As a general dentist, time is your most valuable asset. Every procedure you perform has an opportunity cost. Patients will always need procedures such as fillings or simple extractions, but those often demand significant time for relatively low production. You can help offset those low production procedures by adding high producing ones such as dental implants. But while dental implants give you a better return on your time, they still tie you directly to the chair.
This is where orthodontics, especially clear aligner therapy, really shines. This service is unique as it is a high value service that doesn’t demand the doctor to be chairside much of the time. It provides practitioners the opportunity to scale their practice by leveraging the power of digital technology and delegating to team members.
Clear aligner therapy can transform your practice’s profitability and scalability. There are many practical strategies, including treatment planning, remote monitoring, and delegation, and new platforms such as CandidPro can be instrumental in effectively leveraging these approaches.
The shift to low-time, high-production dentistry
The journey to a more scalable and profitable practice begins with knowing where your time is best spent. Clear aligner therapy offers a paradigm shift. By integrating clear aligners into your practice, you can:
- Generate high hourly production per case: When you analyze the efficiency and profitability of an orthodontic case, you should analyze the case fee compared to the number of appointments, cost per appointment, total chair time, and total doctor time.
- Leverage delegation: Many tasks in clear aligner therapy, from patient education to attachment placement, can be delegated to trained team members.
- Reduce chair time: Unlike restorative dentistry or surgical procedures, aligner therapy often involves shorter, less frequent appointments, allowing you to treat more patients without the physical demands of restorative dentistry.
- Increase patient satisfaction: People are busier than ever. By offering an orthodontic solution that requires fewer visits to the office, you’re able to help more people fit a straighter smile into their lives.
3 scaling strategies for clear aligner success
1. Standardize records and treatment planning: One of the most critical components of a successful clear aligner practice is a consistent and efficient workup process. This includes:
- Comprehensive diagnostics: You can gather the needed records efficiently and accurately by using intraoral scanners, digital photography, and digital radiography.
- Clear treatment plans: You can develop predictable, efficient treatment plans that minimize the need for midcourse corrections. A note about the CandidPro system: a US-based, licensed orthodontist reviews each case before it’s submitted for approval. This can greatly reduce your time reviewing and revising case workups.
- Patient education: You’ll be able to provide visual aids and detailed explanations to increase case acceptance.
- Digital documentation: You’ll organize patient records in an efficient system to track progress and avoid miscommunications.
By standardizing these steps, you’ll ensure a smooth onboarding process for every patient, which reduces inefficiencies and sets the stage for scalable growth.
2. Incorporate remote monitoring: Remote monitoring tools are game changers for scaling clear aligner therapy. In my experience, this technology has had the greatest impact on my ability to take on more cases in an efficient, low stress manner. By leveraging platforms that allow patients to submit progress photos and scans from home, you will:
- Reduce in-office visits: This frees up your chair time for other high-production cases and allows more time for consults and case starts.
- Enhance patient compliance: Frequent remote check-ins encourage patients to stay on track with their aligners.
- Expand your reach: You can serve patients who may have challenges attending frequent in-office visits, such as those who live far away or have busy schedules.
- Increase efficiency: You can address minor issues remotely rather than scheduling unnecessary in-person visits.
3. Delegate to elevate: One of the most scalable aspects of clear aligner therapy is the ability to delegate. With proper training, your team can handle tasks such as taking intraoral scans, placing attachments, providing oral hygiene and tray wear instructions, and managing patient check-ins and progress updates.
Why I switched to CandidPro
- Streamlined workflows: CandidPro simplifies the treatment planning process, ensuring consistency and efficiency from start to finish. I rarely need to tweak the workups I get back from their orthodontists.
- Remote monitoring integration: I’ve used remote monitoring for years. But it was always a third-party software and consistent use and integration was cumbersome. CandidPro is the first service I’ve used where it’s already automatically part of the platform.
- Scalable support: By partnering with CandidPro, I’ve been able to delegate more effectively and leverage their support team for case management, allowing my team to focus on delivering exceptional care. I love that patients can contact a CandidPro support line directly instead of having to call our office. This almost acts like an extra front office team member at no cost to us.
- Predictable outcomes: With CandidPro’s advanced technology, I can confidently deliver high-quality results, which translates to happy patients and increased referrals. My refinement rate is about half that of other companies I used in the past.
- Cost-effective and profitable: The CandidPro support system allows me to treat more patients while optimizing my time, making clear aligners one of the most profitable services in my practice. It also allows me to offer aligners at a competitive rate, making care more accessible to my patients, while I remain profitable.
The clear path to growth
Clear aligner therapy represents a powerful opportunity for general dentists to transition from time-intensive, low-production procedures to a scalable, high-profit model. By focusing on standardized workups, embracing remote monitoring, and leveraging your team’s skills, you can grow your practice while freeing up your valuable time. Platforms such as CandidPro make it easier than ever to implement these strategies, and it provides the tools and support you need to succeed.
If you’ve hesitated to dive into clear aligner therapy or are looking for ways to scale your existing systems, now is the time to act. With the right approach, clear aligner therapy can transform not just your practice’s profitability, but also your quality of life and your team’s enjoyment at the office.
Editor's note: This article appeared in the May 2025 print edition of Dental Economics magazine. Dentists in North America are eligible for a complimentary print subscription. Sign up here.
