Team culture can make or break an orthodontic practice. Practice Manager Laura Wilde opens up about what truly keeps teams thriving. From defining team values and reinforcing them relentlessly to rethinking orthodontic hiring with working interviews, Laura delivers real strategies. She tackles staff retention, toxic team members, and why transparent employee motivation through bonuses and shared production goals changes everything. If you lead a team, this conversation will shift how you show up every single day.

What You’ll Learn In This Episode:

• Defining and consistently revisiting team values at monthly meetings and morning huddles creates a culture of accountability and keeps orthodontic practice management focused on what matters most.
• Why orthodontic hiring should include a working interview where candidates spend half a day with your team, revealing the soft skills no resume or traditional interview can uncover.
• How sharing production numbers openly with your whole team strengthens employee motivation, builds trust, and connects every role, including back-office assistants, to the practice's shared goals.

Ready to transform your practice? Tune in to Practice Talk for expert insights and actionable strategies to elevate your orthodontic practice management. Subscribe now and never miss an episode at Practice Talk, where your voice has value, and your success is our priority!

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction to team culture and Laura Wilde's role and thoughts about orthodontic practice management

07:55 Building team values: why nine core values outperform a single mission statement

13:18 Scheduling around the doctor's personality to elevate patient experience and grow the practice

17:29 Orthodontic hiring strategies: phone screens, in-person interviews, and working interviews

23:25 What do you do when an employee is not working out

29:10 Bonuses and why sharing production numbers with the whole team reduces entitlement and builds employee motivation

35:34 Shifting your practice management mindset: a manager's real job is solving problems, not avoiding them

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Toxic team members act like a cancer on team culture: the longer you wait to act, the more damage spreads to your strongest employees and your entire orthodontic practice management structure.
• Positive reinforcement must outweigh correction by at least five to one. Even managers committed to employee motivation often underestimate how much consistent, specific praise is needed to help staff feel genuinely valued.
• The working interview is the most powerful tool in orthodontic hiring: candidates who thrive will grab instruments and jump in. At the same time, poor fits reveal themselves within minutes, protecting your team's values before they are ever threatened.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

People + Practice - Website

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Orthodontic technology is transforming how practices deliver care. In this episode of Practice Talk, host Lacie Ellis interviews Rebecka Escamilla, lead clinical assistant at WRO, about implementing digital workflow systems while maintaining a human touch. Rebecka shares insights on Grin technology, patient workflow optimization, and team communication strategies that keep the practice running efficiently. Learn how cross-training, clear emergency protocols, and strong clinical leadership create a positive office culture where staff thrive, and patients receive exceptional care through both digital scanners and personal connection.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. How to integrate Grin technology into your patient workflow from initial consultation through remote monitoring of aligner patients and braces cases
2. Strategies for managing doctor time effectively through clinical leadership, morning huddles, and coordinating with your treatment coordinator
3. Best practices for cross-training team members and fostering positive team communication to handle emergency protocols seamlessly
4. Methods for community outreach and educating potential patients about orthodontic technology that differentiates your practice

Ready to transform your practice? Tune in to Practice Talk for expert insights and actionable strategies to elevate your orthodontic practice management. Subscribe now and never miss an episode at Practice Talk, where your voice has value, and your success is our priority!

TIMESTAMPS:

1. 00:00 Rebecka shares patient workflow and her role as lead clinical assistant and Grin technology signup
2. 05:32 Rebecka discusses back office functions and scheduling strategies
3. 08:31 Clinical leadership approach: staying on time, empowering team members, and managing employee relationships
4. 12:09 Handling emergency protocols with remote monitoring through photos, scans, and triage systems
5. 15:14 Doctor time management strategies using morning meetings and treatment coordinator communication
6. 24:28 Community outreach tactics: events, QR codes for Grin, and educating patients about orthodontic technology benefits

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Grin technology enables remote monitoring of patients, reducing unnecessary office visits while maintaining quality care through digital scanners and virtual communication for aligner patients.
2. Strong clinical leadership combined with cross-training creates a resilient team capable of managing emergency protocols, optimizing patient workflow, and maintaining excellent team communication.
3. Clear expectations, accountability, and open dialogue foster a positive office culture that enhances patient relationships and improves practice efficiency across all departments.

Virtual orthodontic exams are transforming how practices connect with patients. Host Lacie Ellis explores this innovation with remote treatment coordinator Kelly Smith. In this episode of Practice Talk, Kelly shares how Trotter Orthodontics successfully implemented Grin technology to offer convenient teleorthodontics options alongside traditional in-office visits. With 11 years of experience as a treatment coordinator, Kelly explains the complete digital orthodontic workflow—from initial patient communication through the Grin app to scheduling records appointments. She reveals that offering virtual consultations has reduced new-patient wait times from 6-8 weeks to 3-4 weeks while maintaining the personal touch that builds trust and ensures excellent patient experience.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. How to implement a seamless virtual orthodontic exam process using dental monitoring apps like Grin, including welcoming messages, scan instructions, and personalized video consultations from the orthodontist.
2. Strategies for maintaining strong patient communication and building trust through remote orthodontic care, including animated messages and timely responses to keep patients engaged throughout the virtual process.
3. How to position teleorthodontics as a convenience option for busy families, rural patients, and observation recalls while still offering traditional in-office exams for those who prefer a personal connection.
4. Best practices for working as a remote treatment coordinator, including staying connected with the practice team through staff meetings, group chats, and maintaining communication flow while managing virtual consultations and patient testimonials for marketing.

Ready to transform your practice? Tune in to Practice Talk for expert insights and actionable strategies to elevate your orthodontic practice management. Subscribe now and never miss an episode at Practice Talk, where your voice has value, and your success is our priority!

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Intro: Meet Kelly Smith, remote treatment coordinator

02:30 Grin technology, the new patient exam workflow and how the office presents virtual consultation options

09:21 Treatment plan delivery via teleorthodontics, followed by phone communication to discuss contracts, insurance, and next steps

15:55 Offering dual exam options and when to recommend virtual orthodontic exams versus in-office visits

21:02 Age considerations for remote orthodontic care: why 7-11-year-old patients are ideal candidates for virtual consultations

24:47 Building connection through digital orthodontic workflow: strategies for personalized communication techniques throughout the patient experience

33:48 Staying connected as a remote treatment coordinator: maintaining communication flow to stay integrated with the orthodontic practice team

37:21 Marketing virtual orthodontic exams: utilizing testimonials, lunch with referring offices, and patient word-of-mouth to educate the benefits of Grin technology

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Virtual orthodontic exams with Grin technology can reduce new patient wait times by 50% (from 6-8 weeks to 3-4 weeks) while maintaining the personal connection that drives patient experience and treatment acceptance through personalized videos and consistent patient communication.
2. Successful remote treatment coordination requires intentional strategies, including personalized messaging with emojis, frequent updates through the dental monitoring app, and orthodontist-recorded videos that replicate the in-office consultation experience through teleorthodontics while staying connected via staff meetings and group chats.
3. Marketing virtual consultations effectively involves website testimonials, lunch-and-learns with referring dental offices, and leveraging satisfied patients' word-of-mouth to educate the community about the convenience and efficiency of digital orthodontic workflow options for busy families and rural patients.