The Orthopreneurs Podcast with Dr. Glenn Krieger

I’ve seen it firsthand: bringing in someone with zero experience—but the right attitude—can transform your culture, your team, and even your future. In this episode, I sit down with someone who proves that point better than anyone I know—Brooke Bruneman—a former team member who started with me as a sterile tech and is now graduating dental school and chasing orthodontics.

We also get into some surprisingly real conversations—about social media in orthodontics, what actually works (and what’s just noise), and even how Gen Z is dating today (spoiler: it’s very different from what most of us grew up with). This episode will challenge how you hire, how you lead, and how you think about the next generation entering our profession.

Quotes

“I came to you with zero experience… I just needed someone willing to train me.”
— Brooke Bruneman

“When you find something good, it’s hard to let go of it.”
— Brooke Bruneman

Key Takeaways

Intro (00:00)
Why hiring for attitude beats hiring for experience (01:12)
Brooke’s journey from sterile tech to dental school (03:43)
The value of real-world experience before dental school (04:24)
Getting rejected—and coming back stronger (04:24)
Why culture matters more than credentials (17:46)
Keeping great people even after they “leave” your practice (18:45)
How Brooke ran social media remotely through dental school (19:01)
What actually works on social media for orthodontists (21:18)
The power of the “hook” in content creation (33:42)
Why most orthodontists get social media wrong (34:38)
Gen Z, dating apps, and how communication is changing (40:14)
Why safety and trust shape modern interactions (41:37)
What residency programs might be missing in applicants (49:45)

Additional Resources

If you’re still hiring based on experience alone, you’re missing out on your next superstar.

Start looking for attitude, work ethic, and culture fit first—and train the rest. And if you’ve got someone great in your practice right now, don’t wait—invest in them, mentor them, and keep them in your orbit however you can.

👉 Want to connect with Brooke or learn more about her journey?
Instagram: @brookekbruneman
Email: [email protected]

And if you’re in academia or part of an orthodontic residency program… you might want to reach out. Just saying.

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 that for less than the cost of one case, you could buy back hours of your week—and finally focus on the work that actually grows your practice?
In this Five Minute Friday, I’m challenging one of the biggest blind spots I see in orthodontists today: the belief that “I can do it all myself.” After coming off a high-level Orthopreneurs RD meeting, it became crystal clear—most of you aren’t lacking solutions… you’re lacking time. And more importantly, you’re holding onto tasks you should’ve delegated years ago.

Quotes
“The overwhelming majority of you are way too busy, don’t have enough time, and are making enough money that you can afford an executive assistant.”
— Dr. Glenn Krieger
“If you can take $20,000 a year to free you up and focus on the things you need to be doing, it’ll be the best money you ever spend.”
— Dr. Glenn Krieger

Key Takeaways
Intro (00:00)
Why orthodontists resist solutions they actually need (00:58)
What an executive assistant really does (and doesn’t do) (01:20)
Real-world examples: travel, scheduling, and life logistics (01:45)
Fractional hiring: how to start small (02:25)
The ROI of buying back your time (03:00)
Why this may be the highest-leverage investment you can make (03:45)

Additional Resources
🟦 I’ve seen firsthand how freeing up even a few hours a week can completely change how you lead your practice and live your life.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stuck in the day-to-day, start exploring executive assistant options—even just 5–10 hours a week. And if you want guidance on where to start, reach out to me directly. I’m always happy to help you find solutions that actually move the needle.
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/

I’ve had hundreds of conversations with orthodontists about DSOs, OSOs, and private equity—and here’s the truth: most of you are making decisions based on incomplete, outdated, or just plain wrong information. In this episode, I sit down with Connor Jorgensen, Director at Tusk Practice Sales, to cut through the noise and talk about what’s actually happening in today’s market.

If you’ve ever wondered what your practice is worth, how equity really works, or whether you’re leaving money (or opportunity) on the table… This episode will give you clarity—and probably challenge a few assumptions along the way.

Quotes

“When someone tells you you’re going to get a 5–7x return on your equity… that’s unrealistic. If you’re making decisions based on that, you need to run for the hills.”
 — Connor Jorgensen

“If you’re going to count DSO equity as zero, then you have to count your private practice as zero too. You’re just trading one form of equity for another.”
 — Connor Jorgensen

Key Takeaways

Intro (00:00)
Why “just say no to DSOs” is bad advice (00:16)
Connor’s background and insider perspective (04:08)
OSO vs DSO vs multi-specialty: what actually matters (06:24)
How brokers work—and who they really represent (09:09)
Equity vs cash: what orthodontists misunderstand (11:19)
Why 5–7x equity claims are misleading (13:12)
The biggest mistake advisors make about equity value (16:18)
Why selling often beats holding long-term (18:07)
How OSOs improve profitability overnight (24:55)
Cultural myths: what really happens after you sell (28:02)
Why education—not opinion—should drive your decision (29:57)

Additional Resources

Connor and the team at Tusk Practice Sales will walk you through a complimentary orthodontic valuation analysis—no pressure, no obligation, just real numbers and real insight so you can make the right decision for your future.

👉 Reach out directly:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://tuskpracticesales.com
Phone: 704-302-1043

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 the smartest way to approach airway isn’t to become the hero in the room — it’s to become the gatekeeper who knows exactly when, where, and how to refer?
In this episode of 5 Minute Friday, I tackle one of the most polarizing conversations in orthodontics: airway and sleep-disordered breathing. There’s so much noise, ego, and misinformation around this topic that a lot of orthodontists either jump in too aggressively or back away completely. My take is simple: neither extreme serves patients well. We don’t need to diagnose everything ourselves — but we do need to know enough to recognize red flags, evaluate the orthodontic pieces we are responsible for, and collaborate with the right interdisciplinary team.
Quotes
“We are part of a bigger puzzle. We’re just one piece and if we work together with the science and our referral base, we’ll be able to treat people really, really well.”
 — Dr. Glenn Krieger
“We need to be gatekeepers and we need to work with ENTs and oral surgeons and myofunctional therapists and pediatric dentists.”
 — Dr. Glenn Krieger

Key Takeaways
Intro (00:00)
Why the airway conversation has become so overblown in orthodontics (00:25)
Why orthodontists should be gatekeepers — not lone diagnosticians (00:46)
The real problem with extreme pro-airway vs. anti-airway positions (02:17)
How to use symptoms, occlusion, anatomy, and CBCT responsibly (04:55)
When to treat the occlusion and when to refer to the interdisciplinary team (06:11)
Why ENTs, oral surgeons, myofunctional therapists, and radiologists matter (06:32)
What Dr. Krieger’s Scottsdale airway course will teach orthodontists and teams (06:43)
Why collaborative care creates better outcomes than ideology ever will (08:24)
A real example of how orthodontic-ENT collaboration changed a child’s life (10:08)

Additional Resources
I’ve seen firsthand how airway and sleep-disordered breathing can become one of the most rewarding parts of an orthodontic practice — but only when we stay in our lane, know what we’re looking at, and work with the right team. 
If you want to learn how to evaluate these cases more thoughtfully, collaborate more effectively, and treat patients with greater confidence, keep an eye out for the upcoming airway and sleep-disordered breathing meeting in Scottsdale. And if you want to learn more about Orthopreneurs RD, message me directly.
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/

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