The Orthopreneurs Podcast with Dr. Glenn Krieger

I’ve seen a lot of innovation in this space over the years—but every once in a while, something comes along that makes you stop and think, “Okay… this actually changes things.” In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Mehdi Peikar—orthodontist, physicist, and one of the most fascinating minds you’ll ever meet—to talk about where orthodontics is heading and what happens when you combine AI, biomechanics, and true customization.

Mehdi walks us through his journey—from studying quantum mechanics and biomechanics at some of the top institutions in the world to building award-winning orthodontic technologies—and now launching Celebrace, a fully customized 3D-printed bracket system that flips traditional orthodontics on its head. We’re not talking about “low, medium, high torque” anymore… we’re talking about precision-built prescriptions for every single tooth, for every single patient.

But this episode goes deeper than just a product. We get into the future—AI, robotics, and yes… even the possibility of orthodontics being automated someday. Whether that excites you or terrifies you, one thing is clear: the doctors who understand where things are going are the ones who will thrive.

Celebrace is a 100% digital, AI-driven, fully custom metal braces system, designed to bring greater precision and consistency to finishing. If you’re interested in seeing how it works in practice, LEARN MORE and get started.

Quotes

“Nobody’s really MBT or Roth—every case is unique. Now we finally have the tools to treat patients that way.”
 — Dr. Mehdi Peikar

“You approve the treatment plan… and we reverse engineer the bracket to match it exactly.”
 — Dr. Mehdi Peikar

Key Takeaways

Intro (00:00)
Mehdi’s journey: ortho → physics → innovation (01:13)
Why quantum mechanics thinking shapes innovation (03:54)
AI vs. quantum computing—what’s actually impacting us now (07:12)
Will AI replace orthodontists? (09:08)
The future: robots, automation, and orthodontics at home (11:54)
Why traditional prescriptions (MBT/Roth) are outdated (26:26)
What makes Celebrace different from other “custom” systems (33:03)
How fully custom brackets improve efficiency and finishing (29:31)
Reverse-engineering treatment plans into exact prescriptions (34:16)
Digital orthodontics: where braces are heading next (32:48)

Additional Resources

If you’re even remotely curious about where orthodontics is heading—and how to stay ahead of it—this is one you don’t want to ignore.

👉 Learn more about Celebrace at: https://celebrace.com
👉 Or reach out directly: [email protected]

And if you’re heading to AAO, make sure to check them out in person—you’ll want to see this technology up close.

Register for the Make More Money Meeting: https://ortho4m.com/home

- For more information, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/

- Join our FREE Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OrthoPreneurs

What if I told you your practice could grow to $3M+ without working harder—just by fixing the leaks in your funnel?
In this episode of Five Minute Friday, I challenge you to take a hard, honest look at your practice performance. If you’re stuck at $1.6M–$1.9M and grinding four-plus days a week, the problem isn’t effort—it’s efficiency. Somewhere in your marketing, your conversions, your case acceptance, or your systems… you’re leaking. And the good news? You can fix it without adding more hours to your schedule.
I break down what a sustainable, profitable orthodontic practice really looks like—and why a $3M, three-day-a-week model is not only realistic, but repeatable. We talk about the real drivers of growth: effective marketing, strong phone and TC systems, leadership, and patient experience. If you’re ready to stop making excuses and start making changes, this episode will give you a clear, practical path forward.
Quotes
“I can almost guarantee you that no matter where you practice… your practice is not reaching its potential for what you want.”
 — Dr. Glenn Krieger
“Somewhere along your funnel, you’re leaking—and you can be much more effective with no more work.”
 — Dr. Glenn Krieger
Key Takeaways
Intro (00:00)
Why most orthodontists are stuck below their potential (00:30)
The $3M practice model: realistic, sustainable, and repeatable (01:00)
Why working more days isn’t the solution (02:05)
The 4 key growth drivers: marketing, conversion, case acceptance, leadership (03:45)
Why most orthodontists don’t know how to “close” cases effectively (04:20)
How to build projections and take control of your numbers (04:55)
Identifying and fixing leaks in your practice funnel (06:30)
Additional Resources
I’ve seen firsthand how small improvements in your funnel can unlock massive growth—without adding more stress or more hours to your week.
If you’re serious about building a more efficient, profitable, and scalable practice, join me at the 4M “Make More Money” Meeting in Nashville. We’ll break down your numbers, your systems, and your strategy—from start to finish—so you can finally build the practice you actually want.
Register for the Make More Money Meeting: https://ortho4m.com/home 
- For more information, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/
- Join our FREE Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/

🎙️ What if the biggest thing holding you back in your career… is something you’re too afraid to walk away from?
I’ve seen it over and over again—orthodontists staying stuck because of time, money, or the fear of starting over. But what if the real key to long-term success isn’t pushing through… it’s knowing when to pivot?
In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Dr. John Graham, and we go deep into one of the most unconventional journeys you’ll ever hear in orthodontics—from walking away from an oral surgery residency just months before finishing… to building a thriving orthodontic career and life on his own terms.

Quotes
“You either need to get a handle on this—or you need to make a change. Because that’s not how you should be living your life.”
 — Dr. John Graham
“People are imprisoned by their past… they think they’ve invested too much to change, so they just decide to be miserable.”
 — Dr. John Graham
Key Takeaways
Intro (00:00)
John’s unconventional path from oral surgery to orthodontics (00:33)
The moment that changed everything (the pager story) (15:44)
Why sunk cost fallacy keeps orthodontists stuck (25:57)
The power of visiting other practices and mentorship (08:25)
Why successful orthodontists are lifelong learners (09:16)
Taking risks vs. playing it safe in your career (33:34)
Why more orthodontists are partnering earlier (42:17)
Inside the decision to join Smile Doctors (34:59)
The truth about independence in DSOs/OSOs (49:20)
John’s psilocybin retreat experience and mindset shift (50:46)
How perspective, connection, and purpose impact your life (01:03:54)
Additional Resources
If this episode hit home for you—and you’re feeling stuck, burned out, or just questioning your next move—don’t ignore that feeling.
👉 Reach out. Have a conversation. Visit another practice. Explore your options.
And if you want to talk through your situation, I’m always happy to help—just connect with me directly.
Because at the end of the day, your career shouldn’t feel like a trap…
 It should feel like something you chose.
Register for the Make More Money Meeting: https://ortho4m.com/home

- For more information, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/
- Join our FREE Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OrthoPreneurs

Unless you've been living under a rock, you must have heard about the recent developments in Artificial Intelligence and its capabilities.

But have you tried using it in your orthodontic practice to help with some day-to-day tasks?

AI is undoubtedly a huge part of our technological future, and we better learn how to use it.

I have used it for writing job posts, responding to patients, creating emails, texts, performance reviews, policies and systems, social media posts, and more.

One thing to note with AI is that AI is only as intelligent as the person using it, so the more specific you are with what you're looking for, the better the outcomes will be.

Wondering how to incorporate AI into your practice? Tune in to learn more.

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       @orthopreneurs6803  

⏱️ Key Takeaways ⏱️
- Intro (00:00)
- Concerns around AI (00:26)
- How to use AI in your practice (01:32)
- Get better at prompts (02:27)
- Artificial intelligence is only as intelligent as you are (04:21)

Additional Resources

🔹Register for the Make More Money Meeting: https://ortho4m.com/home 

🔹For more information, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/

🔹 Join our FREE Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OrthoPreneurs

#OrthoPreneurs #DrGlennKrieger  #5minutefriday

In this episode, I sit down with Kara Pfister, a speech-language pathologist and certified orofacial myofunctional therapist, to unpack one of the most misunderstood—and underutilized—areas in orthodontics: function. We break down what myofunctional therapy actually is, when you should be referring (and when you shouldn’t), and why working without a team is one of the biggest mistakes you can make in modern orthodontics.

If you’ve ever wondered why some cases relapse, why certain patients struggle with expansion or open bites, or how to actually build a referral network that improves outcomes—not just checkboxes—this episode will give you practical, real-world insight you can apply immediately. More importantly, it might completely change how you view your role as an orthodontist—not just as a tooth mover, but as a gatekeeper for long-term function and health.

Quotes

“We’re not just fixing speech—we’re often preventing bigger problems before they even start.”
 — Kara Pfister

“If they release the tongue without addressing function… it’s like doing surgery on a hip and expecting someone to just walk again.”
 — Kara Pfister

Key Takeaways

Intro (00:00)
Why orthodontists must act as “gatekeepers” for function (00:30)
What a myofunctional therapist actually does (01:17)
Why most speech issues aren’t being caught early enough (02:46)
The real causes: airway, tongue tie, and oral habits (14:35)
Why school speech screenings often miss these problems (13:04)
How to identify when to refer (31:22)
The truth about tongue ties—when they matter (29:53)
Why releasing a tongue tie without therapy fails (30:58)
Expansion vs. tongue tie timing—what comes first (36:17)
How improper function leads to relapse (34:49)
Building a referral team that actually works (40:51)
Where to find qualified myofunctional therapists (44:11)

Additional Resources

If you’re serious about improving outcomes—not just finishing cases—you need to stop working in isolation.

Start by building your team:

Find a qualified myofunctional therapist through https://iaom.com (International Association of Orofacial Myology)

Connect with specialists (ENTs, oral surgeons, therapists) who share your philosophy

And if you want to reach Kara directly:
👉 https://speech4fun.com
👉 Search Kara Pfister (5.0 Google reviews)

Because at the end of the day, the best orthodontists aren’t just great clinicians—they’re great connectors.

Register for the Make More Money Meeting: https://ortho4m.com/home 

- For more information, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/

- Join our FREE Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/