The OrthoDentistry Today Podcast, sponsored by Orthobrain

Welcome to the Orthodentistry Today podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Dan German, an orthodontist on a mission to help general dentists confidently bring orthodontics into any practice model, from solo offices to enterprise level organizations. Orthodentistry is the future of comprehensive care where general dentistry and orthodontics collaborate. Get ready for expert insights, real world strategies and powerful innovations to drive excellence, predictability and profitability in your practice.

The OrthoDentistry Today Podcast, sponsored by Orthobrain is a education podcast hosted by orthobrain, with 9 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

orthobrain hosts The OrthoDentistry Today Podcast, sponsored by Orthobrain, a education show with 9 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #10

  Braces, Aligners & Confidence in the Chair | Dr. Maria Jackson | Deep Dives with Dr. Dan

  Sep 14, 202643 min

  1. Episode Summary What do a golf scholarship, a fourth-generation dental legacy, and a global pandemic have in common? They all shaped one of the most energetic dentists you'll meet. In this episode of Deep Dives with Dr. Dan, host Dr. Dan sits down with Dr. Maria Jackson — the only female dentist in a family full of them, a former University of Kansas golfer, and a practice owner who built her office in 2019 only to watch the world shut down while it was still under construction. Ten years into her career, Maria brings a rare mix of clinical confidence and refreshing honesty about the highs, the lows, and everything nobody warns you about in dental school. If you've ever felt alone in your operatory, overwhelmed by the business side, or unsure whether to start offering ortho, this conversation is your permission slip to begin. Maria breaks down why continuing education (like a GPR and her Academy of General Dentistry fellowship) changed her career, how the mental game of golf keeps her calm in the chair, why "ortho your way" beats a one-size-fits-all approach, and how to protect your body and your peace of mind for the long haul. It's practical, it's punchy, and it just might change how you show up to work tomorrow. 2. Key Takeaways Dental school teaches the basics — continuing education teaches the reality. A GPR and her Academy of General Dentistry path gave Maria the surgical confidence and hands-on comfort to handle worst-case scenarios solo in private practice. The golf mindset is the dentist mindset. Stay levelheaded, don't let your emotions run the round, and accept that perfection isn't the goal. As the books put it: "swing hard" and "take dead aim." Career longevity is built on self-care. Pilates, yoga, cardio, good ergonomics (thank you, loops), and regular massage or chiro work keep you in the chair for decades. Start small and make it routine. "Ortho your way" — there's no wrong answer. Match braces or aligners to the patient's lifestyle and compliance, not the other way around. Not choosing aligners isn't "failing." GPs can and should keep ortho in-house. Patients trust you and don't want to be referred out. Lean on a support system (Maria uses orthobrain®) and never be too proud to ask questions. Draw a hard line between clinical and business. Empower a great office manager, protect your headspace, and remember the "Q-tip": Quit Taking It Personally. 3. Quote of the Week "You'll never regret starting. You'll be mad that you waited so long to start." — Dr. Maria Jackson (00:22:56) 4. Resources Mentioned orthobrain® — ortho support system and podcast sponsor Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) — fellowship and mastership education path Academy of GP Ortho — Texas event where Maria is speaking Orthodentistry Growth Summit — conference Maria attended in Cleveland (and is speaking at again) Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — Cleveland landmark visited during the Growth Summit University of Kansas (KU) — Maria's undergrad (attended on a golf scholarship) UMKC — Maria's dental school Tiger Woods — referenced on the evolution of golf fitness and technology Books referenced by Dr. Dan: Tiger Trait It's Not a Game of Perfect Harvey Penick's Little Red Book and Little Green Book — source of the "swing hard" and "take dead aim" lessons 5. Chapters 00:00:02 — Welcome to Deep Dives with Dr. Dan 00:01:08 — Meet Dr. Maria Jackson: Fourth-Generation Dentist 00:02:04 — From Golf Scholarship to Dental School 00:03:04 — Why a GPR Was a Game-Changer 00:05:19 — The Academy of General Dentistry & Family Rivalry 00:06:14 — Who's the Best Dentist in the Family? 00:09:44 — Golf Lessons That Build Better Dentists 00:14:19 — Books, Perfectionism & "Take Dead Aim" 00:16:59 — Staying Healthy: Fitness, Ergonomics & Self-Care 00:19:15 — How to Actually Start (Keep It Realistic) 00:23:10 — Speaking, Teaching & Identifying Patient Types 00:25:30 — Braces vs. Aligners: "Ortho Your Way" 00:29:10 — Getting Started With Ortho as a Young Dentist 00:32:32 — The Growth Summit & the Power of In-Person Learning 00:35:28 — Advice to Her Younger Self 00:37:51 — The Business Side of Dentistry 00:39:22 — What Makes Her Parents Most Proud 00:40:33 — Closing Thoughts & Sign-Off 6. Call to Action Loved this one? Don't keep it to yourself. Subscribe to Deep Dives with Dr. Dan so you never miss an episode, leave a review to help more dentists find the show, and share it with a colleague or your team who needs the nudge to just start. Until next time — keep diving deeper.

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  Episode #9

  Dental Done Differently — Inside Tend's Model with CDO Dr. Chris Salerno | Deep Dives with Dr. Dan

  Aug 24, 202654 min

  1. Episode Summary Some dentists spend a career perfecting one thing. Dr. Chris Salerno collected hats instead — clinician, national speaker, chief editor of Dental Economics, ADA committee chair, and now Chief Dental Officer at Tend. But here's the twist: none of it was planned. In this episode of Deep Dives with Dr. Dan, Chris pulls back the curtain on a career built one curious step at a time, and hands over the exact take-home lessons from each chapter — how he found lecture traction in a "sub-sub-niche," why showing his "C+ cases" made audiences lean in, and how "emotional deposits before emotional withdrawals" turned networking into opportunity. If you've ever felt your practice trying to be everything to everyone, this conversation is your permission slip to focus. Chris breaks down the frameworks he actually uses: Osterwalder's Business Model Canvas for defining who you serve, his own "Three Ps" (Pay, Praise, Promote) for turning culture off the wall and into behavior, and Tend's "Three Es" (Excellence, Efficiency, Experience) for hiring the right people. Whether you're a new grad, a practice owner, or an enterprise leader, you'll walk away with a clearer business model, a sharper leadership lens, and the single best question to ask before you ever sign on with a new employer. 2. Key Takeaways Niche down to stand out. Lecturing on broad topics is a "red ocean." Chris built momentum in a sub-sub-niche (implant complications) — and by openly showing his imperfect "C+ cases," which made him more compelling, not less. Network by giving first. Powerful networking means working the exhibit floor as hard as the lectures, meeting as many people as you can, and making "emotional deposits before emotional withdrawals" — not just asking for favors. Enterprise leadership is a different sport. Running one great practice you touch daily doesn't automatically translate to multi-site leadership. Scaling requires buy-in, feedback loops, and bottom-up leadership — not just top-down emails. Nail your business model first. Get clear on your target demographic and unique value proposition (Osterwalder's framework). Stop trying to be everything to everyone and be something special to a target few. Turn culture into action with the Three Ps. Pretty words on a wall aren't culture. How you Pay, Praise (and critique), and Promote (or terminate) is what actually shapes the environment your team lives in. Interview your interviewer. You're evaluating each other. Be a little bold and ask a prospective employer about their business model — who they serve and how — to find out if it's truly the right fit. 3. Quote of the Week "Stop trying to be everything to everyone and be something really special to a target few." — Dr. Chris Salerno (00:20:13) 4. Resources Mentioned Business Model Generation — book by Alexander Osterwalder (2010) on building a business model from the ground up. Business Model Canvas (Osterwalder) — a free framework; searchable on Google and available in-depth on YouTube. Harvard Business Review (hbr.org) — roughly $20 an issue with access to a large online catalog; case studies on leadership, culture, and business. The Netflix Culture Deck — the well-known culture slide deck (15+ years old), available online, including its Enron value-statement cautionary tale. Simon Sinek — leadership content referenced by the host on confident vulnerability. The Curious Dentist — Dr. Chris's blog, launched around 2009–2010. Dental Economics — the publication where Chris served as chief editor for seven years. ASDA (American Student Dental Association) and the ADA (American Dental Association) — organizations central to Chris's early involvement and leadership development. Tend — the dental company where Chris serves as Chief Dental Officer ("dental done differently"). Net Promoter Score (NPS) — the customer-experience metric Tend uses in training and role-play. OrthoBrain / OrthoBrain University — the podcast's sponsor. Orthodentistry Growth Summit (this October) — event where Chris is slated to speak on business-model frameworks. AAO Annual Meeting (American Association of Orthodontists) — referenced re: the long-running "Prioritize Your Ps for Practice Prosperity" course. 5. Chapters with Timestamps 00:00:02 — Welcome & Meet Dr. Chris Salerno 00:02:00 — A Career of Many Hats (and Why It Was Never the Plan) 00:04:16 — The Curious Dentist: Curiosity as Fuel 00:05:51 — Finding a Niche & the Power of Showing Your "C+ Cases" 00:08:46 — Networking, Writing & Editing Dental Economics 00:10:20 — From Top Producer to Enterprise Leader at Tend 00:14:08 — Confident Vulnerability in Leadership 00:19:05 — Building a Business Model: Osterwalder, HBR & Ruthless Focus 00:26:07 — Culture That Sticks: Mission, Vision & the Three Ps 00:35:52 — Inside Tend: "Dental Done Differently" & the Three Es 00:44:28 — The Smartest Question to Ask a Future Employer 00:47:36 — Best Questions, Vulnerable Confessions & Making Parents Proud 00:52:11 — Closing Thoughts 6. Call to Action Loved this one? Don't miss the next dive. Subscribe to Deep Dives with Dr. Dan so you never miss an episode — and if something here resonated, share it with a colleague or your whole team and leave us a review. Until next time, let's keep diving deeper.

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  Episode #8

  Why Dentistry's Silent Crisis Demands Better Leaders — J.M. Ryerson | Deep Dives with Dr. Dan

  Aug 10, 202645 min

  1. Episode Summary Dentistry has the highest suicide rate of any occupation in the country — a staggering, sobering fact that reframes this entire conversation. In this deeply personal episode of Deep Dives with Dr. Dan, powered by orthobrain®, host Dr. Dan sits down with J.M. Ryerson, founder of Let's Go Win, whose path into the dental world began with unimaginable loss: the suicide of his father. What follows isn't your typical "grow your practice" pep talk. It's a raw, honest look at why so many high-achieving doctors are quietly falling apart behind picture-perfect practices — and what it actually takes to lead, and live, from a place of strength. If you've ever felt the pressure of wearing every hat, the loneliness of being "the one who has to do it," or the addictive pull of go-go-go with no off switch, this one's for you. J.M. and Dr. Dan trade hard-won lessons on leadership, delegation, mentorship, and the burnout that hides in plain sight — plus the practical daily and quarterly habits that keep them grounded. You'll walk away with a permission slip most doctors never get: it's okay to not be okay, and there's a better way to build a practice without breaking yourself in the process. 2. Key Takeaways Mental health is the missing conversation in dentistry. With the profession carrying the highest suicide rate of any occupation, J.M. makes the case that thriving as a doctor starts with how you're doing holistically — not just how your practice performs. His message: "It's okay if you're not okay." Perfection is the enemy of greatness. The same straight-A perfectionism that makes doctors great clinicians can sabotage them as leaders. You'll fail, you'll scrape your knees — that's the only way you grow. Delegation isn't enough — empowerment is the unlock. Handing off tasks while micromanaging caps your growth. Truly trusting your team (and being okay when they don't do it "your way") is where freedom lives: "It's amazing what can get accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit." Great leaders drop the ego and ask for feedback. Telling your team "I'm working to be a better leader — help me" accelerates growth faster than any course. The ego is the downfall. Success on the outside can mask a crisis on the inside. Watch for the warning signs — constant negativity, no excitement to go to work, and the five people you surround yourself with (they either lift you up or bring you down). Grounding habits tame the drive. J.M.'s antidote to adrenaline addiction: a daily 40 minutes of "sacred time" (breathwork, meditation, yoga, qigong), a quarterly 2–3 day tech detox, and daily journaling to "brain dump" — because every "I have to" is really a choice. 3. Quote of the Week "It's okay if you're not okay." — J.M. Ryerson (05:16) 4. Resources Mentioned Let's Go Win — J.M. Ryerson's company and his book, Let's Go Win: The Keys to Living Your Best Life, originally written for his two sons. Ray Dalio — cited as the source of the "radical transparency" leadership philosophy. Henry Ford — referenced for the "whether you think you can or you can't, you're right" mindset. Ben Johns — mentioned as the top pickleball pro (used as an analogy for skill-building through practice). orthobrain® — the show's presenting partner. Grounding practices referenced: breathwork, meditation, yoga, and qigong ("40 minutes of sacred time"); daily journaling / brain dumps; and quarterly 2–3 day technology detoxes. 5. Chapters with Timestamps 00:00:02 — Welcome & Meet J.M. Ryerson 00:02:03 — The Book He Wrote for His Sons 00:03:51 — Losing His Dad & Dentistry's Silent Crisis 00:06:33 — Is Leadership Really Lonely at the Top? 00:09:07 — Why Dentists Are Never Taught to Lead 00:11:56 — Leadership Is a People Business 00:14:46 — Perfectionism, Ego & the Power of Feedback 00:17:30 — Delegation vs. True Empowerment 00:21:23 — Reciprocal Mentorship: Senior Meets Junior Docs 00:23:42 — Successful on the Outside, Empty on the Inside 00:27:51 — How Your Team Can Spot Burnout 00:30:23 — The Adrenaline Trap (Dr. Dan's Story) 00:34:56 — 40 Minutes of Sacred Time 00:36:55 — Victor, Not Victim: Everything Is a Choice 00:38:23 — Journaling: The Secret to Peace 00:40:37 — What Makes His Mom Proud & Sign-Off 6. Call to Action Loved this conversation? Don't keep it to yourself. Subscribe to Deep Dives with Dr. Dan so you never miss an episode, leave a review to help more practice owners find the show, and share this one with a colleague or your team — especially anyone who might need the reminder that it's okay to not be okay. Until next time, let's keep diving deeper.

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  Episode #7

  Train the Team, Grow the Practice: Ortho-First + Whitening with Dental Assistants | Shannon Pace Brinker

  May 25, 202634 minS0

  <p>In this episode of the Orthodentistry™ Today podcast, host Dr. Dan German welcomes Shannon Pace Brinker, a passionate advocate for dental assistants and a successful teeth whitening business owner. Shannon shares her journey from being a traditional dental assistant to becoming a champion for team education in dental practices. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration between general dentists and orthodontists, highlighting how a well-educated team can significantly enhance patient care and treatment acceptance. Shannon's insights on the integration of orthodontics and whitening as foundational steps in restorative dentistry provide a fresh perspective on patient management and treatment planning.</p> <p>...

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  Episode #6

  40 Ortho Starts in Year 1: A New Dentist’s Playbook for Ortho, Tech & Trust | Dr. Deanna Skowronski

  May 11, 202636 minS0

  <p>In this episode of the Orthodentistry™ Today podcast, Dr. Dan German interviews Dr. Deanna Skowronski, a passionate young orthodontist who has successfully integrated orthodontics into her family dental practice just a year after graduating from dental school. Deanna shares her journey, highlighting her early exposure to dentistry through her family and her determination to succeed despite facing challenges in getting into dental school. She emphasizes the importance of building relationships with patients and the problem-solving aspect of dentistry, which fuels her passion for the profession.</p> <p>Throughout the conversation, Deanna discusses her approach to orthodontics, including the significance of...

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