About Our Doctors

Meet The Faculty At UNLV

While our dedicated team of highly trained residents carries out treatment, our panel of board-certified orthodontists continually monitors and reviews every case. Get to know the faculty of doctors at UNLV and schedule a free consultation with us today!

 

Dr. Walter Babula

Dr. Walter Babula was born in the northeastern Pennsylvania coal country. He attended Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where he was a Dean's List student and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. He was confirmed a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree with summa cum laude honors from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dentistry. In addition to graduating first in his class, he was awarded the Senior Achievement Award for his excellence in restorative dentistry and fixed prosthetic dentistry. Dr. Babula completed a National Institute of Dental Research Traineeship in Speech Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Babula completed his orthodontic residency at the University of North Carolina, one of the most prestigious orthodontic programs in the country. There, he received a Master of Science in Orthodontics. While at the University of North Carolina, Dr. Babula's research was in the area of facial growth, and it was subsequently published in the American Journal of Orthodontics. Dr. Babula arrived in Fairbanks, Alaska in 1970 and was stationed at Bassett Army Hospital as Ft. Wainwright's first full-time orthodontist. He entered private practice in Fairbanks in 1972 where he continues to practice on a part-time basis. He is a board certified orthodontist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics.

Dr. Babula decided to share his orthodontic experience with the future generations of orthodontists by joining the faculty at the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 2006. He is a part-time faculty member in the UNLV School of Dental Medicine Advanced Education in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Residency, where he both lectures and clinically supervises the residents in our orthodontic clinic.

Dr. Babula is an avid Alaska outdoors enthusiast, and he enjoys activities including hunting, fishing, golfing, cross-country skiing and gardening. Dr. Babula and his wife, Marita, have made possible the creation of the Babula's Children's Garden as an extension of the Georgeson Botanical Gardens on the Fairbanks campus of the University of Alaska.

Dr. James Mah

Dr. James Mah is a Clinical Professor and the Program Director in Orthodontics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His academic career spans over 20 years with prior academic appointments at the University of Southern California and Harvard School of Dental Medicine. His research is focused on 3-Dimensional imaging and modeling for the purposes of diagnosis, treatment planning, and therapeutics as well as anthropology and forensics. He has been involved in the research and development of Cone-Beam CT scanners, 3-D facial imaging devices, intra-oral scanners and CAD/CAM applications in dentistry.  He obtained his Doctorate of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree, Master of Science degree and his Certificate of Specialization in Orthodontics from the University of Alberta. He then graduated from Harvard Medical School with a Doctorate of Medical Science degree and completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in the Department of Orthopaedics at Children’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Mah has authored numerous publications, textbooks and book chapters, and he regularly presents nationally and internationally. In addition, his work has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, National Post, Men’s Health, Tech TV and YouTube.

Dr. Tanya Al-Talib

Dr. Tanya Al-Talib is an Associate Professor in Orthodontics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Her academic appointments began at the University of Nevada School of Dental medicine as an Assistant Professor in Residence- Clinical Sciences in 2006 and rejoined UNLV SDM as an Assistant Professor in Residence- Orthodontics in 2015. Her research is focused on sleep-disordered breathing in both pediatric and adult patients. She has also been involved conducting research with residents and dental students to identify patients with sleep apnea as well as the development and implementation of different screening tools for sleep apnea and daytime sleepiness at UNLV- SDM. She is the recipient of the American Association of Orthodontist Foundation Award for one of her research projects evaluating the airway in different patient populations

Dr. Al-Talib obtained a Doctorate of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree and a certificate of Advanced Education in General Dentistry from the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry. In addition to graduating first in her class, she received:

  • Louisiana State University Health Science Center School of Dentistry Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Student
  • The American Association of Orthodontists Award for Exceptional Interest in the Development of the Oro-Facial Complex
  • American Academy of Orofacial Pain award for excellence in the classification, assessment, and management of temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain
  • Southeastern Academy of Prosthodontics for the Excellence in Prosthodontics
  • Louisiana Academy of General Dentistry Award for Outstanding Achievement in General Dentistry
  • The Prestigious Kramer Award—Omicron Kappa Epsilon (as a third-year dental student)

Dr. Al-Talib practiced general dentistry for four years and then joined the faculty ranks at UNLV School of Dental Medicine where she taught for six years.  Dr. Al-Talib completed her orthodontic residency and earned a Certificate and Master of Science in Orthodontics at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill which is one of the most esteemed orthodontic programs in the nation. While at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, her research interest was in Sleep-disordered breathing in children and her work there was published in the Journal of Dentistry for Children.  Dr. Al-Talib is Laser certified and therefore supervises orthodontic residents in performing laser procedures.  Dr. Al-Talib is a Board Certified Orthodontist and Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics as well as a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine.  

Dr. Charles Hill

Dr. Charles Hill attended college at Arizona State University.  He went on to earn his dental degree from Southern Illinois University.  After several years in private practice in Arizona, he moved to Las Vegas and taught dentistry at UNLV.  He earned a Master of Public Health degree and completed his specialty training in Orthodontics at UNLV.  He currently teaches orthodontics at UNLV and is engaged in private practice.


Dr. Randy Kunik

Dr. Kunik attended the University of Texas at Austin as an undergraduate and graduated from the University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. After obtaining his postdoctoral certificate specializing in orthodontics, he started Kunik Orthodontics in Austin, Texas.

As a leader in aligner treatment, Dr. Kunik’s expertise in the field allows him to treat standard cases as well as complex cases.  Dr. Randy Kunik has four offices in Austin, TX and started practicing orthodontics in 1991. He has over 20 years of aligner experience and 4000+ cases evolving strategies and systems to minimize the needs for attachments.

In 2014, Dr. Kunik started lecturing at UNLV in addition to starting Kunik Labs, an aligner consulting lab service for general dentists.

 

Dr. Brian Chrzan
Dr. Pouya Momtaz

Dr. Thomas Pitts
Dr. Matthew Bruner
Dr. John Pobanz
Dr. William Schmohl
Dr. Eric Wu
Dr. Rael Bernstein
Dr. Jacob Koch
Dr. Mike McLaughlin
Dr. Arnie Pitts