GC Orthodontics Exchange

GC Orthodontics

A Podcast designed to provide the Orthodontic Profession with a conversational platform from industry peers on how to balance the rapid advances in technology with the mechanics of tooth movement. Take away practical operational advice that will maximize chair share profitability. Transition treatment time measurement from months and visits to hours spent in the chair. Balance is not a luxury—it’s the foundation of success.

  1. Jul 15 ·  Video

    Dr. Ed Davis on Practice Growth, Advocacy & Recognizing a Finished Case

    In this episode of the GC Orthodontics Exchange, host Dr. Antonino Secchi sits down with Dr. Ed Davis, an orthodontist practicing in Columbia, South Carolina, for a conversation that moves from career origin story to national advocacy work. Dr. Davis traces his path into the specialty, from childhood orthodontic treatment that hooked him on the puzzle of tooth movement to a dental career shaped by an unexpected mentor: his childhood dentist, who also happened to be his church organist. He talks candidly about the leap from resident to practice owner, buying and building two offices at once while waiting on South Carolina's licensing timeline to catch up. The conversation then turns to Dr. Davis's leadership work with the AAO and AAO PAC, where he discusses efforts to reduce orthodontic student debt, push for in-person exam and radiograph requirements ahead of patient treatment, and build support for the specialty at the state and federal level. Episode highlights: • His path into orthodontics and the mentor who shaped it • Buying and opening two practices simultaneously as a new grad • His work with the AAO PAC and current advocacy priorities • Advice for new grads on debt, DSOs, and living within your means • Life outside the office, including a decade of summer musical theater with his daughter From building a practice from the ground up to shaping policy on a national stage, Dr. Davis offers a grounded look at what it takes to build a career and a specialty worth showing up for.

  2. May 20 ·  Video

    How an Engineer Approaches Ortho with Dr. Michael Pickard

    In this episode of the GC Orthodontics Exchange, host Dr. Antonino Secchi sits down with Dr. Michael Pickard, a Canadian-born orthodontist practicing across three locations on the Washington-Idaho border, for a candid conversation about an unconventional path to orthodontics and the clinical philosophy he's built along the way. Dr. Pickard's journey took him from building roads and competing as a U.S. ballroom dance champion, to a career in petroleum engineering at Exxon, before ultimately finding his way to dental school at UCLA and orthodontic training at Baylor. That engineering mindset never left, and it shows in how he approaches clinical work. Key highlights from this episode: • Why Dr. Pickard chose self-ligating brackets from the start and has never looked back, including his wire sequencing philosophy and how he thinks about torque control • His approach to blending braces and aligners in the same treatment plan, and why that flexibility has opened doors for patients who once said "no" to braces • How efficiency in orthodontics isn't about speed. It's about quality, smart scheduling, and empowering your team • The case for (and against) indirect bonding, and how working with models made him a sharper bracket positioner • Building a three-location practice while protecting work-life balance in a tight-knit university community Dr. Pickard's story is a reminder that the road to orthodontics looks different for everyone, and that a commitment to quality, whether you're building roads or straightening teeth, makes all the difference.

  3. Apr 8 ·  Video

    The Case for Going Digital with Dr. Bryn Cooper

    Dr. Bryn Cooper is back for her second appearance on the GC Orthodontics Exchange. The Houston-based orthodontist, who opened her practice over a decade ago plasterless, paperless, and fully digital, joins host Michael Wilgus for a deeper dive into the world of digital orthodontics. In this episode, Dr. Cooper shares her journey from beta-testing 3D printers before the competition existed to running two fully digital practice locations today. She breaks down the clinical realities of indirect bonding and aligners, where each modality shines, and what she's learned from using seven different jig systems throughout her career. Dr. Cooper also tackles the "efficiency" conversation head-on — pushing back on the idea that reducing appointments is the whole story, and making the case that patient experience has to be part of the equation. In this episode, you'll learn: Why Dr. Cooper went 100% digital from day one and what that looked like before the technology caught up The real difference between planning in a digital environment vs. placing brackets chairside Where aligners fall short and when braces deliver more predictable results How to think about efficiency beyond just chair time and appointment reduction Whether you're just beginning to explore digital workflows or looking to refine your existing approach, this conversation is packed with honest, practical insights from a clinician who's been doing it longer than most. And if you haven't caught Dr. Cooper's first episode yet, make sure to go back and give it a listen!

About

A Podcast designed to provide the Orthodontic Profession with a conversational platform from industry peers on how to balance the rapid advances in technology with the mechanics of tooth movement. Take away practical operational advice that will maximize chair share profitability. Transition treatment time measurement from months and visits to hours spent in the chair. Balance is not a luxury—it’s the foundation of success.

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