The Orthodontic Bloom

Every thriving business has something in common, not just great people, but great systems.

Because here's the truth: systems turn into culture.

When you document how things are done and create clarity around roles, expectations, and processes, you're not just building structure. You're building id...

Stillness reveals what’s been blooming all along.

As the year winds down, orthodontic practices often find themselves in overdrive, juggling schedules, year-end goals, holiday parties, and the constant hum of the clinic. But what if this November, instead of pushing harder, you chose to pause?

The...

Bullying is not always playground behavior; it can show up in the workplace and even within the patient experience. As orthodontic professionals, we not only shape smiles but also create safe environments where our teams and patients feel valued and respected.

The American Association of Orthodonti...

Summer is officially over. The backpacks are out. Pumpkin spice lattes are here.

And that morning lull? Yep, it’s officially settled in. The post-summer slowdown can leave your practice feeling a little sluggish, but it’s also the perfect opportunity to hit refresh. By focusing on three key areas, ...

Get ready! Just when you finally felt like you had Millennials and Gen Z somewhat figured out, here comes Gen Alpha, crashing the party with their AI fluency and side-eyeing your outdated onboarding binder like it’s a rotary phone.

And trust me, they will judge your systems.

Gen Alpha is made up o...

In a fast-paced orthodontic practice, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind, moving from patient to patient, checking tasks off a never-ending to-do list, and putting out the occasional (or constant) fire. But behind every aligned smile and streamlined process is a team of individuals w...

Let’s talk about the messy middle. That glorious stretch of time where you’re too far in to turn back, but not far enough to feel like you’ve got it all together. You know the stage:

• You’ve hired a new team member but forgot to make a training plan.

• You implemented a new system, but someho...

Paid Time Off (PTO) shouldn’t be a source of guilt for your team or for you as the practice owner. It’s time to shift the mindset from scarcity to strategy. In orthodontics, we often hesitate to fully embrace PTO policies because we’re afraid of coverage gaps, disrupted schedules, or a slowdown in p...

Let’s be really, really, REAL. Working in orthodontics is amazing. The transformations, the smiles, the relationships we build. But it can also be a lot. Whether you’re chairside, at the front desk, managing the team, or running the whole show, the mental load we carry each day is real.

And in 2025...

Attending the AAO (American Association of Orthodontists) annual meeting can be a game-changer. You come back inspired, brimming with ideas, and ready to elevate your practice. But what about the team members who didn’t attend? They may not share the same excitement, and change can often feel overwh...

 As an orthodontic leader, you’ve probably felt the weight of trying to do it all—answering team questions, troubleshooting problems, and making sure everything runs smoothly. But when you’re constantly in the weeds, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, and your team never truly grows.

What is the key to...

Your orthodontic assistants are the backbone of your clinic. They keep things running, ensure patients feel comfortable, and juggle a hundred tasks at once—all while making it look effortless. But the reality is, it’s not effortless. It’s a skill, a craft, and a profession that requires training, su...

Orthodontics has long been an industry driven by precision, innovation, and care, but one of its most powerful and sometimes underappreciated assets is the role of female forces in orthodontics. From clinical excellence to leadership, trailblazing women in orthodontics are shaping the future of orth...

Let’s be honest—leadership in an orthodontic practice isn’t always picture-perfect; in fact, it rarely ever is. Sure, there are those magical days when everything runs smoothly—patients are happy, the schedule flows perfectly, and your team is running like a well-oiled machine. But then there are th...

 As someone who’s been immersed in orthodontics for over two decades, I’ve seen the magic that happens when teams work cohesively. But I’ve also witnessed the frustration and burnout that occur when leaders and team members try to control too much. That’s why the "Let Them" theory resonates so deepl...

Years ago, I picked up Who Moved My Cheese? during one of the busiest and craziest seasons of my life. I had two babies under two, was constantly traveling for work, and barely had time to think, let alone read a book about change. I needed something simple, short, and straight to the point. This li...