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...

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...

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...