Orthotown December 2022 - 35

Cosmetic treatment options. My patient
population isn't a traditional brackets-andwires
treatment group. Knowing this, we
have built our treatment modalities with
" in-treatment " aesthetics at the front of our
minds. Leading our consultation appointment
with clear aligners and lingual braces as the
most " invisible " treatment options has a direct
correlation to our increased case acceptance.
Virtual consultations/appointments add
another level of convenience to our patients'
experience. We've found it allows patients
peace of mind-they can communicate with
our team without interfering with their own
busy schedules. We've also noticed it weeds
out the " price-shopper " patients, which frees
up space in our schedule for more exams.
Convenient hours. We work abnormal
" orthodontic " hours: Our patient population
typically works until 3 or 4 p.m., so we're
open until 7.
A mature and comfortable office design
makes for a warm and welcoming space that
kicks the stereotypical dental office feel. It
looks much more like a high-end living space.
A sense of gratitude. I think this is one
of the most overlooked " must-haves. " Potential
patients don't owe us anything: There is
a slew of other amazing providers out there,
so the fact our patients have taken time out
of their day to trust us and our team with
overseeing their treatment is a big deal.
Be grateful for that.
Where do you see
the profession headed
in the next 10 years?
I think the profession is fine and will
be fine. Maybe it's not as easy as it once
was, maybe profitability is less than it once
was, and maybe there's more competition.
But, I ask, which desirable industries aren't
facing these issues? We will always have the
Chicken Littles of the world, but if you cut
through the noise, you'll see that each year,
more and more potential patients are coming
to the market.
Consumers are more aware of malocclusion
and want to change it. As orthodontists,
it's our job to continue to educate them as to
why they should be visiting an orthodontist
for their treatment. The future looks great.
Do your part to continue that.
What advice do you have
for other orthodontists?
I was told at a very young age that
there are enough patients for everybody,
so I implore others to think this way too.
For you to succeed doesn't mean someone
else has to fail, and when someone else is
succeeding, it doesn't mean you're failing.
Rather, support your " competitor " orthodontists-y'all
should be rooting for one
another and building up the profession and
the community in a mutualistic manner.
One of the most memorable moments of
opening my office was when an orthodontist
down the street brought me a congratulatory
gift with a note telling me it was going to be
hard but to stay focused, and if there was
any light or insight he could share, he'd
be happy to help. This is what a healthy
orthodontic community should be like.
Also, treat your team right. Yes, they
technically work for you, but they also work
with you. Build them up, challenge them
to be better and correct them when they
are wrong, but ultimately respect them as
humans. Because no matter how you look
at it, they are giving you 40% of the awake
hours each day they'll never be able to get
back. Value that.
Give us a snapshot of your
life outside orthodontics.
My life outside the practice is hectic
but very low-key. Brooke and I are either
building and creating or we're asleep. We
don't have any kiddos or dogs, so that helps
us be able to work a little more freely. We
do have a lot of plants, though, and many
of them are very needy. n
orthotown.com \\ DECEMBER 2022 35
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Orthotown December 2022

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