Whenever I got ideas, I used to write them down on paper so I would not forget. Over time, all I had was a bunch of paper with writing on it and very little action. I hoarded them, never throwing them away because they were “good ideas.” But the truth is, I never had a plan to actually do them. At first it was exciting. I felt like I had a bank of ideas ready to go. But it was also overwhelming. I did not know where to start. That is when I realized less is more. You can only execute on one...
9 days ago • 1 min read
When I first started teaching aligners, a lot of people asked me the same question... “Which brand do you use?” They wanted me to say one name. Invisalign. SureSmile. ClearCorrect. OrthoSnap. CandidPro. But the truth is, I do not care about the brand. What matters is the doctor. What matters is the patient. And what matters most is that the case gets started. Most dentists get stuck obsessing over which aligner company is better. They spend months debating marketing claims, lab fees, and...
23 days ago • 2 min read
Most dentists get stuck in idea overload. They write down every thought, attend CE courses, and collect pages of notes. But nothing actually changes in the practice. I know because I used to do the same thing. I would fill notebooks with “good ideas” and then let them sit. It felt exciting at first, but eventually it became overwhelming. What I learned is simple: ideas only matter if you execute on them. Here are 3 rules that helped me shift from hoarding ideas to creating results: 1. One...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
I used to watch minor cracks and crowding “just to be safe.” I thought waiting meant I was being conservative. One patient came back six months later with a cracked molar. She asked me, “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” That question stung. I realized “waiting” wasn’t protecting my patients — it was protecting my own fears. If you’re stuck, try this instead: Diagnose what you see clearly and early Explain risks of delaying treatment in simple language Give patients all the info so they can...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Most dentists overcomplicate aligner conversations. I used to do the same. I’d say things like “We could straighten your teeth” or “It’s an option if you’re interested.” Sounds harmless, right? But those words signal uncertainty and make patients feel like it’s not important. Once I started confidently saying, “We need to correct your crowding to protect your teeth long-term,” everything changed. Patients listened. They understood it wasn’t just cosmetic — it was health-driven. If you’re not...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Most dentists avoid aligners because they’re afraid of refinements, upset patients, or getting stuck on complex cases. I was there too. After getting certified, I sat on the sidelines for months. I told myself I needed to “learn more” before starting. Truth is, you learn faster by doing — with the right support and simple first cases. Remember - you’re moving teeth with plastic over an 8 month period… not doing surgery or drilling straight down into their teeth with a high speed burr. You’re...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
I used to wait for patients to ask about aligners. Then I made one change: we started scanning every hygiene patient. It seems small, but it created instant awareness and opened doors for conversations we never had before. We didn’t “sell” — we educated. Patients started asking questions and seeing their own crowding on the scans. If you want to try this: Train your team to scan every hygiene patient by default Show patients their scans right away — let them ask questions Have a simple...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
I see it all the time. Docs get excited and jump into tough cases first — severe crowding, major bite changes, or posterior crossbites. Crazy stuff. Why? Because we weren’t taught that there are LEVELS to ortho cases. I did the same. My first few cases took forever and needed tons of refinements. I lost confidence fast. When I started focusing on simple cases — mild crowding, no big bite changes — my confidence (and case acceptance) skyrocketed. If you’re just starting: Stick to mild anterior...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Most dentists see aligners as a revenue booster. But the real ROI? Patient loyalty. Case acceptance in other areas. Better overall oral health outcomes. When patients see you as the doc who helps them feel confident and healthy, they stay. They refer. They trust your recommendations beyond aligners. Take a second and think about what happens when 1 patient starts treatment with you. They leave and live their life. They go to dinners with friends. At the dinner they take out their aligners and...
2 months ago • 1 min read
