What’s Your Practice Worth?

This is a burning question in the minds of orthodontists. We used to think that we knew the answer, depending on only a handful of variables. In the past all you really needed to know to value a prac...

You Think SmileDirectClub Is Bad?

I know orthodontists generally hate SmileDirectClub but let me tell you what fully decentralized orthodontic treatment may look like in the future: Scenario #1 Imagine you want straighter teeth and so...

Impediments to Changing from Analog to Digital

It’s been an interesting week. We’ve just finished our book, Straighter: The Rules of Orthodontics and sent it to the printer, we’ve set a date for our first in person implementation...

Dis-Belief

Marc Ackerman, DMD, MBA We have all had different experiences in life that shape our mental model of the world around us.   Although mental models give us a sense of stability in a world of continuo...

It’s Time to Grow Up

Orthodontists claim that receiving orthodontic treatment as a child or teen increases self-esteem an......

Change, By Definition, Upsets The Majority

I’m constantly amazed by the two camps of orthodontists who like (or at least find interesting) what I have to say and those who literally despise me and everything I “stand for.” It’s...

Orthodontists Are Like Power Lifters

In power lifting, the heavier the weight you can lift the more points you score. Orthodontics isn’t judged by the same metrics yet we mistakenly believe that the harder the case, the more points we ...

The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades

  There’s been some confusion about our predictions of 3000 dollar fees being the future of orthodontics and many see this as doom and gloom. Nothing could be further from the truth! Someho...