The Orthopreneurs Podcast with Dr. Glenn Krieger

If you don’t have a structured retainer program, you could be leaving significant money on the table while missing an opportunity to make long-term retention easier for the people you treat.
In this Five Minute Friday, I’m talking about something every orthodontic practice should have: a retainer program. Clear retainers don’t last forever, and whether they last six months or five years, your patients are eventually going to need replacements. The question is whether you’ve built a system that makes getting those replacements simple, predictable, and beneficial for everyone involved.

💬Quotes
“If you don't have a retainer program for your patients, number one, you're letting yourself down. You're leaving money on the table because there's a lot of money to be made there. And best of all, you're helping your patients.” 
— Dr. Glenn Krieger
“You need to have a retainer program for your patients, and if you don't have one, I need to know why.” 
— Dr. Glenn Krieger

🎯 Key Takeaways

Intro: Why every orthodontic practice needs a retainer program (00:00)
Creating a program that serves patients AND generates revenue (00:39)
Why patients will inevitably need replacement retainers (01:10)
The different retainer program models I’ve tried over the years (01:39)
How retainer programs can create meaningful additional revenue (02:00)
Where to start if you don't currently have a program (02:47)
How Orthopreneurs RD practices share strategies like these (02:55)
The surprisingly large financial opportunity behind retainers (03:08)
Final takeaway: If you don't have a retainer program, get one (03:27)

🟦 Additional Resources
I’ve seen firsthand how something as simple as a well-designed retainer program can simultaneously improve the patient experience and create meaningful additional revenue for an orthodontic practice.
If you don’t currently have one, start doing your homework. Look at the different programs available, ask other orthodontists what’s working for them, and find a model that makes sense for your practice and your patients. And if you want to have deeper conversations about strategies like this with other practice owners, reach out to me about Orthopreneurs RD. Geographic exclusivity means not everyone can join, but you won’t know until you apply.
Whatever model you choose, the important thing is simple: have a retainer program.
👉 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/

In this first installment of my Live Your Best Life series, I break down the mindset shift that helped me approach business, stress, money, and time differently after more than three decades in practice. I’ll show you how to stop operating in constant “whack-a-mole” mode, define exactly where you want your practice and life to be five years from now, and work backward into measurable goals and priorities.
The goal isn’t simply to produce more. It’s to build a practice that gives you more control, more time off, lower stress, and a life that actually feels successful. We’ll talk about creating your “rocks,” separating signal from noise, and using the Eisenhower framework to decide what deserves your attention—and what should be delegated or deleted.

💬Quotes
“If things are not the way you want them in your life, there’s one person who it falls on—and it’s you.”
— Dr. Glenn Krieger
“You’re going to have your dream life or you’re not going to have your dream life.”
— Dr. Glenn Krieger

🎯 Key Takeaways
Intro: The Live Your Best Life series (00:32)
The three pillars: mindset, hiring, and case acceptance (01:00)
Why waiting until you make money to invest in growth makes no sense (03:21)
Are you running a calm practice—or constantly playing whack-a-mole? (03:53)
Why taking ownership is the first step toward changing your practice (04:51)
Stop reacting: why you need a plan before life makes one for you (05:54)
The Alice in Wonderland lesson: if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there (07:16)
Signal vs. noise: protecting your time for what matters most (08:20)
Build your five-year vision and work backward (09:33)
How to identify your rocks and attack the biggest priorities first (10:15)
Success isn’t just production—it’s happiness, time, health, and lower stress (11:45)
The Eisenhower Box: urgent vs. important tasks (12:22)
Your homework: write down your rocks and start executing (12:42)

🟦 Additional Resources
I’ve seen firsthand how much easier practice ownership becomes when you stop reacting to everything around you and start operating from a clear plan.
Your homework is simple: define where you want to be five years from now, identify the rocks that will get you there, write them down somewhere you’ll see them every day, and start protecting your time from everything that doesn’t matter.
If this episode helped you, DM me on Facebook or text me and tell me what your rock is. I want to know what you’re working toward. And stay tuned for Part 2, where I’ll break down how to build and retain the team you need to actually execute that vision.
- 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/

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/

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/

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/