Maximizing Profitability with Orthodontic Treatment with Dr. Lou Chmura

Are your aligner treatments really boosting your practice’s profitability, or just creating more headaches? There’s a right and wrong way to approach certain cases, and GPs aren’t necessarily equipped to take them all, despite what most aligner companies like to advertise. In this episode, I sit down with Lou Chmura, founder of Egghead Orthodontics and Ortho Mastery Advisors, and an orthodontic expert with over 35 years of clinical practice experience.  Lou sold his practice in 2022 and now dedicates his time to teaching and consulting, helping dentists and orthodontists incorporate technology for improving patient outcomes. With deep expertise in both orthodontics and general dentistry, Lou possesses a unique POV on integrating orthodontic treatments into a general practice successfully. We chat about a big issue with aligner treatments: the misleading nature of their ads that promise increased production but fail to address the importance of completing cases efficiently.  Additionally, Lou brings up how you can set your aligner cases up for success all the way to completion, which involves thorough diagnosis and proper case staging, from IPR to monitoring techniques. He also shares the hidden costs in aligner treatments and introduces the concept of hybrid cases for more complex scenarios. If you’re ready to maximize your practice’s success with aligners, don't miss Lou's tips on mitigating the challenges you may face. — Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Lou Chmura & how he helps practices with ortho treatments (01:28) Why aligner advertisements misleading (04:59) What does it take to be more efficient with orthodontic treatments? (09:03) What GPs should focus on when setting up orthodontic cases (15:51) Ensuring proper case selection (21:00) Final thoughts & lightning round Q&A with Lou (26:22) — Connect with Dr. Lou Chmurra on Instagram.  — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

Most dental professionals will agree that one of the most frustrating things about accepting insurance is dealing with low reimbursements or the overwhelming credentialing process you have to go through.  And when it comes to collections, surely you’re feeling the pinch. But what if I told you there’s a way to increase your revenue without changing your workload. In this episode, I sit down with Angela Holland, a returning guest and an expert in dental insurance credentialing and fee negotiations. With over 15 years of proven insurance expertise, Angela is on a mission to help practices maximize revenue with no additional work required.  She shares her insights on how outsourcing fee negotiations with Preferred Dental Solutions can unlock new revenue streams for dental practices by optimizing insurance fee schedules and the credentialing process. We also cover: How to negotiate insurance fees from day one. The role of TPAs vs. direct contracting with insurance companies. Why it’s critical to revisit and renegotiate your fee schedules every two years. The essential steps for proper credentialing to avoid revenue loss. If you're ready to make more from your insurance collections and streamline your practice's financials, this episode is for you! Tune in.  — Key Takeaways Introduction (00:00) Meet Angela and her move from billing to insurance credentialing (01:36) Angela explains the credentialing & fee negotiation process (08:41) Choose between TPAs and direct contracts carefully (15:09) Boosting your revenue through insurance fee negotiations (17:47) Final thoughts & lightning round Q&A with Angela (24:39) — Book a free consultation with Angela at Preferred Dental Solutions. — Learn about the upcoming Supercharge Your Dental Practice 2-day event in September here. Use code RAVING to save $100 on registration. — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

Have you noticed the staff at your dental practice a bit tired and unmotivated? Are they working to the point of burnout?  This is an extremely relatable scenario in the healthcare space, but there’s a solution that’s rising in popularity, and it can transform your practice — virtual assistants. In this episode, I sit down with Rebecca Herring, a seasoned dental coach from Transformational Dental Coaching. She’s here to share how offshore virtual assistants (VAs) can be the modern dental practice’s secret weapon when it comes to improving the patient experience, reducing stress for your team, and minimizing overhead. We also chat about: The importance of ongoing training for your front desk team The critical role SOPs play in effective training Strategies for smart revenue cycle management And much more. Ready to make things run more smoothly at your practice and make room for your in-office staff to focus on providing a high-quality, white-glove service to patients? Then, this episode is for you! Tune in.  — Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Rebecca & her approach to dental coaching (02:06) The benefits of using virtual assistants (06:43) The disadvantages of hiring VAs (16:58) Importance of SOPs in ensuring consistency & efficiency (19:52) Effective strategies for revenue cycle management (23:09) Credit card payment fees: who absorbs that cost? (28:11) Lightning round Q&A with Rebecca & how to connect (31:27) — Book a Free Strategy Call with Rebecca at Transformational Dental Coaching:  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Email — Learn about the upcoming Supercharge Your Dental Practice 2-day event in September here. Use code RAVING to save $100 on registration. —     Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

Are you spreading yourself too thin by trying to master everything in your dental practice? Well, let me tell you…it doesn’t lead to long-term success.  In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Cottingham, a dental consultant and CEO of Incito Enterprises, who shares her journey from dental assisting to leading multiple practices. Sarah is here to share how important it is to find “the one thing”  that really brings you joy and brings out the best in you as a dental professional.  Her insights on mindful leadership are a must-listen for any dentist struggling with burnout or looking to elevate their team’s performance and take their practice to the next level. We talk about how crucial it is to avoid being a “super GP” and instead, specialize in what you do best, while referring out tasks that don’t align with your expertise. We also cover essential topics like: Serving yourself first to better serve others The impact of mindful leadership on team dynamics The importance of tracking meaningful metrics to drive your practice's success And much more. If you’re ready to unlock the full potential of your dental practice by focusing on what truly matters? Tune in.  — Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Sarah & how she helps dental practices (01:38) Unlocking success with mindful leadership (04:10) Finding that “one thing” you excel at vs. doing everything (08:15) Inspiring your team to show up as career-minded individuals (16:32) Driving business results by focusing on what’s important to you (20:10) About Sarah’s event “Serving the Servant” (22:02) Lightning round Q&A with Sarah & how to connect (24:02) — Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn and Instagram. — Learn about the upcoming Supercharge Your Dental Practice 2-day event in September here. Use code RAVING to save $100 on registration. — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

Is your dental practice doing the mistake of running on a patchwork of different software solutions? If so, it may be time to consider The Dental App if you’re serious about growth. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Lior Tamir, founder of The Dental App and a successful dental practice owner. Lior shares his unique journey from dentistry to software development and how his frustration with existing tools led him to create a groundbreaking, full dental practice management solution. With a background in both dentistry and technology, Lior’s hard work is now a tool that integrates business processes seamlessly, helping practices grow and operate more efficiently. We go deeper into how The Dental App is revolutionizing dental practice management by consolidating various functions — like patient follow-ups and treatment scheduling — into one streamlined platform. Lior also explains how this innovative tool not only simplifies operations but also drives significant growth for practices. We also cover extra topics like the challenges of switching software, cloud vs. on-premise servers, the importance of patient experience, and more. Ready for an all-in-one solution that will make your practice run smoother and grow faster? Tune in and learn all about The Dental App.  PS. Use code “raving” to get $100 off on The Dental App when you register. — Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Lior Tamir & his start in dentistry (01:23) What leveled up Lior’s dental practice + Yelp reviews (07:31) How The Dental App turned into what it is today (16:14) The challenge behind switching software as a practice owner (24:39) Lightning round Q&A with Lior & how to connect (31:33) — Additional Resources: Find the mentioned book “Unreasonable Hospitality” here. Learn more about The Dental App here.  Connect with Lior on LinkedIn. — Learn about the upcoming Supercharge Your Dental Practice 2-day event in September here. Use code RAVING to save $100 on registration. — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

Is your fee-for-service (FFS) practice struggling to stand out and get new patients? Beyond quality care, there are several things at play when it comes to marketing an FFS practice, and today we uncover the biggest barrier…your team. My guest is Naiara Wireman, a practice development coach at SMC, and she specializes in delivering exceptional patient experiences and developing effective internal marketing strategies.  We dive into the importance of patient experience in fee-for-service practices, highlighting the need for consistent systems that ensure every patient interaction is top-notch. Naiara shares actionable strategies for internal marketing, training staff to communicate your practice's unique value, and why your team’s mentality is crucial in a fee-for-service model. We also discuss innovative marketing approaches, ways to enhance the employee experience, and tips for handling patient calls effectively. Tune in to discover how to elevate your practice and turn satisfied patients into raving fans. PS. If you own a fee-for-service practice or work at one and are looking to grow your raving patients, book a free marketing strategy call with Naiara at SMC. — Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Naiara Wireman & her entry into dentistry (01:45)  New ways to enhance patient experience (05:08) The crucial role of team education in fee-for-service practices (10:21) Enhancing the employee experience in the practice (15:37) Marketing ideas for fee-for-service practices (20:05) Free marketing strategy call offer + lightning round Q&A (28:40) — Connect with Naiara: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected] — Learn about the upcoming Supercharge Your Dental Practice 2-day event in September here. Use code RAVING to save $100 on registration. — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!  

Many dentists shy away from orthodontics due to its complicated and time-consuming nature. But what if there was a simpler way to do it and make up to $1,400 per hour without being an orthodontic specialist? This episode shows you the way. I’m joined by Dr. Dan German, the founder, CEO, and chief orthodontist of orthobrain®, a groundbreaking subscription-based consulting platform that equips general and pediatric dentists to confidently deliver orthodontic care. Dan’s expertise spans interceptive orthodontics, aligner therapy, digital braces placement, and 3D imaging. With a career that includes owning one of the largest orthodontic practices in the country and earning accolades like the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Louisville, Dan clearly knows how to build success in orthodontics. Today, Dan shares how, through orthobrain’s turnkey system and virtual orthodontic team, any GP can provide high-level ortho care, generating greater profits and creating raving fans. We also chat about the unexpected benefits of orthodontics, effective patient communication, and the keys to internal marketing that can turn your existing patients into orthodontic clients. Ready to 10x your profits? Tune in now and discover how orthobrain can make it happen.  — Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Dan German & orthobrain® (01:35)  How adding orthodontics with 10x your profitability (11:13) The unexpected benefits of offering orthodontics (14:38) Choosing between aligners, braces, & expanders, & finding these patients (18:37) Growing beyond your existing patient base & Dan’s final thoughts (23:46) Lightning round Q&A with Dan (27:39) — Connect with Dan at orthobrain®: Website LinkedIn Facebook Instagram — Learn about the upcoming Supercharge Your Dental Practice 2-day event in September here. Use code RAVING to save $100 on registration. — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more at here. This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

Is your dental practice losing revenue despite your best efforts? If so…you might be missing out on several opportunities within your dental practice.  Want to learn how to capitalize on them? This episode is for you. My guest is Sandy Pardue from Classic Practice Resources. Sandy is a renowned keynote speaker, author, and consultant specializing in dental practice management. With over 500 practices served under her belt since 1993, Sandy has earned a reputation as the "systems guru" for her expertise in developing and implementing effective dental office systems. Dentistry Today Magazine has recognized Sandy as a leader in dental consulting speaking every year since 2003 thanks to her entertaining yet practical style, which has inspired countless dental teams to enhance productivity and profitability. She’s joining me today to talk about the 3 R’s of Practice Management — retention, reactivation, and recall — and explain how simple adjustments can lead to significant improvements on your bottom line. Sandy shares her insights on missed opportunities in scheduling patients, the importance of proper phone etiquette, how to balance automation with a personal touch to boost patient retention, and much more. Tune in for practice advice that every dental practice can start implementing today! PS. Interested in getting $100 OFF on Sandy’s Front Desk Pro or Office Management Pro Training Events? Visit Classic Practice Resources and use promo code “Secret Sauce”.  — Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Sandy Pardue & her consulting company, Classic Practice Resources (01:36) Missed opportunities when scheduling patients (04:04) The Rs of practice management (16:28) KPIs to monitor for dental practice efficiency (24:43) Sandy’s offerings through Classic Practice Resources (27:16) Lightning round Q&A with Sandy (30:01) — Connect with Sandy at Classic Practice Resources:  Facebook  Instagram — Learn about the upcoming Supercharge Your Dental Practice 2-day event in September here.  Use code RAVING to save $100 on registration. — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques here. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists.  Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

Shockingly, only 1% of hygienists in the US are using the latest in dental endoscopy tech to bring in more revenue to their dental practices. Today, we’re going to take a deeper look into how dental endoscopy not only double your hygienist’s revenue, but also empower and motivate their work in your practice. I'm joined by Kristen Ranaldo, an experienced dental hygienist and surgical assistant, and Dr. Aziz Bohra, an innovative periodontist and the founder of PerioView, to discuss this game-changing technology and how it can help boost your practice’s income through referrals and treatment acceptance. We start off by going in depth into the advancements and reaches of dental endoscopy in periodontal procedures. Kristen and Dr. Bohra explain how this technology, used in tandem with scaling and root planing or laser-assisted periodontal therapy, leads to better and more predictable results. Additionally, we cover the practical and financial aspects of implementing dental endoscopy, its diagnostic benefits, and how it can keep periodontal treatment in-house. If you’re looking to stay ahead and keep more patients within your walls, be sure to listen to this one!  — Key Takeaways: Meet Kristen Ranaldo and Aziz Bohra (00:00) What is dental endoscopy & how does it help dental practices? (03:12) Implementing dental endoscopy in the practice (08:26) The economics, ROI, and procedures you can do with endoscopy (11:03) Why dental endoscopy has been overlooked (22:45) Lightning Round Q&A With Kristen and Aziz (25:29) — Additional Resources: Learn more about PerioView here. Connect with Kristen on Instagram. Connect with Aziz: [email protected] — Learn about the upcoming Supercharge Your Dental Practice 2-day event in September here. Use code RAVING to save $100 on registration. — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques here. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists.  Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!  

Are you a new dentist feeling overwhelmed and unsure about your career path? Dr. Cole Herzik's journey might be just the inspiration you need. Dr. Herzik, a recent dental school graduate, is already making waves in our industry. As the CEO of the Private Dentist Alliance and founder of the MAN nonprofit, Cole shares his unique approach to finding purpose in dentistry beyond clinical practice. Dr. Herzik's proactive approach to learning and networking led him to perform advanced procedures and speak at conferences within a year of graduation. For Dr. Herzik, mentorship has been a cornerstone of his professional development. He firmly believes that by learning from those who have walked the path before him, he can avoid pitfalls and accelerate his growth. "I want to pick all those people's brains so that I don't have to make as many mistakes or fall into those pitfalls or have those negative things happen to me along the path," he says. He reveals how it all started with a single Facebook friend request and how mentorship and continuous education have shaped his career so far. Dr. Herzik also discusses his ambitious vision for improving dental education as well as the importance of understanding the business side of dentistry. Don't miss this conversation that encourages you to find your "why" in dentistry. Tune in now! — Key Takeaways: Dr. Herzik's journey from dental student to CEO (00:00) Importance of mentorship in dentistry (06:52) Finding your "why" in dentistry (12:55) His extensive CE journey post-graduation (16:43) The Private Dentist Alliance and improving dental education (20:40) Importance of business knowledge for dentists (26:31) Lightning round Q&A with Cole (28:46) — Connect with Dr. Cole Herzik: Instagram Private Dental Alliance The M.A.N Podcast — Learn about the upcoming Supercharge Your Dental Practice 2-day event in September here.   Use code RAVING to save $100 on registration. — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques with Dr. Len Tau.  This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists.  Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!