Ortho Tribune

A plan B for tough times

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:26:59 +0100

Remember when being a good orthodontist was enough? You could hang a sign and the patients would find you. The game has certainly changed, and the clinicians who are thriving have implemented a plan B to aggressively recruit new patients. These orthodontists are not only surviving, they are thriving.

What a year it’s been for ’09 practice makeover winner

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:16:08 +0100

When Dr. Brian Hardy of Hardy Orthodontics won the 2009 Levin Group Total Ortho Success Practice Makeover, he wasn’t sure exactly what he’d be able to accomplish. What he experienced by year’s end went far beyond his expectations. Let us review Dr. Hardy’s case file for 2009:

Specializing, sub-specializing and integrating

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:04:47 +0100

Well, another year has come and gone, but it will not be forgotten. Our country is climbing out of a recession the likes of which has never been encountered at any one moment in time, and on so many fronts. We were hit with a wake-up call, facing one new issue after another, from global warming to the downward spiraling economy and stock market, to the energy and gas crisis, to the decline and freezing of the housing market, and now to the rise in unemployment.

Motivating employees in a tough economy

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:58:20 +0100

Times are tight and so are orthodontic budgets. Staff raises were low or non-existent last year. Bonuses that employees have always looked forward to were not given. Employees are downcast, and some are outright angry. The work still needs to be done, and productivity has decreased. So what can you do as their boss to get them motivated again?

Polishing up your orthodontic finish

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:14:04 +0100

The Axis Orthodontic Adhesive Removal Set (featuring a series of three polishing devices) was designed to both effectively and efficiently remove adhesives and cements after the completion of orthodontic treatment and to produce a smooth final enamel finish.

New bracket design available

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:58:01 +0100

The Forestadent 2-D lingual bracket system has now been extended to include MiniAnts with a reduced width. According to Forestadent, problems of space will soon be a thing of the past with the MiniAnts, a new bracket design incorporated in the Forestadent 2-D lingual bracket system.

San Rafael, Calif., orthodontist wins second Levin Group Ortho Practice Makeover

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:45:43 +0100

Levin Group has selected the winner of the second Levin Group Total Ortho Success Practice Makeover. Dr. Michelle Gonzalez of San Rafael, Calif., has been chosen to receive free, one-year management and marketing consulting programs from Levin Group, one of the country’s leading dental consulting firms.

Invisalign Assist now offers expanded capabilities

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:21:43 +0100

Align Technology has introduced new and improved features for Invisalign Assist, expanding its capabilities and giving orthodontists the confidence and control necessary to treat a wider range of patients.

Are children receiving prompt cleft lip/palate treatment?

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:06:08 +0100

The timely repair of orofacial cleft (OFC) can greatly improve a child’s medical and psychosocial well-being. The American Cleft Palate–Craniofacial Association (ACPA) has set forth guidelines for the optimal time by which primary repair surgery should be received, broken down by type of OFC.

Axis introduces Orthodontic Adhesive Removal Kit

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:48:43 +0100

The Axis Orthodontic Adhesive Removal Kit features a series of three devices designed to efficiently remove residual adhesive after orthodontic appliance removal and to provide a smooth final enamel surface.

New Invisalign features help deliver outcomes doctors expect for extrusions, rotations and root movements

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:30:49 +0100

Align Technology has introduced innovative new features to the Invisalign product line that are designed to improve extrusions, rotations and root movements. Optimized Attachments, Power Ridges and Velocity Optimization help provide greater control and precision for specific tooth movements across a broader range of patients.

Facing the facts — dental CBCT and medical CT scans

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:18:01 +0100

Before a practitioner performs surgery, he/she should be equipped with up-to-date knowledge regarding the possible conditions located under soft tissue within the oral cavity.

OT Study Club explores periodontal health

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Recent literature indicates that small but significant overall periodontal liability occurs with fixed appliances during orthodontic treatment. However, studies also point out these problems can be overcome almost completely with the use of established preventative dentistry measures employed before, during and after treatment.

The TRAINER System in the context of treating malocclusions: Part 3 of 3

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Another effect reported with the TRAINER System Appliances is transverse development of the dental arches. All the Frankel-like appliances, which have a buccal shield in their structure, move the cheeks away from the buccal aspect of the upper and lower posterior teeth. This action produces two effects on the craniomandibular system (CMS).

The important role of myofunctional forces: Toward a new definition of Malocclusion

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Coral Springs, Fla.: Leading authorities on the role of myofunctional forces for correcting malocclusion, such as the Australian expert Dr. Chris Farrell and Germán Ramírez-Yáñez from the University of Manitoba (Canada), held a two-day conference here attended by about 50 orthodontists.

Make shoppers stop shopping

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:21:13 +0100

More than most dental specialties, orthodontics has always had shoppers. However, the down economy has made people even more sensitive to price. As a result, people are shopping around for the lowest fee more than ever. To turn ortho shoppers into starts, orthodontists must recognize that effective case presentation is essential to building patient trust.

Analyzing the modus operandi of the TRAINER System Appliances: Part 2 of 3

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:03:06 +0100

As suggested by the name, the appliances of the TRAINER System just train or exercise the muscles at the craniomandibular system (CMS) to physiologically load the bones, stimulating growth and development in the structure composing the CMS. Through development of the maxilla, the mandible and the dental arches, as well as by re-educating tongue posture, the teeth tend to position better and align correctly.

A new year and a new mission

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:42:14 +0100

As we approach the New Year, it’s important to take the time to evaluate where you currently are as a business, where you want to be as a business and how you plan on achieving these goals. In order for your orthodontic practice to be successful, you have to have a clear mission that informs the general public about why it would be beneficial to do business with you. Having a mission statement is essential, as it will represent your vision of how you would like to be seen by your patients.

Orthodontic education needs ‘fresh young blood’

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:30:46 +0100

Orthodontic education may be in a state of flux with a daunting outlook for the future. Recruitment, retention and increased faculty vacancies of full-time, board-certified faculty members in postgraduate orthodontic programs are issues of critical importance when perceived through the lens of educational leadership and social justice.

Dr. Hardy’s referral marketing creates record number of starts

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:18:30 +0100

Dr. Brian Hardy has much to be happy about — he recently set a record for the most starts ever in a single month since he opened his practice nearly three years ago. Production is up 33 percent for the calendar year and was up 63 percent for the summer months. All of the practice’s efforts are paying off with impressive dividends.