The Orthopreneurs Podcast with Dr. Glenn Krieger

Hosted by Dr. Glenn Krieger

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Sep 2026

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About the show

What does it mean to become an Orthopreneur? Hi there! My name is Dr. Glenn Krieger and I believe that in today’s competitive world, the orthodontic and dental communities should be collaborative. And I've created Orthopreneurs so that we can move towards that goal together. Orthodontists are smart people. You’ve accomplished a lot to get where you are, but chances are you never got a formal education in how to run the most effective and lowest stress practice possible. Don’t sweat it! Because we’ve got your back... Being an Orthopreneur means that you’re a part of a community. A community that brings peers together to become the best clinicians and the best business owners they can be. Becoming an Orthopreneurs means you never ever need to practice alone. Join the FREE Facebook group by simply applying:https://www.facebook.com/groups/OrthoPreneurs

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September 11, 20268 min

5 Things That Drive Orthodontists CRAZY l 5MF

In this Five Minute Friday , I’m having a little fun with the frustrations almost every orthodontist knows too well. From referring dentists taking on cases they probably shouldn’t, to patients armed with questionable Google advice, to parents insisting their child wears elastics when the evidence says otherwise, I’m counting down a few of the things that make practicing orthodontics uniquely entertaining — and occasionally maddening. This isn’t a deep clinical lecture or a practice-management masterclass. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best thing we can do is laugh at the situations we all experience. I share a few stories from my own career, including one unforgettable headgear compliance story, and talk about why boundaries, patient cooperation, and realistic expectations matter. If you’ve ever stared at a patient and thought, “There is absolutely no way you’re wearing those elastics,” this episode is for you. 💬Quotes “If someone needs a mirror to put headgear in or to put rubber bands in, you know they’re not wearing them.” — Dr. Glenn Krieger “You don’t refer nearly enough patients to me for me to help you through this anymore.” — Dr. Glenn Krieger 🎯 Key Takeaways Intro: The things that drive orthodontists crazy (00:36) Referring dentists treating cases beyond their limits (01:04) Knowing when to stop bailing someone out (01:48) When patients bring Google advice into the operatory (02:37) A surprising adult maxillary protraction case (03:18) Parents who only want after-school appointments (04:59) The biggest frustration: kids who don’t wear elastics or aligners (05:53) The legendary headgear compliance story (06:30) Honorable mentions: plaque and patients who “don’t look” at their smiles (07:44) 🟦 Additional Resources I’ve seen firsthand how much easier orthodontics feels when you realize you’re not the only one dealing with these frustrations. So now I want to hear yours. What patient habit, parent interaction, referral situation, or everyday orthodontic annoyance drives you absolutely crazy? Share it in the Orthopreneurs community and let’s compare notes. Sometimes the best medicine is realizing we’re all dealing with the same stuff — and being able to laugh about it together. 👉 Airway Meeting : https://web.orthopreneurs.com/arizonasleepandairway2026 👉 For more information about Orthopreneurs, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/ 👉 Become an OrthoPreneur and join the free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/

September 8, 202652 min

What Got You Here Won’t Get You There in your practice w/Dr. Dave Ternan

In this episode of The Orthopreneurs Podcast, I sit down with Dave Ternan , co-founder and CEO of Orthofy, to look beyond opinions and dig into the actual numbers shaping orthodontics today. With data spanning nearly 1,400 locations and roughly $10 billion in production, we talk about what’s really happening with starts, case fees, patient affordability, adult demand, and the changing demographics of the orthodontic market. The numbers tell an important story. Starts have been largely flat over the longer term, adult demand has softened, and the core 11–16-year-old patient population is shrinking. That doesn’t mean orthodontics is doomed — far from it. But it does mean the old model of simply opening your doors and expecting year-over-year growth may no longer be enough. Dave and I discuss why differentiation, better systems, smarter pricing, and a tightly managed new-patient funnel are becoming essential for practices that want to grow. 💬Quotes “This fourth or fifth year in a row of down or flat could be the new norm, folks, if you're an average practice… what got you here won’t get you there.” — Dr. Glenn Krieger “I think the most important thing for a leader is to have the right people in the right seats at the right time.” — Dave Ternan 🎯 Key Takeaways Intro: Why data matters more than opinions right now (00:01) Orthofy’s footprint: 1,400 locations and nearly $10B in production data (05:40) Average case fees are rising — but still trailing inflation (07:27) Why affordability matters more than shortening payment plans (10:09) The historical trend: starts from 2019 through 2026 (13:24) Why 2026 demand has begun to soften (18:22) Adult starts as a signal of consumer confidence (21:17) The shrinking 11–16-year-old patient population (22:28) Why the old orthodontic practice model may no longer be enough (23:24) Differentiate your practice before the market forces you to (24:20) Why every orthodontist needs to understand their sales funnel (27:02) How to reduce leakage from new patient exam to start (28:36) AI’s next phase: moving from isolated tools to intelligent systems (35:16) Using AI to predict patient behavior and personalize at scale (39:18) Why patient affordability is becoming increasingly important (44:37) The leadership lesson: right people, right seats, right time (46:53) 🟦 Additional Resources If your practice has been flat or down, don’t beat yourself up. The data shows you’re not alone. But once you know the environment has changed, doing nothing is a choice. Look at your differentiation. Study your new-patient funnel. Make treatment affordable without destroying your economics. Build better systems. Put the right people in the right seats. And start using the technology and data available to you. If you’d like to learn how Orthofy could help your practice improve starts, collections, patient affordability, and revenue-cycle management, visit: 🌐 Orthofi.com And have them assess your historical performance and opportunities for growth 👉 Airway Meeting: https://web.orthopreneurs.com/arizonasleepandairway2026 👉 For more information about Orthopreneurs, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/ 👉 Become an OrthoPreneur and join the free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/

September 4, 20269 min

You Are Your Own Worst Enemy in Practice Growth l 5MF

What if I told you the biggest thing holding your orthodontic practice back isn’t your team, your market, or your overhead—it’s you waiting until you feel “ready”? In this episode of Five Minute Friday , I’m challenging one of the most common patterns I see in orthodontists: delaying the very tools, technology, mentorship, and support that could make practice easier, more profitable, and less stressful. Whether it’s remote monitoring, aligners, consulting, masterminds, or better systems, too many doctors wait for the practice to improve before investing in the things that could actually create that improvement. 💬Quotes “You are your own worst enemy. Get out of your own way.” — Dr. Glenn Krieger “The most incredible achievers in our industry are the ones who said, ‘Help me.’” — Dr. Glenn Krieger 🎯 Key Takeaways Intro: Are you waiting until you’re “ready”? (00:00) Why orthodontists delay tools that could make practice easier (01:13) Why figuring everything out yourself makes no sense (02:07) What high-performing orthodontists do differently (02:27) Why investing in yourself can produce enormous long-term ROI (03:34) Technology, aligners, and remote monitoring: stop making excuses (04:03) Why high-performing peer groups accelerate growth (04:59) The real cost of waiting for “one day” (05:55) Why spending strategically can improve profitability (08:14) Final challenge: Are you your own worst enemy? (09:10) 🟦 Additional Resources I’ve seen firsthand how much faster a practice can grow when you stop trying to figure everything out alone and start using the resources already available to you. Look honestly at your practice this week. What technology, consultant, system, mastermind, or investment have you been putting off because you keep telling yourself you’re “not ready yet”? Pick one opportunity that could realistically lower your stress, increase your profitability, or shorten your learning curve—and take the next step. If you’re stuck and want to talk through what that next move should be, reach out to me directly. Sometimes the biggest breakthrough comes from simply getting out of your own way. - Airway Meeting: https://web.orthopreneurs.com/arizonasleepandairway2026 - For more information, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/ - Join our FREE Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/

September 1, 202638 min

Dental TADS: How To Close Anterior Open Bites Predictably w/ Dr. Nicole Scheffler┃Greatest Hits

We explore the latest tip on closing open bites more predictably using dental TADS. 👉 Become an OrthoPreneur today: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OrthoPreneurs In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Nicole Scheffler. She is one of the amazing speakers lined up for the Orthopreneur Summit in September. Dr. Nicole Scheffler received her dental and orthodontic training from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. She practices full-time in Boone, North Carolina. She lectures a lot on closing anterior open bites all over the country and the world. Back in the year 2000, when nobody was doing TADS in the US, Dr. Nicole went to Belgium to learn how they were placing TADS and how the patient experience was. She came back and approached ORMCO, and that’s how VectorTAS came about. Nicole recommends closing open bites with dental TADS in conjunction with an open bite splint to intrude the posterior because it’s just as stable as jaw surgery. We also talk about creating a vibrant office culture where staff want to come to work. This is important as we all know getting and keeping dental assistants who are the right fit is key to the success of your practice. 💬Quotes “Back in 2000, nobody was really doing TADs in the U.S., so I went to Belgium to learn how they were placing them and what the patient experience was like.” — Dr. Nicole Scheffler “Closing open bites with dental TADs in conjunction with an open bite splint can give us stability comparable to jaw surgery.” — Dr. Nicole Scheffler 🎯 Key Takeaways Intro (00:00) Dr. Nicole Scheffler’s background and journey in orthodontics (01:38) The importance of the pedo-ortho relationship (06:48) How Nicole became focused on anterior open bites (10:30) When orthognathic surgery enters the conversation (14:31) Understanding the etiologies behind anterior open bite (16:14) Aligners vs. TADs for closing open bites (20:27) How to find and retain great assistants (22:53) Advanced Dental Assisting Academy (24:33) 🟦 Additional Resources If open bite cases are still among the cases that make you stop and think twice, this conversation is worth your time. Nicole brings years of clinical experience to a problem that can easily become unpredictable when the underlying etiology and mechanics aren’t fully understood. And if staffing is one of the bigger challenges in your practice right now, pay attention to the second half of this episode too. Better clinical systems matter, but so does building a team of people who actually want to stay, grow, and contribute. 👉 Airway Meeting: https://web.orthopreneurs.com/arizonasleepandairway2026 👉 For more information about Orthopreneurs, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/ 👉 Become an OrthoPreneur and join the free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/

August 28, 20263 min

Stop Waiting: Fix Your Practice’s Biggest KPI Today l 5MF

What if I told you there’s a guaranteed way to make your orthodontic practice more profitable—and it starts with identifying just ONE number? Most practice owners know they want more production, better profitability, or higher case acceptance. The problem is that knowing you want growth isn’t the same as knowing exactly where to focus. In this Five Minute Friday , I’m challenging you to stop trying to fix everything and identify the one KPI that could make the biggest difference in your practice right now. 💬Quotes “What is that one KPI you need to work on, and what are you going to do right now to solve it?” — Dr. Glenn Krieger “You’ve got the power. You’re smart enough. You were driven enough. Are you still driven enough to get it done?” — Dr. Glenn Krieger 🎯 Key Takeaways The challenge: Find the one KPI that matters (00:00) There’s a way to make your practice more profitable right now (00:49) Why you can’t simply cut your way to profitability (01:13) Use AI to identify growth opportunities (01:31) Case acceptance, overhead, new patients—or something else? (01:56) Find the one KPI you need to fix (02:02) Why knowing the answer means nothing without execution (02:17) Stop waiting and start working on it now (02:31) The final challenge: Are you still driven enough? (03:04) 🟦 Additional Resources I’ve seen firsthand how focusing on the right number can change the trajectory of a practice—but only if you actually do something with it. So here’s your assignment: identify the one KPI that needs your attention most. Then sit down, use AI, talk with your team, and figure out what you can do to move that number. Don’t put it off until next week or when things “slow down.” You’ve already proven you’re smart enough and driven enough to get where you are. Now ask yourself: Are you still driven enough to get to the next level? Go get it. - Airway Meeting: https://web.orthopreneurs.com/arizonasleepandairway2026 - For more information, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/ - Join our FREE Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/

August 25, 202658 min

50 Years of Optimizing Ortho Practices Efficiency in 57 Minutes w/ Dr. Ron Roncone┃Greatest Hits

What if I told you the difference between a stressful orthodontic practice and an efficient one could come down to eliminating just a handful of recurring problems? The episode is about orthodontic efficiency with Dr. Ron Roncone, exploring decades of strategies to optimize orthodontic practices, reduce appointments, and improve patient care while discussing broader business and treatment philosophies in orthodontics. 💬Quotes “You can greatly reduce your stress by tackling the two or three issues causing most problems in your practice.” — Dr. Ron Roncone “It’s always been about what we need to do to reduce the number of appointments each patient has.” — Dr. Ron Roncone 🎯 Key Takeaways Introduction (00:00) The drive for efficiency in orthodontics (01:28) Reducing appointments and eliminating emergencies (07:34) How to reach $600,000 in production per team member (11:08) Smarter scheduling strategies (21:56) Occlusion and treatment philosophy (37:28) The cost of ignoring basic occlusal principles (45:16) Why continuing education still matters after decades in orthodontics (49:14) 🟦 Additional Resources If your practice feels busier than it should, don’t automatically assume you need more people, more chairs, or more days in the office. Start by asking where unnecessary appointments, emergencies, scheduling problems, and clinical inefficiencies are stealing your time. Listen to the full episode and identify the two or three recurring problems creating the most friction in your practice. Fixing those first could dramatically change your stress level, productivity, and patient experience. - Dr. Ron Roncone Course: The Just Short Of Perfect (JSOP) - Airway Meeting: https://web.orthopreneurs.com/arizonasleepandairway2026 - For more information, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/ - Join our FREE Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/

August 21, 202611 min

“That’s Impossible.” Yeah… For You: The Self-Imposed Limit l 5MF

What if doubling your take-home next year has less to do with working harder—and more to do with removing the limits you’ve placed on your own practice? Too many orthodontists set goals based on what feels comfortable instead of what might actually be possible. In this episode, I want to challenge you to stop asking, “What do I think I can grow by next year?” and start asking a much bigger question: What would have to change for me to double my take-home, take more time off, and enjoy my practice more? 💬Quotes “It was a self-imposed limitation that you put on yourself.” — Dr. Glenn Krieger “I want you to come up with a way that next year you’re going to take off more time, you’re going to double your take-home, and you’re going to be happier.” — Dr. Glenn Krieger 🎯 Key Takeaways Intro: Double your take-home and take more time off (00:00) The rope maker story: How self-imposed limits hold us back (00:38) Why a $3M practice may be capable of much more than $3.4M (01:49) Your inability to imagine growth may be the real constraint (03:13) Growth vs. scale: Why they’re not the same thing (03:43) How technology and remote monitoring can create leverage (04:16) Real orthodontists who dramatically changed their practices (05:11) The challenge: Envision doubling your take-home (05:36) Why the goal is more income with less stress and more time off (08:14) How badly do you actually want the result? (08:42) Building a practice that gives you the freedom to walk away younger (09:14) Your homework: Build the plan instead of dismissing the possibility (10:04) 🟦 Additional Resources I don’t want you working until you’re 85 because you have to. I want you practicing because you love it—or having the financial freedom to walk away when you choose. So here’s your homework: sit down and figure out what would need to happen for you to double your take-home next year while taking more time off and lowering your stress. Think about your marketing, your technology, your systems, your training, and every assumption you’ve made about what your practice can handle. Don’t start with why it’s impossible. Start with: What would have to be true for this to work? You’ve already proven you’re capable of doing difficult things. Now it’s time to stop measuring against the same nine-foot wall. - Airway Meeting: https://web.orthopreneurs.com/arizonasleepandairway2026 - For more information, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/ - Join our FREE Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/

August 18, 202635 min

The Invisible Secret to Running a More Efficient Practice w/Falyn Golub

For years, I’ve talked about working on your practice instead of getting buried in it. But the truth is, even the most successful orthodontists waste hours every week on tasks that someone else could do better, faster, and with less stress. In this episode, I sit down with someone who has completely transformed the way I work: Falyn Golub, founder of The Invisible Assistant. Falyn isn’t your typical virtual assistant. She’s an executive assistant, project manager, strategist, and problem solver who helps entrepreneurs reclaim their time by taking ownership of the countless details that steal their focus. We dive into what an executive virtual assistant actually does, why delegation is one of the most valuable skills you can develop, and how protecting your time allows you to become a better leader, doctor, and business owner. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the never-ending to-do list that comes with running a practice, this conversation will completely change the way you think about productivity. 💬 Quotes “I help many entrepreneurs execute. Whether it’s a personal task or corporate operations, I help organize my clients, give them peace of mind, and free up their mental load so they can focus on what they do best.” — Falyn Golub “The most exciting part of my job is preventing problems my clients never even know were going to happen.” — Falyn Golub 🎯 Key Takeaways Intro (00:00) Meet Falyn Golub and The Invisible Assistant (00:30) What an executive virtual assistant actually does (01:26) Why delegation creates more time—not more hours (03:20) Trading money for time as your practice grows (05:12) Real-life examples of how executive assistants remove stress (07:56) Managing personal and business projects seamlessly (09:38) How hiring support protects your time and energy (15:28) Why entrepreneurs struggle to delegate—and how to change it (20:06) How executive assistants use AI without losing the human touch (21:36) Pricing, onboarding, and what to expect (24:17) Why the best assistants become long-term strategic partners (31:02) 🟦 Additional Resources If you're spending valuable clinical or leadership time managing travel, scheduling, hiring, research, projects, or countless other administrative tasks, it may be time to rethink how you're using your most valuable asset: your time. To learn more about The Invisible Assistant, visit: 🌐 https://www.theinvisibleassistant.com 📧 Falyn@TheInvisibleAssistant.com Whether you're looking for executive-level support or simply wondering if a virtual assistant could help your practice run more efficiently, Falyn and her team are a great place to start. - Airway Meeting: https://web.orthopreneurs.com/arizonasleepandairway2026 - For more information, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/ - Join our FREE Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/

August 14, 202611 min

Orthodontists Are Too Smart for Their Own Good l 5MF

In this episode of Five Minute Friday, I’m challenging one of the most common tendencies I see among orthodontists: taking a proven system or technology and immediately trying to “make it our own.” We’re highly educated, driven, and clinically capable—but those strengths can become weaknesses when we assume we can redesign every workflow better than the people who built and refined it. As staffing becomes more difficult, the practices that thrive will be the ones that implement technology before they are forced to. My goal is to help you build a more efficient, resilient practice—one that allows you to spend less time working inside the business and more time leading, growing, and enjoying it. 💬Quotes “Don’t be too smart for your own good. Be intellectually humble and recognize that there are better solutions out there than you can come up with—and maybe you should embrace them.” — Dr. Glenn Krieger “Will you begin working on your practice instead of in your practice? Absolutely.” — Dr. Glenn Krieger 🎯 Key Takeaways Why orthodontists try to outsmart proven systems (00:00) The importance of having a written practice plan (00:41) When intelligence becomes a business weakness (00:52) Why you should not immediately customize established technology (01:16) The Michelin-star lesson: trust the expert process (01:43) Clinical expertise does not automatically equal business expertise (02:10) Homework: identify the systems and policies that are not working (03:42) Why the staffing crisis makes automation more urgent (04:07) The wrong way to implement remote monitoring (05:17) Follow the recommended workflow before making changes (06:17) How inefficient customization increases doctor and team workload (07:03) Preparing your practice to operate with fewer team members (07:15) Using digital concierge and AI-powered solutions (08:28) When a virtual assistant is—and is not—the right solution (09:17) Why outsourcing can increase freedom, productivity, and profitability (10:08) The financial case for outsourcing repetitive clinical tasks (10:29) Final challenge: practice intellectual humility (11:21) 🟦 Additional Resources I’ve seen firsthand how the right technology can reduce stress, protect your team’s time, and help you build a more profitable orthodontic practice—but only when you stop trying to reinvent it. Review the systems and policies in your practice that are creating frustration, delays, or unnecessary doctor involvement. Then ask whether a proven solution already exists—and whether you are willing to implement it the way it was designed before attempting to customize it. Reach out to me anytime if you’d like to continue the conversation. - Airway Meeting: https://web.orthopreneurs.com/arizonasleepandairway2026 - For more information, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/ - Join our FREE Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/

August 11, 202636 min

The AI Systems Every Ortho Needs w/Lindsay Quinn

In this episode, I sit down with Lindsay Quinn, founder of Heartwise Collective, to explore how orthodontists can move beyond basic ChatGPT prompts and begin using AI as a true operational partner. Lindsay has spent 20 years in orthodontics and the last decade helping practices improve their systems and efficiency. In her own business, she used AI to double growth for two consecutive years without adding team members—and now she’s teaching orthodontic practices how to create that same leverage. We discuss how AI can support every department of your practice, from marketing and financial analysis to treatment coordinator training, lead nurturing, and policy development. Lindsay also explains the difference between simply asking Claude or ChatGPT a question and building an AI system that understands your practice, brand, patients, and goals. You’ll walk away with practical ways to reduce stress, improve predictability, strengthen accountability, and spend less time rebuilding the same systems from scratch. 💬Quotes “Don’t be in search of a problem because there’s an answer for it. Always start with: Do I have a problem, and how can I partner with AI to help solve it?” — Lindsay Quinn “The biggest advantage with AI is not us just building the thing, but you learning the skill set.” — Lindsay Quinn 🎯 Key Takeaways - Intro: Using AI to fill operational gaps in your practice (00:00) - How Lindsay doubled her business without adding team members (01:38) - Building AI systems instead of relying on isolated prompts (03:01) - Creating an AI-powered marketing department (04:13) - Using AI as a financial and overhead analysis tool (05:05) - Avoiding AI overwhelm and shiny-object syndrome (06:11) - Building an AI conversion coach for treatment coordinators (07:36) - Why many orthodontic practices are leaving revenue on the table (08:36) - The difference between a generic Claude prompt and a trained AI system (13:28) - How AI projects, instructions, and knowledge bases work together (13:58) - Understanding agentic AI and automated workflows (16:51) - A real example of AI researching every meeting automatically (19:06) - Why foundational systems still matter before adding AI (21:13) - Warning signs that your practice systems are not working (22:13) - The KPIs every orthodontic practice should begin tracking (23:33) - The ACRE framework for writing better AI prompts (23:46) - Using AI to reduce no-shows and improve lead follow-up (25:06) - How AI can help practices build their own internal tools and apps (27:19) - Why learni n g AI now may put your practice years ahead (29:02) 🟦 Additional Resources If your practice could run more efficiently, predictably, and profitably—but you feel overwhelmed by where to begin—this episode will show you how AI can help close those gaps. Lindsay’s AI group coaching program teaches orthodontic practices how to build their own systems, automate repetitive work, and develop the skills to keep improving long after the program ends. To learn more about Heartwise Collective, email: hello@heartwisecollective.com - Airway Meeting: https://web.orthopreneurs.com/arizonasleepandairway2026 - For more information, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/ - Join our FREE Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/