Most docs try to get aligners going on their own. Then feel frustrated when the team doesn’t support it. I was there too. I tried to do everything myself — scanning, educating, managing trays. My assistant was confused, my front desk forgot follow-ups, and cases stalled. When I finally trained my team the right way, everything changed. Here’s how to get your team on board fast: Start with a 15-min huddle: Explain why aligners matter (not just for you — but for patients) Front desk = follow-up...
7 days ago • 1 min read
Every dentist has one fear when starting aligners: “What if this goes wrong?” I remember my first case with rotations and black triangles. It didn’t go as planned. The patient expected perfection. I expected simplicity. We both left disappointed. Then I changed one thing: the way I set expectations. Now I use one simple script at every consult to align goals and avoid future surprises. Here’s the script: “We’re going to make a big difference in your smile — and sometimes, the plan needs to be...
14 days ago • 1 min read
It’s easy to look at DSOs and think: “They’ve got the team, the tech, the budget… I can’t compete with that.” But here’s what most don’t see: Solo docs have something DSOs don’t — time, trust, and the ability to implement fast. One of the docs I worked with started with 1 aligner case/month. Six months later, she was doing 6+ — no big team, no agency, no sales script. Just a simple workflow and a consistent message. Here’s how solo offices win at aligners: Scan every hygiene patient and flag...
21 days ago • 1 min read
Nothing kills momentum like back-to-back refinements. You think you’re done — and then another scan, another delay, another patient getting frustrated. I’ve been there. At one point, almost every case had a midcourse correction. I blamed the software… but it wasn’t that. It was me skipping steps upfront. Here’s how I reduced refinements by over 50%: Use attachments that actually do something — not just the auto-generated ones Set patient expectations: “This is a process. We’ll make...
28 days ago • 1 min read
A lot of docs start offering aligners… and then hit a wall. Some months you start a case. Some months you don’t. It feels reactive — not strategic. That was me for a while. Until I built in a simple system I called “Aligner Day.” One dedicated day a quarter for consults and case starts. It changed everything. How to build your own Aligner Day system: Pick 1 day/quarter (usually a light Friday or late-start morning) Promote it internally — tell hygiene, front desk, assistants to mention it to...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
At one point in 2020, I was $500K in debt, out of work… and delivering Uber Eats. Like most dentists, I started with CE. Spear modules. Clinical deep dives. Two weeks in, I realized: There was nothing to apply it to. So I checked out. Played Xbox. Made margaritas at 5. Took the Jaguars to the Super Bowl in franchise mode (twice). Until my wife looked at me and said, “You need to do something with yourself.” That’s when I signed up for Uber Eats. And weirdly… I liked it. I’d never had a job...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
If you’re unsure about pricing… you’ll always undercharge. I did that for months. I priced low because I was scared to lose the case. But that just led to resentment — more work, less profit, no sustainability. Then I switched to a model that made sense — for me and the patient. Here’s how I price aligners now: Take your lab fee (let’s say $1,200–$1,800) Multiply it by 3x for your total fee — that builds in profit, chairtime, and refinements Script the value confidently: “This is designed to...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Social media makes it feel like every dentist is doing 10+ aligner cases a month. And if you haven’t started… it feels like you’ve missed the boat. I felt that too. I waited longer than I should’ve — and beat myself up about it. But once I got the right support, I made up for lost time fast. If that’s where you’re at, here’s what I’d focus on first: Pick 1 case you feel good about and commit to starting it this month Block time to learn: 30 minutes/week on just case selection + planning Stop...
2 months ago • 1 min read
You’re losing money by paying your associates to do Clear Aligners.I see a lot of practices making this mistake.Here’s why it’s costing you—and how to fix it. 👇🏽When I first saw a practice using the Production Frontload model for paying associates, it seemed logical:• Associate starts the case, earns 30% of production.• Lab bill? Deducted at 30%.• Paid out just like restorative work.Sounds simple, right?It works beautifully when patients pay in full upfront.But let’s be real—most patients...
3 months ago • 1 min read
