The Orthopreneurs Podcast with Dr. Glenn Krieger

🎙️ 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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⏱️ 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/

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/