David W. Smith/Daily NewsDr. Glenn Malchow is retiring after 33 years.

Dr. Glenn Malchow loves being an orthodontist.

It’s a profession that requires him to work with the teeth and jaws – combining tooth and jaw alignment into positive aesthetic and functioning results. Many of his patients have braces or temporomandibular joint disorder, commonly known as TMJ, which causes pain and affects jaw movement.

“It’s a very positive, upbeat specialty. When they finish treatment, people are happy,” he said. “I get to form relationships with people along the way. I’ve been very blessed.”

But Malchow has decided to retire from the profession he loves after 33 years in the business. His last day at the office of Malchow and Lawless Orthodontics will be Wednesday, although he said he may help out there occasionally if the staff is shorthanded.

“First, I plan to spend more time with my children,” he said. “After that, I’ll have to decide.”

Malchow became interested in matters of the mouth when he was growing up in Franklin.

“I knew some dentists there,” he said.

He majored in biology and chemistry and earned a bachelor’s degree from Murray State University before going to dental school at the University of Kentucky.

“I decided I wanted to specialize while I was in dental school,” he said.

Dental school took four years, and he did clinical work while he was there.

“You learn all the basic sciences the same as what you take in medical school,” he said. “By the time you’re out, you’re ready to start practice.”

Malchow’s practice after dental school was actually in the Navy.

“I spent two years in the Navy after dental school. Then I went back to (the University of Kentucky) to specialize,” he said.

After he finished his studies, he returned to southcentral Kentucky.

“I have family here,” he said. “It’s the area where I knew I wanted to live.”

Malchow said adolescents make up 75 percent to 80 percent of his practice.

“I’ve seen a slight increase in the number of adult patients,” he said. “People are recognizing more functional problems with tooth and jaw alignment. We’re correcting tooth and jaw alignment so more teeth won’t be lost in the future.”

People are also responding to advances in technology in orthodontics, he said.

“The results are better than we were able to do 30 years ago,” he said. “We’re able to accomplish treatment quicker and in a much more comfortable manner for patients. It has become more positive for patients to be here.”

Malchow has clinics in Bowling Green, Russellville, Franklin and Glasgow. He spends time in each one.

“It’s a matter of organization,” he said. “I have a great staff and two other orthodontists. They make my job easy.”

He is also active in professional organizations. He is a past president of the Pennyrile Dental Society and Kentucky Association of Orthodontics and a past delegate for the American Association of Orthodontics. His practice is active in the community, donating time and money to various programs.

“I believe the legacy will continue with giving back to the community,” he said. “We’ve always tried to be good community citizens.”

Malchow said southcentral Kentucky has been very good to him.

“I hope I have responded by being competent and as good as I could be in the practice of orthodontics in return to them,” he said. “As I leave the practice, I feel good about the doctors and staff who are to continue on. I take a good deal of pride in that.”