The Golden Age of Orthodontics

When a key team member quits, the panic can set in quickly. Who's going to answer the phones, follow up with patients, verify insurance and keep the front desk running smoothly? Even without staffing disruptions, overwhelmed teams and unanswered calls can mean potential patients falling through the cracks. For orthodontic practices, these challenges aren't just an operational headache. They can directly impact new patient starts, revenue and the return on your marketing investment.

In this episode of The Golden Age of Orthodontics, hosts Dr. Leon Klempner and Amy Epstein welcome Cory Pinegar, founder of Reach, to explore a smarter approach to staffing and practice efficiency. Cory explains how Reach helps orthodontic practices build stronger teams by providing dedicated, highly trained, remote professionals who integrate into daily operations, handling everything from patient calls and insurance verification to follow-ups and billing support.

The conversation explores the hidden costs of staffing shortages, why traditional hiring models are becoming harder to sustain and how a more flexible approach can take pressure off existing team members. You'll also learn how Reach approaches training, security and team integration while helping orthodontic practices improve efficiency, strengthen patient relationships and capture opportunities that might otherwise be lost.

Key takeaways:

1. The hidden cost of missed calls: Cory shares data indicating that orthodontic practices miss approximately 28% to 32% of inbound calls during business hours, highlighting a significant opportunity to improve patient acquisition and conversion.
2. A smarter approach to staffing: Discover how Reach provides dedicated professionals who become integrated members of your practice team, taking on administrative responsibilities and allowing in-office staff to focus on patient care.
3. Stronger teams without added pressure: Learn how rethinking administrative responsibilities can reduce burnout, improve staff retention and give existing team members more opportunities to focus on meaningful patient interactions.
4. Flexible staffing that supports practice growth: Explore Reach's customized training, secure work environments and month-to-month staffing model.

Learn more about Reach: Visit https://getreach.co/pp/ to explore staffing solutions for your orthodontic practice and schedule a consultation.

How do you grow an orthodontic practice without letting it take over your life?

Dr. Courtney Dunn, co-founder of a four-location orthodontic practice and founder of Women in Orthodontics, joins Dr. Leon Klempner and Amy Epstein to discuss the leadership, delegation and efficiency strategies that have helped her scale both her practice and her career.

Courtney explains why orthodontists need to become more comfortable giving up control, how her practice measures clinical efficiency before investing in new technology, and why the right office manager can fundamentally change how a practice operates. She also shares her experience using Solventum Clarity aligners and pre-cured attachments, including the potential impact on bonding time, tracking and refinements.

The conversation also explores mentorship, professional support networks and why the market you choose can have a major impact on practice growth.

Key takeaways:

• Delegation is essential to scaling an orthodontic practice without creating owner burnout.
• Measure treatment efficiency and ROI before adopting new technology simply because it is available.
• Solventum’s Clarity attachment technology has helped Courtney’s practice streamline bonding and, anecdotally, reduce refinements and treatment time.
• A true office manager can take meaningful operational responsibility off the orthodontist’s plate.
• Mentorship, community and realistic expectations can help practice owners make better long-term decisions.

Why do some orthodontic practices continue to grow while others plateau?

In this episode of The Golden Age of Orthodontics, Dr. Leon Klempner and Amy Epstein welcome back orthodontic consultant Jill Allen, founder of Jill Allen & Associates, for a practical conversation about what separates growing practices from those struggling to gain momentum.

Jill breaks down the four key sources of practice growth: dental referrals, community relationships, online visibility, and internal patient referrals, and explains how the balance between them changes as a practice matures. The discussion also explores why data, office culture, patient experience, and consistent communication all play a role in generating more starts.

They also dig into one of the most common mistakes practices make: investing more money in marketing before fixing the systems responsible for converting inquiries into consultations and consultations into starts. From unanswered leads to weak follow-up and overlooked observation patients, small breakdowns inside the practice can quietly limit growth even when marketing is working.

Whether you are building a startup, managing an established orthodontic practice, or trying to break through a plateau, this episode offers a clear framework for identifying where growth is coming from and where opportunities may be slipping away.

• The four primary sources of orthodontic practice growth and how their importance changes as a practice matures
• Why data, patient experience, and office culture are critical to generating referrals and converting more starts
• How stronger relationships with referring dentists and patients can create more sustainable growth
• Why practices should fix conversion and follow-up “leaks” before increasing their marketing spend

In this episode of The Golden Age of Orthodontics, Dr. Leon Klempner and Amy Epstein sit down with board-certified orthodontist, inventor and entrepreneur Dr. Marc Lemchen to explore how robotics can improve efficiency, support orthodontic teams and create a more memorable patient experience. Drawing on more than five decades in orthodontics, Dr. Lemchen shares the thinking behind innovations such as Dolphin Imaging, EasyRx and Zeno Robotics, along with the lessons he has learned about introducing new technology into a practice.

The conversation also examines the role robotics can play in addressing staffing challenges, reducing repetitive work and giving team members more time to focus on patients. Dr. Lemchen discusses Zeno Steril, the robotic sterilization system recognized with the 2026 AAO Ortho Innovator Award, and explains why the most valuable technology is not simply impressive to look at, but meaningfully improves consistency, workflow and the overall patient experience.

Five takeaways

1. Technology can help an orthodontic practice stand out by giving patients a memorable experience they are more likely to discuss and share.
2. Robotics can reduce the time team members spend walking, retrieving items and completing repetitive tasks, allowing them to stay focused on patient care.
3. Automated sterilization may improve workflow consistency, documentation and reliability while reducing dependence on manual processes.
4. Practices are more likely to see meaningful efficiency gains when they fully adopt a technology rather than using it selectively.
5. The strongest return on technology comes from combining measurable workflow improvements with a better, more personal patient experience.

Supercharge your orthodontic marketing: www.pplpractice.com

Orthodontics is entering a new era of personalization, precision, and digital efficiency. In this episode of the Golden Age of Orthodontics, Dr. Leon Klempner and Amy Epstein sit down with 2026 AAO Innovator Award winner Dr. Mehdi Peikar, founder of CeleBrace, to explore how artificial intelligence and fully customized braces are changing the future of treatment.

Drawing on his unique background in orthodontics, biomechanics, engineering, and physics, Dr. Peikar shares the clinical challenges that inspired the development of CeleBrace and explains how digital workflows can bring the same level of planning and personalization to fixed appliances that orthodontists have come to expect from aligner therapy. The conversation covers everything from AI-assisted treatment planning and bracket positioning to the advantages of fully customized prescriptions, indirect bonding, and digital case presentation.

The discussion also explores the business side of innovation, including how digital treatment systems can improve efficiency, reduce appointments, shorten treatment times, and create a more compelling patient experience. Dr. Peikar shares what he has learned from treating thousands of cases with CeleBrace and why he believes customization will play a central role in the next phase of orthodontic care.

• Why Dr. Peikar believes orthodontics is rapidly moving toward fully digital workflows
• How AI supports treatment planning, bracket positioning, and appliance design
• What makes a fully customized bracket system different from traditional prescriptions
• How digital indirect bonding can improve efficiency and reduce treatment visits
• Ways technology can enhance patient education and case acceptance
• What orthodontists are reporting after implementing custom digital braces
• How personalized treatment systems may help practices differentiate themselves in a competitive market
• Why Dr. Peikar sees customization as the future of fixed appliance therapy

Clinical innovation in orthodontics is moving faster than ever, but many practices are still relying on workflows built for a different era. In this episode of The Golden Age of Orthodontics, Dr. Leon Klempner and Amy Epstein sit down with Jake Gulick, president of Greyfinch, to discuss how outdated systems, disconnected tools, and manual processes may be quietly limiting practice efficiency and growth.

Jake shares his perspective from nearly two decades in the orthodontic technology space, from helping scale Cloud9Ortho in its early years to leading innovation at Greyfinch, and explains how modern cloud-based practice management systems, AI-assisted workflows, automation, and smarter integrations are reshaping the operational side of orthodontics. The conversation explores how practices can reduce workflow friction, improve patient communication, gain better visibility into marketing performance, and rethink long-standing processes that no longer serve today’s digital orthodontic practice.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why many orthodontic practices are still operating with outdated workflow models
• How AI can improve efficiency without replacing the human side of the practice
• The difference between cloud-based and truly browser-based software
• How automation can streamline patient follow-up and case acceptance
• Why disconnected systems create hidden operational friction
• The importance of workflow design when implementing new technology
• How practices can better track marketing performance and patient conversion data
• Why practice management software should evolve alongside modern orthodontics

Go to www.pplpractice.com for more!

What does the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics really think about orthodontic AI, corporate orthodontics, and research bias? Dr. Neal Kravitz pulls no punches in this candid conversation with Dr. Leon Klempner and Amy Epstein. A practicing orthodontist, educator, and past AAO Technology Committee chair, Dr. Kravitz shares why evidence-based orthodontics still needs room for clinical judgment, why overtreatment is the specialty's quiet problem, and why young orthodontists have more reasons for optimism than anxiety. Honest, direct, and deeply practical.

What You Will Learn In This Episode:

• How orthodontic AI is best used as a diagnostic and records automation tool rather than a replacement for clinical judgment, and why evidence-based orthodontics still requires the experienced eye of a trained specialist to catch what algorithms miss.
• Why research bias in orthodontic literature comes not only from industry-funded studies but also from reviewers and authors themselves, and how understanding this helps orthodontists read the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics and other publications more critically.
• How the philosophy of conservative orthodontic treatment planning and doing less rather than more protects young patients from iatrogenesis, and why this principle should guide practitioners from their very first cases in private practice orthodontics.

Subscribe to the Golden Age of Orthodontics and our sister podcast, Practice Talk, hosted by Lacie Ellis, wherever you listen to stay updated on orthodontic innovation and real-world practice strategies. Visit People and Practice for more insights and to connect with our team for practice growth solutions.

TIMESTAMPS:

• 00:00 Introduction to orthodontic AI, corporate orthodontics, and specialty pressure with guest Dr. Neal Kravitz
• 05:27 Dr. Kravitz explains how orthodontic AI supports diagnosis and records automation without replacing specialist judgment
• 09:41 Discussion of underrepresented topics in the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics and what evidence-based orthodontics research needs more of
• 14:29 Balancing evidence-based orthodontics with clinical experience and why residents need room to develop sound orthodontic treatment planning
• 24:41 How research bias from companies, authors, and reviewers shapes what orthodontists read and how the JCO editor manages this challenge
• 28:29 Advice for new graduates on private practice orthodontics, finding mentors, and navigating corporate orthodontics with confidence

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Orthodontic AI is a powerful adjunct tool for diagnostics and workflow automation. Still, it will not replace the clinical judgment that distinguishes a trained orthodontist from a general dentist who uses Invisalign treatment without oversight or expertise.
• Research bias is not limited to industry-sponsored studies. Reviewer bias and author bias are equally real, which means every orthodontist must approach the literature, including the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics, with informed skepticism and critical thinking.
• The philosophy of doing less protects patients. Dr. Kravitz argues that overtreatment, not under-treatment, has driven his most regrettable cases, and that conservative orthodontic care built around humility and honest self-evaluation defines what ethical practice looks like across an entire career.

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Neal Kravitz, DMD, MS | Ashburn South Riding, VA Orthodontist

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

People + Practice - Website

Practice Talk

Dr. Leon Klempner - People + Practice

AAO membership delivers far more than most orthodontists realize, and the CEO of the American Association of Orthodontists, Trey Lawrence, is here to prove it. In this episode of the Golden Age of Orthodontics, Dr. Leon Klempner and Amy Epstein sit down with Trey to explore how the American Association of Orthodontists is evolving to meet today's most pressing challenges. From a powerful legal toolkit for new orthodontists to exclusive buying group benefits for 19,000 members, the AAO is fighting hard on multiple fronts. Trey breaks down the association's bold stance on AI in orthodontic treatment planning and why keeping the human in command is non-negotiable as technology reshapes the specialty.

What You Will Learn In This Episode:

1. AAO membership benefits extend well beyond continuing education. Trey walks through the new legal toolkit for orthodontists, including a contract guide designed to protect recent graduates from dangerous rookie mistakes in their first associate employment agreements.
2. The AAO's human-in-command framework establishes that no AI treatment-planning tool should operate without a licensed clinician holding ultimate responsibility, thereby protecting both patient safety and the doctor-patient relationship.
3. The AAO's consumer awareness program is actively shaping how AI-powered search and large language models like ChatGPT answer patient questions, ensuring that searches about orthodontic care consistently point toward board-certified orthodontists.

Subscribe to the Golden Age of Orthodontics and our sister podcast, Practice Talk, hosted by Lacie Ellis, wherever you listen to stay updated on orthodontic innovation and real-world practice strategies. Visit People in Practice for more insights and to connect with our team for practice growth solutions.

TIMESTAMPS:

1. 00:00 Is AAO membership still worth the dues? Introduction of Trey Lawrence, CEO of the American Association of Orthodontists
2. 05:03 Trey details the AAO's new legal toolkit for orthodontists and how the associate contract guide protects new grads
3. 11:14 How the AAO is tackling rising orthodontic practice overhead through endorsed partnerships, cybersecurity, and 401 (k) benefits
4. 18:07 Trey explains the AAO's human-in-command policy and its AI in orthodontic treatment planning position paper
5. 24:30 The AAO's consumer awareness program and how it is influencing AI search engines to direct patients to orthodontists
6. 29:52 Trey addresses what orthodontists are telling him: concerns over general dentist competition and the state of orthodontic practice management
7. 36:54 A preview of the AAO annual session in Orlando, including the Universal Studios buyout and what members can expect from world-class CE and networking

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Signing an orthodontic associate employment agreement without fully understanding it is one of the costliest mistakes new graduates make. The AAO's contract guide provides critical commentary on every clause, including the warning that verbal promises from employers mean nothing once ownership changes hands.
2. The AAO is proactively engaging with the FDA and state dental boards through a formal white paper on AI in orthodontics, ensuring regulators view the association as a trusted authority before harmful policies are enacted.
3. General dentist competition in orthodontics is real, but Trey argues that orthodontists who embrace smart pricing strategies, remote monitoring, and digital efficiency will make choosing a specialist an obvious decision for the vast majority of patients.

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Trey Lawrence currently serves as Chief Executive Officer for the American Association of Orthodontists. Before assuming the CEO role in March 2024, Trey led the AAO’s Legal and Advocacy teams as General Counsel for several years. Trey frequently discusses legal issues for orthodontic practices in podcast appearances, interviews, and articles, and he has conducted the AAO’s Resident Legal Course at residency programs throughout the nation for the past five years. Trey has also shared legal information and resources with orthodontists and practices through his Instagram account, @theorthattorney. Before joining the AAO in 2018, Trey spent nearly 20 years in law practice with Thompson Coburn LLP, a law firm of approximately 600 attorneys based in St. Louis with offices across the United States. Trey received his law degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a master’s degree from Harvard University.

AAO Legal Toolkit

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

People + Practice - Website

Practice Talk

Dr. Leon Klempner - People + Practice

On the Golden Age of Orthodontics, hosts Dr. Leon Klempner and Amy Epstein welcome Dr. Kristen Knecht to discuss how to revolutionize practice efficiency through indirect bonding. Dr. Knecht shares how her Houston startup practice grew 40-50% annually, forcing critical decisions about patient care delivery. Rather than hiring more staff, she redesigned her clinical orthodontics workflow with KLOwen custom brackets. The results were dramatic: reduced appointment scheduling burdens, eliminated bracket placement bottlenecks, and cut average case length by 40%. Learn her strategies for successful staff training, managing lab fees, and why partial technology adoption fails.

What you will Learn in this Episode:

1. How implementing indirect bonding completely transformed Dr. Knecht’s practice efficiency by freeing up hours of doctor time and reducing emergency appointments through superior bracket placement accuracy and isolation protocols.
2. Why partial adoption of custom bracket systems fails and how Dr. Knecht's all-in approach with KLOwen enabled her team to master bonding technique, eliminate pan and repo appointments, and achieve consistent results across all cases.
3. Strategic timing for practice management changes, including how Dr. Knecht planned her technology rollout during slower seasons to ensure successful staff training and avoid the common pitfalls that derail orthodontic practice growth.

Subscribe to the Golden Age of Orthodontics and our sister podcast, Practice Talk, hosted by Lacie Ellis, wherever you listen to stay updated on orthodontic innovation and real-world practice strategies. Visit People in Practice for more insights and to connect with our team for practice growth solutions.

TIMESTAMPS:

1. 00:00 Dr. Kristen Knecht discusses practice growth challenges and schedule management struggles
2. 08:50 Discovery of indirect bonding through a colleague's experience with KLOwen custom brackets
3. 12:08 Strategic implementation timing and preparing staff training for technology transition
4. 16:16 Measurable results: reducing visits from 21 to 12.5 and improving revenue per visit
5. 22:01 Why full commitment to the custom bracket system matters more than partial adoption
6. 27:03 Advice for startup practice owners on adopting orthodontic technology early

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Indirect bonding requires complete commitment to realize benefits. Dr. Knecht emphasizes that dabbling with one case per week prevents staff from achieving proficiency in the bonding technique and fails to demonstrate the system's true time-saving potential.
2. Strategic fee adjustments offset lab fees while delivering superior value. By raising fees by $200-250 and eliminating one visit through improved treatment planning and digital setup, practices can justify the investment while improving the patient experience.
3. Early technology adoption in a startup practice prevents staffing challenges. Mastering systems like KLOwen, when schedules allow, enables easier clinical orthodontics workflow changes and reduces dependency on expanding teams as practice growth accelerates.

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Dr. Kristen Knecht, a Baton Rouge native, has always been passionate about creating beautiful, healthy smiles. As a board-certified orthodontist, she combines meticulous attention to detail with a deep commitment to improving her patients’ lives. She completed her orthodontic specialty training at the renowned University of Connecticut, where she worked with world-renowned faculty and developed expertise in advanced orthodontic techniques.

Education

Louisiana State University – Bachelor of Science in Biology

LSU Health Science Center – Doctor of Dental Surgery

University of Connecticut Health Science Center – Orthodontic Specialty Certification and Master of Dental Science

A Holistic Approach to Orthodontics

Dr. Knecht believes orthodontics is about much more than creating straight teeth — it’s about improving lives. Her approach focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of malocclusions, with a strong emphasis on the connection between jaw development, airway health, and overall well-being. Her passion for this approach was inspired by her sister’s struggles with mouth breathing and airway issues as an adult, challenges that could have been addressed during her critical growth years.

Dr. Knecht - Email

Clear aligner orthodontics is evolving rapidly, and Angel Aligner is making waves in the North American market. On this episode of the Golden Age of Orthodontics podcast, hosts Dr. Leon Klempner and Amy Epstein welcome Jason Tabb, VP and GM of Angel Aligner North America, to discuss digital orthodontics, aligner treatment capabilities, and competitive market differentiation. Jason shares insights on Angel Aligner's innovative approach to complex cases, including mandibular advancement, unique aligner buttons, and digital workflow improvements. The conversation also addresses intellectual property concerns and how orthodontic practices can leverage aligner technology to enhance efficiency and patient outcomes.

What you will Learn in this Episode:

1. How Angel Aligner has rapidly scaled in the North American market through orthodontic innovation and responsive case setup design
2. The latest aligner technology advancements, including integrated aligner buttons, Angel Hook, and dual-material aligner systems for complex cases
3. Strategies for orthodontic practices to improve efficiency with digital workflow solutions and treatment planning tools
4. How to evaluate aligner treatment options based on clinical performance, turnaround times, and market differentiation

Subscribe to the Golden Age of Orthodontics and our sister podcast, Practice Talk, hosted by Lacey Ellis, wherever you listen to stay updated on orthodontic innovation and real-world practice strategies. Visit People in Practice for more insights and to connect with our team for practice growth solutions.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Amy shares the upcoming guest schedule and invites listeners to the Practice Talk podcast

04:11 Jason Tabb discusses Angel Aligner's entry strategy and why orthodontists responded to their market differentiation

08:53 Latest aligner technology innovations, including aligner buttons, Angel Button, Angel Hook, and mandibular advancement systems

13:56 Addressing intellectual property concerns and Angel Aligner's commitment to fair competition

15:44 Future of digital orthodontics and how aligner treatment improves practice efficiency

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Angel Aligner differentiates through ease of doing business, consistent case setup quality, and specialized solutions for complex cases, including mandibular advancement, premolar extraction, and molar distalization
2. The aligner button and Angel Hook innovations are integrated directly into aligners, reducing emergency visits and enabling treatment planning for challenging Class II and Class III cases with aligner therapy
3. Digital orthodontics investments typically show ROI within 12-18 months as orthodontic practices gain workflow efficiency, treat larger patient loads, and meet growing patient demand for clear aligner orthodontics

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Angel Aligner - Website

Jason Tabb - Email