The Orthopreneurs Podcast with Dr. Glenn Krieger

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/

In this 5 Minute Friday, I’m breaking down the uncomfortable truth: we obsess over the science of brackets and wires, but most orthodontists have no scientific approach to the part of the practice that actually creates growth—how patients move from interest to “yes.” I’ll walk you through the funnel leaks I see everywhere: weak phone conversions, untrained trial closes, TCs who aren’t coached on objections, and doctors who accidentally tank conversions by staying in the room too long or saying the wrong thing.

And because I’m tired of watching practices bleed opportunity, I’m building something different: a focused event designed specifically to help doctors and key team members master every step of the funnel. If you want to grow ethically, confidently, and with a repeatable system (not “hope”), this episode will light a fire under you—in the best way.

Quotes

“Sales has science behind it. There are people who’ve studied this top to bottom and know exactly what gets people to say yes.”
 — Dr. Glenn Krieger

“Do you have a scientific approach from A to Z—from the way you market, to how the phone is answered, to how the exam is handled, to how your TC closes? Or are you just hoping it works?”
 — Dr. Glenn Krieger

Key Takeaways

Intro (00:00)
The “A–Z” scientific sales funnel (marketing → phone → lead handling → exam → close) (00:00)
Sales has science—proven triggers like scarcity and positioning (01:35)
Where orthodontic practices leak: phone scripts, trial closes, consult flow, objection handling (03:24)
Doctor behavior that can hurt conversions—and what to rethink (04:08)
Why most TCs aren’t trained to overcome objections scientifically (04:42)
The “Make More Money Meeting” concept + who should attend (05:08)
Instant implementation tip: TC sits next to patient when presenting fees (08:00)
If “sales” offends you, this isn’t your meeting—and that’s okay (09:03)

Additional Resources

I’ve seen firsthand how a scientific sales system can change a practice faster than any new bracket or marketing trend.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start building a funnel that converts—from the first call to the signed contract—go check out the meeting I created for this exact purpose at ortho4m.com. Bring the people who touch your funnel (office manager, TC, key front desk). If spots are still open, grab them—because not everyone is going to fit in that room.

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/

Most orthodontists think they need a better system, better marketing, or better scripting.
What they actually need is clarity.

In this episode, I sit down with someone I deeply respect — Dr. Lou Chmura — and we go far beyond brackets, aligners, and production numbers. Lou has decades of clinical experience, but what makes him different is his deliberate, principle-driven thinking about life and practice. We talk about why so many orthodontists are more stressed than ever… despite practicing in one of the greatest professions in the world.

If you’ve ever found yourself chasing growth, comparing yourself to others, or wondering why success doesn’t feel as fulfilling as you expected — this conversation will hit home.

Quotes

“The practice is just a vehicle. If you don’t know what kind of life you want, you’ll build the wrong vehicle.”
 — Dr. Lou Chmura

“If you can figure out your one thing — the thing that really matters to you — everything else organizes around it.”
 — Dr. Lou Chmura

Key Takeaways

Why orthodontists are asking the wrong questions about success
Your school pedigree doesn’t matter — what you did yesterday does (02:05)
Revenue vs. take-home: Why production numbers can be misleading (04:30)
Why defining your life comes before defining your practice (12:00)
The danger of chasing someone else’s version of success (20:00)
The STEAR framework: How your thoughts create stress (42:00)
Why social comparison is sabotaging modern orthodontists (49:00)
Finding your “one thing” — and building everything around it (52:00)

Additional Resources

I’ve seen firsthand how easy it is for orthodontists to drift — to chase growth, add locations, increase production — without ever stopping to ask, “Is this actually the life I want?”

If you’re feeling pressure, burnout, or just a sense that something’s off… don’t fix your systems yet.
Fix your clarity.

Reach out to Lou at [email protected] or visit eggheadortho.com and start the conversation. Even one hour of honest reflection can change the trajectory of your career.

You worked too hard to get here to build the wrong life.

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/

In this Five Minute Friday, I break down one of the most misunderstood conversations in orthodontics: real return on investment and equity value in private equity-backed organizations.

After hosting bankers, CPAs, venture capital leaders, real estate experts, and private equity professionals at Vanguard, I walked away with one very clear realization: far too many orthodontists are being modeled at 6–8% annual returns — and that thinking alone can completely distort whether selling, affiliating, or holding makes financial sense.

This episode is not about convincing you to join an OSO or DSO. It’s about education. It’s about understanding equity, multiples, long-term capital gains, private equity performance benchmarks, and — most importantly — transparency. If someone refers you to a broker, a CPA, or an investment opportunity, you need to know what questions to ask. Because if you don’t understand how money truly compounds, you’re making decisions in the dark.

Quotes

“If my financial planner told me to plan on 8% per year for the rest of my life, I would fire them.”
 — Dr. Glenn Krieger

“Always ask questions of people and find out — are there any relationships that you should be aware of?”
 — Dr. Glenn Krieger

Key Takeaways

Intro (00:00)
Rethinking “Acceptable” Returns (01:20)
How Wealthy Investors Think (02:05)
Understanding Private Equity Multiples (05:10)
Capital Gains vs. Practice Income (08:30)
Transparency & Conflicts of Interest (10:40)

Additional Resources

If you’re even remotely considering selling, affiliating, recapitalizing, or exploring private equity — do not make a decision without understanding the math.

🟦 If you want to have an honest, no-pressure conversation about your situation, DM me directly. I’ve had hundreds of these conversations, and sometimes the right answer is “wait.” Sometimes it’s “grow more.” Sometimes it’s “move now.” But it should always be informed.
And if this episode opened your eyes, share it with another orthodontist who deserves to understand how their money can truly work for them.

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/

Most orthodontists are worried about OSOs, GP competition, or clear aligner companies.

But what if the real disruption is AI, automation, staffing shortages, and the fact that our traditional practice model may not survive the next 10–15 years unchanged?

In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend and St. Louis orthodontist Dr. Jackie Demko — a third-generation orthodontist, EOS implementer, AI early adopter, and longevity enthusiast. Jackie brings a rare mix of loyalty, operational discipline, and future-focused thinking. We talk about building culture that actually works, why core values aren’t fluff, how AI can completely reshape the orthodontic practice model, and what we should be doing right now to stay ahead.

This is not a doom-and-gloom episode. It’s a wake-up call — and a roadmap. If you care about protecting your practice, building something sustainable, and staying energized for the long haul, you’ll walk away with both practical ideas and a broader perspective.

Quotes

“If big corporations are running on core values and systems, why wouldn’t we? Why would we think we’re smarter than that?”
 — Dr. Jackie Demko

“Anything that’s repeatable in your practice should be automated. If you’re still doing it manually, you’re already behind.”
 — Dr. Jackie Demko

Key Takeaways
Intro (00:00)
Three-generation orthodontics & the $100K practice mindset (02:05)
Why core values aren’t optional (06:32)
Culture as your operational blueprint (07:30)
AI in the orthodontic practice — right now (16:05)
The Holy Grail: the fully automated ortho practice (18:17)
The real existential threat to orthodontics (25:30)
Why every orthodontist needs an exit strategy (28:20)
Longevity & performance optimization (30:52)

Additional Resources

What if I told you your biggest opportunity right now isn’t increasing production — it’s increasing clarity?

If you haven’t defined your core values… if you aren’t experimenting with AI… if you don’t have a future-proof strategy for staffing and automation… you’re not behind — but you are exposed.

Start small:
Define your 3–5 core values.
Explore EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System).
Experiment with AI in your new patient workflow.
Think seriously about automation before staffing becomes your bottleneck.

And if this episode resonated, share it with a colleague who’s thinking about the future — not just next month’s collections.

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/