The Truth About Aligners, Airway & Occlusion—From a Guy Who Practices in Two Countries

In this episode, I sit down with my good friend, Dr. Bruce McFarlane—one of the most respected names in digital orthodontics and someone who’s mastered the art of practicing seamlessly in two different countries. We dive deep into clear aligners, digital efficiencies, occlusion philosophy, and why airway awareness in children is no longer optional.

Whether you're just starting to build your aligner practice or you're scaling your ortho empire, Bruce’s insights will challenge what you think you know about clinical protocols, patient care, and long-term outcomes. This isn’t fluff—it’s a masterclass in doing ortho the right way.

QUOTES

"The teeth will tell you what they need—so stop asking aligners to do things they weren’t designed to do."

— Dr. Bruce McFarlane

"If you're not at least assessing the airway in children, you're not practicing 2025 orthodontics."

— Dr. Glenn Krieger

Key Takeaways

• Intro (00:00)
• Bruce’s dual-country practice model & digital workflow (04:10)
• The evolution of clear aligners from 1997 to today (13:17)
• Why he avoids excessive IPR and attachments (16:12)
• The digital boutique model vs. the big-box practice (23:17)
• How Bruce designs treatment from anywhere in the world (25:16)
• His 3 biggest aligner treatment rules (19:48)
• Airway awareness and its clinical impact on kids (30:02)
• The future of occlusion & the ModJaw revolution (36:25)
• Why poor occlusion is often behind the cases that keep you up at night (39:05)

If you’re ready to rethink how you approach aligners, occlusion, and the future of digital ortho, this episode is your roadmap.

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Want more from Bruce? Check out his work at sddhc.com and consider making a trip to La Jolla (yes, seriously).

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/

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