What if I told you that not understanding occlusion is quietly sabotaging your treatment outcomes—and your confidence?

In this week’s 5 Minute Friday, I’m revisiting a topic that too many orthodontists dismiss: occlusion. After a recent conversation with Bruce McFarlane (and reflections on chats with legends like Tom Pitts and Ron Roncone), I felt compelled to spotlight how deeply impactful understanding occlusion truly is. If you think it’s just for restorative docs—or you "get enough of it" through aligners—think again.

I share insights from my own training under some of the best in the field, including three years studying at the University of Washington. I break down real-world ortho challenges like posterior open bites, centric relation issues, and how the NTI appliance is causing more chaos than most realize. This episode isn’t a lecture—it’s a wake-up call. If you're not fluent in occlusion, you're not fully equipped to protect your patients… or your practice.

QUOTES

“Once you understand occlusion, your life is going to change.”  - Dr. Glenn Krieger

“If you haven’t taken a Roth course or been to Coyce or Spear, don’t tell me you know occlusion.” - Dr. Glenn Krieger

Key Takeaways

• Intro (00:00)
• How orthodontists have dismissed occlusion over time (01:10)
• Jerry Schultz, PK Thomas, and foundational lessons in occlusion (02:30)
• Clinical consequences of posterior open bites (03:50)
• Why understanding TMJ and facial types still matters (04:40)
• The NTI appliance: a silent saboteur? (06:00)
• Final challenge: If you really knew occlusion… would your treatment change? (07:00)

Additional Resources

If you want this kind of transformation for your own team, join me at the final Orthopreneurs Summit in Vegas this September. Go to opSummit2025.com and grab your seat today. 

Payment plans are almost gone and passes are disappearing fast. This will be the most impactful event you’ll ever attend—don’t miss it.

- For more information, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/

- Join our FREE Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OrthoPreneurs