Why Are Orthodontists Earning Less Than They Were in 1985?
In this Five Minute Friday, I break down a chart that shocked me—and it should shock you too.
Using inflation-adjusted dollars, the average orthodontist took home $906,000 in 1985. Today? That number is down to $357,000.
So what happened?
While many blame technology, staffing, or insurance, the real reason might be more personal: are we focusing on clinical excellence at the expense of business excellence?
I’m not here to bash anyone. In fact, I know dozens of docs who take home $2 million or more every year—because they treat their practice like a business. This episode is your wake-up call and invitation to build the practice you actually want, not just the one you’ve settled into.

QUOTES
“If you’re not taking home $1 million a year and you want to be, what’s stopping you?”
— Dr. Glenn Krieger
“The average income has dropped 60% since 1985—and the slope of that line is still going down.”
— Dr. Glenn Krieger

Key Takeaways
Intro & inflation-adjusted income insights (00:00)
The $906K average in 1985—and the steep decline to $357K today (01:25)
Why tech and overhead aren’t the only reasons for the drop (03:00)
The difference between average and exceptional practices (04:10)
How your focus (clinical vs. business) directly affects your income (06:00)
Are you surrounding yourself with growth-oriented peers? (07:30)
A call to rethink your current income ceiling (08:45)
What a $2.5M practice at 50% overhead really means (09:45)
Coaching preview & what’s coming with Ortho Vanguard Intensive (11:10)

Additional Resources
 I’ve seen firsthand how orthodontists can double—or quadruple—their income by shifting their mindset from “clinician” to “practice owner.”

If you’re not where you want to be—and you know you could be—reach out. Whether it’s staffing, systems, marketing, or conversion, I’ve had this conversation hundreds of times, and I’d love to have it with you. DM me or join the Orthopreneurs Facebook group to start finding real answers.opSummit2025.com
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