The Golden Age of Orthodontics: Already Ended or Just Beginning?

Let me give you a few examples from my own practice over the years. When I began my career, there was no orthodontic insurance. When it became more widespread, I was one of the last to accept it as partial payment. It was a philosophical decision, because I believed the relationship should be between the patient and the insurance company. As more and more orthodontists began accepting insurance and my practice growth leveled off, however, I had to reevaluate my position. During the gas and housing crisis in the early 1980s, I also reevaluated my financial arrangements; I no longer required a 25% down payment to get treatment started.

At any point, I could have thrown up my hands, lamenting the changes in our industry. Instead, I made adjustments to adapt to the changing business environment. Sometimes they were painful. But in the end, they worked out, and I learned something: whether I liked the change or not, I had to adapt to survive.

Change is happening again. And as I said, it is coming at a much faster pace than ever before.

10 Things to Do Today

In light of the rapidly changing business climate, our clients often ask, “What would you do?” I believe we can adjust the way we run our practices without compromising our principles and can continue to serve our patients well.

3. Be more transparent. I’d give people all the information they need to make a decision at the first visit. Most people want to know how long, how much, and which appliances are appropriate. If I really weren’t sure, I’d give them my best approximation and take records. Nowadays, for many families, time is as valuable or even more valuable than money. Don’t waste their time just because you think bringing them back three times before starting treatment will raise your conversion rate. It doesn’t. It just annoys people.

4. Speak their language. If I were practicing today, I would adapt my communication and treatment to appeal to “digital natives.” Give patients the ability to take a few photos of their teeth and send those in as an initial contact tool. (By the way, this does not replace the records and consultation; it merely offers another way of attracting new patients who are curious about whether they would be aligner candidates, for example. Think of it as your conversation starter.)

5. Learn to treat more with plastic. I’d take courses with experienced clear aligner clinicians and learn to treat more cases, without compromising the results I could achieve with plastic. I’d learn how to convert more aligner cases by performing hybrid treatment. Aligner companies spend more than $300 million a year in advertising; you can piggyback on that awareness.

6. Embrace technology. It may seem like science fiction, but it’s not. Artificial intelligence (AI) is being embedded in almost every new piece of software. I’d begin by learning more about the new AI tools that enable fewer visits with enhanced orthodontic oversight and improved patient communication. I would explore digital printers as a way to lower overhead costs, making simple cases less expensive. Look into remote monitoring platforms that will allow you to manage treatment virtually. Again, time is valuable—for both your patients and your practice.

10. Lean into DTC. I’d be looking for opportunities to discuss DTC aligners with my patients at every opportunity. My staff would be well trained on this topic. I’d also make sure I had content on my website addressing DTC options, and I’d have a stack of the AAO consumer alert flyers (www.aaoinfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/AAO-Consumer-Alert-DIY-2019-flier-hl.pdf) to hand out whenever the topic was raised. I would not shy away from the conversation; I would lean right into it. I’d make sure the people in my community really knew the value of seeing an orthodontic specialist. My messaging would promote the benefits of taking x-rays before initiating tooth movement. I’d make sure they knew why I require that they be periodically evaluated during orthodontic treatment, instead of just giving them all the aligners without any monitoring. Don’t assume people know this already.

How many times have you heard people refer to their general dentists as being orthodontists because they offer aligners? Don’t blame them. You may be surprised to learn that many prospective new patients in your local community don’t know as much as you think about orthodontics. It’s up to us to educate the public on why orthodontists are specialists.

Conclusion

I believe the decision as to whether we are leaving or entering the Golden Age is really a choice that is entirely up to each individual orthodontist. This is what I would do; the more important question is what will you do?