Meet Myka, the Retainer Dog NYC Kids Can’t Stop Talking About

If you’ve ever misplaced a retainer, you know the panic. But our practice has a secret weapon — four paws, a wagging tail, and the sweetest face in Manhattan. Meet Myka, the retainer dog NYC has never seen before (because there’s literally never been one).

A Pup with a Purpose

At first glance, Myka looks like any happy black Lab — long city walks, hellos to strangers, and fetch until her pawrents, Dr. Andrew Lemchen and his wife Carly, call it a night. Yes, the Dr. Andrew Lemchen dog resume also includes big sister to Liara and her baby brother Bodie — who’s growing up with the sweetest “Ortho Lab” by his side.

But one thing sets her apart from every orthodontic office dog NYC has met…

She’s training to become the very first retainer-finding dog in NYC — and maybe the world.

Training Like a Pro

With help from Maximum K9 Training, Myka is perfecting her craft using the same scent-detection methods that prepare professional K9s — except instead of sniffing out danger, this retainer fetching dog NYC patients adore is learning to sniff out lost retainers under couch cushions everywhere.

Myka’s Services

Here’s what Myka brings to the table (or rather, the dental chair!):

✔️ Retainer Detection – Using her incredible nose to sniff out misplaced retainers.
✔️ Precision Scent Training – Focused training modeled after professional K9 work.
✔️ Kid-Friendly Motivation – Encouraging kids to take better care of their retainers.
✔️ Comfort & Support – Offering cuddles, calm, and reassurance during visits.

Why Patients Love Her

It’s not just her nose — it’s her heart. Patients young and old light up when the LSO orthodontics dog NYC families ask about by name is in the office.

She’s living proof that protecting your retainer matters — though we’d rather you never need her services!
She motivates kids to stay responsible with their orthodontic care.
She comforts nervous patients with her sweet and gentle nature.
She makes every visit more fun, turning appointments into something to look forward to.

The future of orthodontics
(With a wagging Tail)

As her training continues, Myka the retainer dog NYC is on her way to becoming the world’s first official Retainer Detection Dog — soon, patients will even be able to request a visit when a retainer goes missing. (File this under Lemchen Salzer Orthodontics fun facts: our practice pioneered digital orthodontics in the ’70s… and now retainer-detection K9s. Innovation runs in the family — meet our robots for more Lemchen Salzer Orthodontics fun facts.)

Because the future of orthodontics doesn’t just look high-tech. Sometimes it looks like a sweet black Lab with a wagging tail. Fun fact for the skeptics: dogs really can be trained to detect specific scents with remarkable accuracy — the American Kennel Club explains how scent work works. Follow the Dr. Andrew Lemchen dog updates — and the retainer fetching dog progress reports — on our Instagram.