The Orthopreneurs Podcast with Dr. Glenn Krieger

What if I told you disagreeing with another orthodontist doesn’t mean you have to dislike them?

In this Five Minute Friday, I’m talking about something that shows up way too often in our profession: disagreement turning into division. Whether it’s OSOs, airway, clinical philosophy, politics, or anything else, too many people assume that if we don’t see things the same way, we can’t respect each other — and I think that’s a huge mistake.

I’m not pro-OSO, anti-OSO, pro-airway, or anti-airway. I’m pro-education. My goal has always been to help orthodontists get the right information, talk to the right people, and make decisions that fit their practice, their patients, and their lives. In this episode, I share why opinions should never define someone’s character, why education beats absolutism, and why we all need more good people in our lives — even when we disagree.

💬Quotes

“I am not pro-airway. I’m pro proper diagnosis and helping people get through things.”
— Dr. Glenn Krieger

“If someone’s a good person, let it all go by the wayside. Be friends. Get to know them.”
— Dr. Glenn Krieger

🎯 Key Takeaways

Intro: Why disagreement matters (00:00)
Why Dr. Krieger doesn’t dislike people for having different opinions (00:48)
The difference between being pro-education and being pro- or anti-anything (02:21)
Why orthodontists need to make informed decisions, not emotional ones (02:48)
Airway, CBCTs, and the importance of proper diagnosis (03:23)
Why personal attacks are different from professional disagreement (05:10)
The danger of defining people by their opinions (06:01)
Why good people are worth keeping in your life (06:49)

🟦 Additional Resources

If you want to talk about OSOs, airway, practice decisions, or anything else in orthodontics — even if you disagree with me — reach out. DM me on Facebook and just say hi. I love these conversations, and I’m always happy to help where I can.

And if you’re interested in joining us at an upcoming Orthopreneurs event, check out the waitlist for 4M in October or the airway meeting in Arizona this December.

- 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/

🎙️ What if I told you one of the biggest bottlenecks in your orthodontic practice isn't your staff—it's your resistance to technology?

In this episode, I sit down with Steve Gardner, Founder and President of DIBS AI, to discuss why orthodontics continues to lag behind other industries when it comes to adopting technology—and why that's costing doctors far more than they realize. We dive deep into digital indirect bonding, AI-powered treatment planning, staffing challenges, and what the future of orthodontics may look like as artificial intelligence continues to evolve.

More importantly, this conversation isn't really about software. It's about mindset. Steve and I tackle the uncomfortable truth that many orthodontists say they want more freedom, less stress, and better systems—but often resist the very technologies that can help them achieve those goals. Whether you're a braces-heavy practice, an aligner-focused office, or somewhere in between, this episode will challenge the way you think about efficiency, delegation, and the future of clinical care.

💬Quotes

"The bonding appointment alone will pay for DIBS. That's what our latest data is showing."
— Steve Gardner

"Don't be a turkey. Learn how to fly. All the excuses you have—there are no excuses."
— Steve Gardner

🎯 Key Takeaways

Intro (00:00)
How Steve Found Orthodontics Instead of Law School (00:48)
The Evolution of DIBS AI (03:25)
Why Orthodontics Still Struggles with Digital Adoption (06:39)
The Staffing Crisis in Orthodontics (06:39)
Money Comes and Goes—Time Only Goes (09:00)
The "Turkey vs. Eagle" Mindset (10:28)
Digital Bracket Placement vs. Traditional Bonding (14:21)
Can Digital Braces Rival Aligners? (17:04)
What DIBS AI Actually Does (20:15)
The Future of AI in Orthodontics (29:01)
Why Every Practice Should Explore Digital Workflows (34:32)

🟦 Additional Resources

Learn More About DIBS AI

If you're looking to improve efficiency, reduce chair time, create more consistent bracket placement, and embrace a truly digital workflow, Steve encourages orthodontists to take a closer look at DIBS AI.

🌐 Website: https://dibbsai.com

Steve and his team offer demonstrations, workflow consultations, training, and support to help practices successfully implement digital indirect bonding.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to The Orthopreneurs Podcast, leave a review, and share it with a colleague who's ready to stop working harder and start working smarter.

- 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/

What if I told you the reason you’re getting better finishes with braces might have nothing to do with the technology—and everything to do with your training?

In this Five Minute Friday, I tackle one of the biggest mindset debates in orthodontics today: Are aligners actually inferior… or are most orthodontists simply undertrained in how to use them? After seeing a recent discussion sparked by Dr. Kyle Fagala in The Digital Orthodontist, I felt compelled to jump into the conversation and challenge some assumptions many of us still carry.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated with aligners, questioned whether they can really produce elite finishes, or found yourself defaulting back to braces because they “feel safer,” this episode will push you to ask a hard question: Is the limitation really the appliance… or is it the training?

💬Quotes

“If you give me Class I, Class II, growing, non-growing, extraction cases, I will give you a better result with aligners every time, at the same time, if not less.”
— Dr. Glenn Krieger

“Do you genuinely believe that aligners are not as good… or do you believe they are as good, you’re just not as well trained?”
 — Dr. Glenn Krieger

🎯 Key Takeaways

Intro: The braces vs. aligners debate (00:00)
Why most orthodontists still feel more comfortable with braces (00:33)
Dr. Krieger’s 80% aligner practice philosophy (01:06)
Why aligners create less stress, fewer emergencies, and happier patients (02:26)
The precision advantage of aligners vs. wire bending (02:57)
Why some elite orthodontists still use “finishers” after braces (03:40)
The real issue: training vs. technology (04:32)
Why going “all in” on technology changes profitability and outcomes (05:19)
Final challenge: Are you resisting growth or pursuing mastery? (05:38)

🟦 Additional Resources

 I’ve seen firsthand how aligners can completely transform not only clinical outcomes, but the stress level, efficiency, and scalability of an orthodontic practice.

 If you truly believe aligners aren’t as good as braces, ask yourself why. And if the answer is training, then commit to getting better. The future of orthodontics belongs to doctors willing to evolve, adapt, and master the tools available to them—not just rely on what feels familiar.

And if you’re enjoying the podcast, do me one favor: tell three friends about it. That’s how we continue growing this community and helping more orthodontists build the practices—and lives—they truly want.

- 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 episode, we dive into where remote monitoring is headed next—and trust me, the future is closer than you think. We discuss FDA-approved remote STL generation, AI-driven treatment adjustments, real-time patient monitoring, and a world where aligner refinements may become largely automated in the background. More importantly, we talk about how orthodontists can use technology to reclaim their most valuable asset: time.

Whether you're already using DentalMonitoring or you're still skeptical about remote care, this episode will challenge the way you think about patient visits, treatment efficiency, staffing, and the role technology will play in the next decade of orthodontics.

💬Quotes
“The problem for an orthodontist is not that a problem happened. The problem is discovering it too late.”
 — Philippe Sala

“We are a triage service. We tell you: focus on the bad and spend less time on the good.”
 — Philippe Sala

🎯 Key Takeaways

Intro (00:00)
Meet Philippe Sala and the vision behind DentalMonitoring (03:18)
Why orthodontics doesn’t need a perfect appliance—it needs better visibility (05:07)
The real cost of discovering treatment problems too late (06:01)
How remote monitoring changes patient management and practice efficiency (06:57)
The “triage” model: spend more time on patients who need it most (11:58)
What Monitoring+ is and why 3D treatment monitoring changes everything (14:12)
The future of weekly STL models and dynamic treatment tracking (15:00)
FDA-approved remote STL generation from patient scans (17:23)
How at-home scans can be used for retainers, aligners, and appliances (18:00)
The future of automated aligner refinements and continuous treatment updates (19:07)
The vision of achieving true one-set aligner finishes (20:53)
How DM Insights helps orthodontists benchmark performance (23:37)
Using data to improve hygiene, compliance, debonds, and treatment outcomes (24:24)
Turning practice analytics into actionable patient interventions (27:18)
Why technology adoption is really about buying back time (31:51)
The staffing crisis and why orthodontists must prepare now (39:20)
How remote care can improve quality while reducing stress and overhead (42:31)

🟦 Additional Resources

If you've been wondering whether remote monitoring is worth the investment, this episode provides a roadmap for what orthodontics may look like over the next several years.

Learn more about DentalMonitoring:
 👉 https://www.dentalmonitoring.com

Interested in Orthopreneurs?
 👉 https://www.orthopreneurs.com

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another orthodontist who's looking to improve efficiency, enhance patient care, and future-proof their practice.

- 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/

What if I told you the way you treat people when nobody’s watching says more about your leadership than anything happening inside your practice?

In this Five Minute Friday, I’m asking a question that might sting a little: Are you a pain in the ass? As orthodontists, leaders, employers, and colleagues, we spend a lot of time thinking about clinical outcomes, systems, and production—but not always enough time thinking about how people feel after interacting with us.

This episode is about self-awareness, humility, and becoming the kind of person others actually enjoy being around. I share why the small moments matter most: how you speak to a server, how you respond when things don’t go your way, how you show up online, and whether your interactions leave people better or worse than before. My challenge is simple: at the end of every day, ask yourself what you did well—and how you could have done it better.

💬Quotes

“This isn’t about how much community service you do. This is about how you act when nobody’s watching.”
— Dr. Glenn Krieger

“At the end of the day, when you put your head on the pillow, what did you do well today? And how could you have done it better?”
— Dr. Glenn Krieger

🎯 Key Takeaways

Intro: Are you a pain in the ass? (00:00)
How your behavior impacts the people around you (01:07)
High-maintenance vs. self-aware leadership (01:28)
Why seeking to understand matters (03:12)
The people who need this message most may be in denial (03:23)
How upbringing shapes behavior—and why we can unlearn it (04:37)
What really counts as doing good in the world (05:52)
Two questions to ask yourself every night (07:22)

🟦 Additional Resources

I’ve seen firsthand how self-awareness can change the way we lead, communicate, and show up for the people around us.

So tonight, before you go to sleep, ask yourself: What did I do well today? And how could I have done it better? Start there—and watch how your relationships, leadership, and life begin to change.

- 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/