The Golden Age of Orthodontics Dr. Leon Klempner

We're excited to welcome Philippe Salah, a dental industry innovator, to the show today. He is the CEO of DentalMonitoringⓇ, a company leading the way in transforming orthodontic care. Their groundbreaking Smart STL solution is changing the game in digital orthodontics, from creating retainers to managing adjustments during treatment. This Smart STL technology has the potential to revolutionize the future of orthodontics. Philippe and his team recognized the current system's inefficiency for both treatment and the environment, and their goal was to create a more streamlined process. Take advantage of this episode to improve your practice's efficiency and patient satisfaction.
Please note: Product availability, claims and regulatory status may differ across countries depending on local regulations. Contact your local DentalMonitoringⓇ representative for further information.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[5:19] Dr. Leon expresses his excitement about AI[5:58] Philippe discusses what is new and changing over the last ten years, and he explains how the next innovation, Smart STL, works for your practice[10:45] Philippe explains the impetus for the creation of Smart STL[15:57] Intraoral scanners and stage files are still needed[18:23] Discussion of the time saved with Smart STL and communicating the procedure to the patient[25:34] Philippe addresses other changes and innovations coming in the future[28:39] Philippe describes the quality management platform developed a year ago, which would be an asset to any practice
KEY TAKEAWAYS: 
The future of orthodontics lies in not having patients in your chair; instead, they will be in the comfort of their own homes with the doctor using an updated STL file corresponding to their teeth’s exact position.  Innovation comes in increments. Smart STL will require input from the doctor regarding the anatomy of the patient's teeth and cooperation from the patient who takes a DentalMonitoringⓇ scan with their smartphone.   Smart STL will improve the doctor's workflow, saving time and convenience for the patient, who will not have to make an unnecessary trip to the dental office.
RESOURCE LINKS
People + Practice  - Website
Leon - Email
Amy - Email
People + Practice - Email
Dental Monitoring - Website

What can be said to a patient who cannot afford braces due to financial constraints within their family? Fortunately, there are resources available to help. On today's episode, we'll introduce you to Smiles Change Lives, a non-profit organization dedicated to making braces accessible to children. For 27 years, Smiles Change Lives has helped countless children achieve healthy, beautiful smiles. The Vice President of Operations, Alexis Barclay, will delve into the program's details and explain how you can apply. We will also hear from Dr. Victoria Lynskey, an orthodontist with a decade of experience working with Smiles Change Lives. She'll share heartwarming stories about the program's impact and the joy of transforming a child's life through the gift of braces. Tune in and discover how Smiles Change Lives can bring a brighter future to children in need.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[0:00] Dr. Leon sets up the scenario of a boy needing braces and a family who cannot afford them[5:10] Alexis explains how Smiles Change Lives is different than other nonprofits in this space[6:52] Alexis shares his music background playing electric bass in Kansas City[8:08] Alexis describes how they vet families to be eligible for Smiles Change Lives and how they help when they do not qualify[10:47] Alexis talks about the progression of qualifications for Smiles Changes Lives[13:47] Discussion of how the orthodontist participates in the program[15:22] Dr. Victoria Lynsky shares her positive experiences with Smiles Change Lives[18:01] The process of signing up with Smiles Change Lives[20:59] Alexis discusses what he sees in the future for Smiles Change Lives
KEY TAKEAWAYS: 
[4:53] Smiles Change Lives has been in business for 27 years, and during that time, they have learned what not to do, let alone everything to do to support their providers and their patients[7:49] There is a strategy Smiles Change Lives uses to work with families who can’t financially afford braces. It begins with reviewing tax returns [10:26] The completion rate of successful orthodontic work is 99% when the patient pays something out of pocket. It also provides leverage for the parent who pays the bill but empowers them, knowing they did this for their child.
RESOURCE LINKS
People + Practice  - Website
Leon - Email
Amy - Email
People + Practice - Email
Smiles Change Lives - Website
Alexis Barclay - Email
BIOGRAPHY:  Alexis Barclay
Raised across the pond in North London, Alexis moved to the US when he was just 17 years old. After living in Florida, he eventually made his way to Kansas City, where he’s been ever since.
In 2007, Alexis joined Smiles Change Lives, working at its sister company, Embrace Smiles, a promotional products company. From there, he served as Director of Provider Services for 11 years. Currently, he serves as Vice President of Operations.
When he’s not at work, you can find Alexis playing bass with one of Kansas City’s notable bands. He resides in Riverside, MO, with his wife, Brooklyn and three kids.
QUOTES: 
“We work with our orthodontists, figuring out what the best thing for the practices are. We are very...

Have you had a lifelong vision to establish your own orthodontic practice, only to find obstacles such as financial constraints, roadblocks, and a scarcity of available practices hindering your pursuit? In 2020, Dr. Maggie Law embarked on her entrepreneurial journey, and she is eager to divulge insights into her experience. Maggie will candidly discuss the advantages of managing your own practice, shedding light on the positive aspects and the hurdles she encountered along the way. Tune in to this conversation, and you'll find inspiration and see Maggie's apparent joy for seeing her dream come true. Remember, there has never been a better time to be an orthodontist.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[0:00] Dr. Leon introduces today’s topic: Starting a Practice from the Ground Up with Dr. Maggie Law[3:03] Maggie is introduced and shares her educational background and how she started her practice in 2020[9:25] Maggie shares the reasons she wanted to have her own practice[12:58] Maggie discusses how she controls her overhead costs and the financial decisions in opening a practice[19:00] Maggie answers a caller's questions regarding the benefits of having your own practice, and Dr. Leon shares some advice[24:10] Maggie shares the challenges she has faced, and she leaves the listeners with advice
KEY TAKEAWAYS: 
[8:29] The first step in opening a practice is to find a location. It’s important to research other nearby practices and, sometimes, decide how far you want to be from your home.[9:24] There are many orthodontic practice startups now, and many reasons contribute to orthodontists taking that road. One is that in the long term, the orthodontist wants to be able to make their own decisions about their career and their business. [11:36] Doctors are not selling their practices to recent graduates like they did in the past. They are selling to large OSOs because they can sell for more money. Consequently, as a recent graduate, you must open your own practice. 
RESOURCE LINKS
People + Practice  - Website
Leon - Email
Amy - Email
People + Practice - Email
Maggie Law - Instagram
Orthodontics Startups - Facebook
QUOTES: 
“I think one of the main reasons orthodontists want to have their practice is that we are hard workers, high achievers, goal-oriented and ultimately, working for somebody else long term is not what makes us happy.” Dr. Maggie Law
“I always say that being an associate is great until one day it's not. And then when you get to that day where you're like, wow, I could be working hard for myself, or I can be working hard for somebody else, it's like this flip, and I think most people don't choose to do startups because it is the harder path.” Dr. Maggie Law

Feedback is the cornerstone of your practice’s professional standing. Both patients and referring doctors actively search for reviews, underscoring the pivotal role that effective review management plays in shaping and maintaining your good reputation. Today, Jessie Pressman, the Head of Consulting at People + Practice, will impart crucial insights into navigating patient reviews. Drawing upon her extensive experience in overseeing the reputations of orthodontists, Jessie will provide proven strategies for addressing negative feedback and offer guidance on responding to positive reviews. And remember, for forward-thinking Orthos, there has never been a better time to be an Orthodontist. It’s the Golden Age, so take advantage of it.
 
IN THIS EPISODE:
[0:00] Dr Leon introduces today’s topic: Managing Your Reviews with Jessie Pressman. 
[3:06] Jessie explains how managing a practice’s reputation has changed over the years and ways that you can collect positive feedback. 
[7:04] Jessie discusses what strategy and approach she has made to the People + Practice Program and gives examples of how her approach has resolved issues. 
[11:20] Jessie explains what to do and say when you get a negative review and why you never apologize. 
[15:47] Jessie outlines the times you don’t respond to a review and when to report them to Google. 
[19:31] Jessie recommends some tips regarding getting reviews and responding to them. 

 
KEY TAKEAWAYS: 
[4:13] There are ways to collect positive feedback from your patients. The tip is to ask for a review. When someone is happy, they don’t think of leaving a review. You have to ask by prompting the client for a review. 
[4:53] Google is the search engine where you should spend your time and energy cultivating and responding to reviews. Facebook is no longer the preferred platform to use. Google is King.
[14:10] There are legal reasons you should never apologize for a patient's bad experience in the office. Be very careful that you do not violate HIPAA laws.  

RESOURCE LINKS
People + Practice  - Website
Leon - Email
Amy - Email
People + Practice - Email
Jessie Pressman - Email
People + Practice Blog - Jessie Pressman
 
BIOGRAPHY:
NEW YORK, Oct. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- People + Practice LLC, a leading marketing agency specializing in strategic consulting and brand development for healthcare practices, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Jessie Pressman as Head of Consulting. This strategic step signifies an ongoing commitment to enhancing consulting services, coupled with a robust...

Our special guest is Steven McEvoy, an IT Professional and Project Manager for MME Consulting, a computer company specializing in serving dental practices nationwide. Steve is here to discuss cyber security. He exposes the loopholes, but he also provides solutions. Orthodontic practices are lucrative, making them a prime target for hackers who can leverage you and hold your data as ransom. This episode is a must-listen-to protect your data from ransomware and bad actors.
 
IN THIS EPISODE:
[0:00] Dr Leon introduces today’s topic: Cyber Security. 
[4:04] Steve explains why an orthodontic practice is ripe for cyber attack. 
[6:53] Steve discusses antivirus programs and has suggestions on next-gen antivirus software for orthodontic practices. 
[11:19] Steve describes how a hacker can fool a staff member. 
[17:14] Listener, Mark Bronski, asks how to start protecting your practice from cyber attacks?
[22:28] Steve discusses the value of staff training and using a password manager. 
[28:25] Steve discusses the question of having your information in the crowd. 

 
KEY TAKEAWAYS: 
[3:35] Why is an orthodontic practice a target for cyber security threats?
[7:00] Do we still need antivirus software on my computer, and is it effective to fight off the next-gen cyber attacks?
[11:11] How do you define this phenomenon? Is it phishing scams or social engineering? How do you define it?

RESOURCE LINKS
People + Practice  - Website
Leon - Email
Amy - Email
Steve McEvoy Email
MME Consulting - Website
 
QUOTES: 
“Every new ransomware attack is a unique thing. So an old school antivirus program was used to look for a particular pattern, an executable file that's coming in attached to an email. If it matched that pattern, it would stop it. But now it's a hacker that makes something that's completely dynamic. So there are better antivirus tools that are out there today. I refer to them as next-gen antiviruses, and they're available from multiple companies.” Steve McEvoy
 
“All practices should be monitored. If someone's out shopping for one, the buzzword is an EDR. An EDR solution stands for endpoint detection and response. They're available from multiple companies like Sentinel 1 and WatchGuard.” - Steve McEvoy

We're thrilled to welcome Trey Lawrence today as our special guest. Trey serves as the General Counsel for the American Association of Orthodontists. While AI-generated images are commonplace in daily marketing, it's essential to consider the potential risks associated with this advertising approach. Trey will delve into the legal aspects, obstacles, and potential pitfalls of incorporating AI in your orthodontic practice advertising. Additionally, he will touch upon the insights provided by the FTC and state dental boards. If you have an orthodontic practice, this episode is a must-listen, and as always, there has never been a better time to be an orthodontist.
 
IN THIS EPISODE:
[3:34] Trey explains the legislation regarding AI is still unsettled. 
[5:17] Looking at the FTC and state dental boards will give some guidance until further legislation comes forward. 
[8:00] Trey gives an example of implied claims in advertising, and he also discusses stock photography. 
[11:51] A listener asks a question about the AAO's position on AI usage. 
[14:21] A discussion regarding AI and written content, as well as the penalties involved in false advertising. 
[22:27] Trey admits to his knowledge nothing has ever been as revolutionary to the industry as AI and discusses the pitfalls. 

 
KEY TAKEAWAYS: 
Dentistry has always been held to a higher standard by the FTC regarding truth in advertising.
An advertisement using a white coat or a microscope must have evidence supporting its claim.
Advertising can mislead the public if the patient shown in a before and after picture is not a patient of that practice.

RESOURCE LINKS
People + Practice  - Website
Leon - Email
Amy - Email
Trey Lawrence - TikTok
Trey Lawrence - Instagram
 
QUOTES: 
“The approach that we have to take is to start from the law that currently exists, which, because it's behind the technology, is going to be outdated, but from that law, kind of extrapolate it out and then predict as to what we think the safest course of action is going to be.” Trey Lawrence
 
“When we look at the ads, is the picture an AI-generated picture that will imply a material fact about the practice? Does it show somebody with perfectly straight teeth or someone wearing braces, but they're not a patient of the practice? Because, of course, it's an AI-generated image, and they don't exist at all. Those are the things that the FTC could look at.” Trey Lawrence