St. James.” This is not that. Dr. Shank’s children grew up here, and he has sponsored local Little League for thirty years.
In a place like St. James, that is not marketing. It is just the reason people already know where his office is.
St. James to the office is 2.7 miles, about eight minutes.
Take Lake Avenue south to Route 25A, then follow 25A west into Smithtown, where it merges with Route 25 to become East Main Street. The office is at number 200, in the Colonial Building past Town Hall. From the north end of the hamlet near Harbor Country Day and Head of the Harbor, Moriches Road to 25A is the straighter run.
If you have ever driven from the General Store to Smithtown Town Hall, you already know the way. It is the same trip.
Saint James Elementary and Nesaquake Middle School are both Smithtown Central School District schools, and orthodontic treatment tends to begin somewhere between them.
The recommended first evaluation is around age seven, during the Saint James Elementary years. Most children examined at that age do not need treatment yet. What the visit does is catch the smaller group whose crossbite, narrow arch, or crowding is much easier to correct while the jaw is still growing. That appointment is free, and Dr. Shank will tell you plainly if the answer is to wait.
Harbor Country Day families are welcome on the same basis, and the practice also serves Head of the Harbor and Nissequogue, which share the 11780 zip code.
The practical benefit of a shared district is scheduling. Half-days, holidays, and the sports calendar are the same ones we are already working around for Smithtown families, so an appointment that avoids a school morning for one child avoids it for the other.
This is a solo specialty practice. Dr. Shank performs the examination, writes the plan, and makes every adjustment himself; you are not passed between rotating associates over two years of treatment.
Treatment options include metal and ceramic braces, Invisalign and clear aligners, early and two-phase treatment for growing children, retainers, and adult treatment including re-treatment of results that have drifted since a first round of braces years ago.
Dr. Shank is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and a Clinical Assistant Professor at Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine, where he teaches residents in the specialty.
One fee covers records, all appliances, every visit including emergencies, and your first set of retainers. In-house payment plans have no interest and start around $150 a month, with no credit check and no outside lender. The practice accepts most dental insurance plans and is not in-network with any carrier, and we say so at the consultation rather than in the small print. HSA and FSA funds can be applied to your balance.
Published Long Island price ranges and the full breakdown are on the financing page.
Serving St. James from our Smithtown office. Call (631) 265-3666 or request an appointment online.
Smithtown Orthodontics 200 E Main St. Smithtown, NY 11787 (631) 265-3666
Patients from St. James appreciate the short and convenient drive to Smithtown Orthodontics. Located nearby, our office is easily accessible via Route 25, Route 347, and Lake Avenue.
Families visiting from the area often recognize local destinations such as St. James General Store, Deepwells Farm Historical Society, and the St. James Long Island Rail Road station. Our practice is conveniently situated for residents throughout the community.
With ample parking and a location close to major Suffolk County roads, we make it easy for St. James patients to receive exceptional orthodontic care without a long commute.
With over 35 years of experience in orthodontics, Dr. Duane Shank is dedicated to providing St. James patients with personalized care focused on creating healthy, beautiful smiles. Every treatment plan is thoughtfully designed to meet the specific needs of the individual patient.
Dr. Shank combines advanced orthodontic technology with years of clinical expertise to achieve consistent, long-lasting results. His ongoing commitment to continuing education helps ensure patients receive modern, effective treatment in a comfortable and supportive environment.
Trusted, board-certified care focused on creating healthy, confident smiles with experience you can rely on.
At Smithtown Orthodontics, we strive to make orthodontic care affordable for patients from St. James and surrounding communities. Our flexible financing options are designed to remove financial barriers and simplify the treatment process.
Many patients qualify for monthly payments starting at just $150. We also offer interest-free payment plans, accept most major insurance plans, and work closely with patients to maximize available benefits.
Our goal is to provide clear information and support so you can feel confident moving forward with treatment.
Whether you’re exploring orthodontic treatment for yourself or your child, it’s natural to have questions. Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions we hear from patients in St. James regarding treatment options, financing, and orthodontic care.
St. James has several general and cosmetic dental practices, some offering clear aligners. The nearest practice limited entirely to orthodontics is Smithtown Orthodontics at 200 E Main St. in Smithtown, about eight minutes from Lake Avenue by Route 25A.
Yes. Dr. Shank, his wife, and their four children live in St. James, and he has practiced in Smithtown since 1991.
About eight minutes and 2.7 miles. Lake Avenue south to 25A, then west into Smithtown where 25A joins Route 25 and becomes East Main Street. From the Head of the Harbor end, Moriches Road to 25A is more direct.
Yes, and from Harbor Country Day as well. Both public schools are in the Smithtown Central School District, so appointments can be scheduled around the same calendar. Early morning slots on Monday and Thursday and Tuesday evening appointments keep most students out of the office during class time.
Yes. Call the office during patient hours and we will fit you in. Emergency visits are included in the treatment fee, not billed separately, and at eight minutes away most St. James families are seen the same day or the next.
