Orthotown October 2024 - 31

they move on. This constant turnover
can make it difficult to maintain
team chemistry, but it also gives us
the opportunity to work with some
incredibly talented and dedicated people
who sometimes become friends.
What's your advice for docs who
want to move lab work in-house?
When I first started practicing, my
mentor and partner made most of his
appliances over lunch breaks, and I
followed his lead. However, as technology
advanced, so did my approach.
My brother is a prosthodontist, and we
co-own a dental lab in North Carolina.
We began by sending scans to the lab
for 3D-printed models, but eventually,
I decided to bring a digital workflow
directly into the office.
We purchased two Envision One
printers to handle 3D printing for
models, retainers and in-house
aligners. Bringing this workflow
in-house revolutionized our practice,
but it wasn't without its challenges.
One of the most important lessons
we learned as a team was the
necessity of having strong systems
in place-scheduling systems, lab
tracking systems and quality control
measures. These systems are essential
for ensuring everything runs smoothly
and we maintain the highest level of
care for our patients.
Implementing in-house lab work
taught me that even small changes
in a practice can have ripple effects.
What seems like a straightforward
adjustment can end up requiring
changes to scheduling, staffing or even
patient communication. Involving the
team in the decision-making process
and allowing them to help design
these systems is crucial. Your team
TOP PRODUCTS
ITERO ELEMENT AND
ITERO ELEMENT PLUS
3D scanners have made a huge
impact on our practice. I'm a big
Invisalign provider, so the iTero is a
must. The digital lab submissions
are also so nice using EasyRx.
INBRACE LINGUAL BRACES
InBrace patients are some of our
happiest patients. Being able
to straighten teeth with nothing
showing is nice for our adult
patients, but we also have a
surprising number of teenagers in
InBrace. Having a 3D printer and
lab makes a huge impact being able
to avoid some digital enhancement
(refinements).
ENVISION ONE 3D PRINTERS
Being able to print models in-house
for retainers, surgical models, inhouse
aligners using uLab and other
appliances has been a great benefit
to me and my patients.
ART WIRES (now from
American Orthodontics)
Simple and I love using them.
There are just times when I want to
change the torque to the front teeth.
I use an MBT .022 prescription, so
no custom torque prescriptions like
some doctors. ART wires help me
avoid adding torque to the wire.
INVISALIGN
So many patients tend to ask for
treatment with Invisalign.
can offer valuable insights and help
identify potential pitfalls you might
not have considered.
What are the three most important
things doctors should consider
before they attempt an expansion?
1. Solid systems. Before you think
about expanding, make sure your
current practice has solid systems
in place. If your original office
isn't running smoothly, those
problems will only be magnified
as you try to scale.
2. Leveraging your team. Think
carefully about how you'll leverage
your existing team to support
your expansion. Will you need to
hire additional staff? Can some
current employees split their time
between locations? Your team
is the backbone of your practice
and their support is critical to the
success of any new office.
OCTOBER 2024 | 31 | ORTHOTOWN.COM
3.
Impact on quality of care.
Expansion should never come
at the cost of the quality of care
you provide to your existing
patients. Make sure you aren't
spreading yourself too thin and
you can maintain high standards
across all locations.
As a mentor for the AEGD
program, what can you tell us
about general dentists and their
opinions of orthodontics?
There can be a sense of separation
between dental fields. Many general
dentists understand the importance
of orthodontic care but don't
grasp the complexities involved in
treating a patient with orthodontic
therapy. As a mentor, I've worked
to bridge that gap by fostering
better communication and collaboration
between general dentists
and orthodontists.
http://www.ORTHOTOWN.COM
Orthotown October 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Orthotown October 2024
