2016 AAO Annual Session - Retainers: Bonded or Removable, Charge or No Charge, Dealing with Relapse

Credits: None available.

You would think that, with all the brilliant minds in orthodontics, we would have solved the age-old dilemma of preventing post-treatment relapse. Well, we haven’t yet done so. This presentation will discuss why retention is so important and various methods used to control relapse. A review of the different methods of retention, their pros and cons, and how to implement each in your practice will be discussed. It will also discuss some new methods along with others on the horizon.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify why retainers are critical to successful orthodontic treatment
• Discuss the benefits of different methods of retention
• Distinguish when it is appropriate to make new retainers and how to charge for them

2016 AAO Annual Session - 30 Ways to Improve Your Office Efficiency

Credits: None available.

Do you want your office to run smoothly and effectively on a daily basis? Do you feel that you could be more efficient with your current team but don't know how to get there? During this presentation by Dr. Kozlowski, you will learn 30 (or more) ways that you can reach the peak of efficiency and effectiveness in your practice.

Topics will include: 

• Team - Hiring, training and developing an amazing team
• Technology - Implementing time saving technology into the practice
• Systems - Developing systems for a smooth office workflow
• Communication - Enhance communication; the cornerstone of an efficient office
• Clinical - Learn how clinical efficiency improves administrative efficiency and makes the practice run more smoothly.

After this lecture you will be able to:

• Discover how to use technology and systems to enhance the communication and efficiency in your office
• Identify areas in your practice that may be underperforming and develop options to overcome these challenges through team training and culture
• Enhance the administrative workflow of your practice to "work smarter, not harder"

• Consultant: ORMCO and Shareholder: OrthoFi

2016 AAO Annual Session - Using Technology for Internal Marketing

Credits: None available.

As markets become flatter and anyone/anywhere can steal sales, it's imperative we find new and effective ways to generate quality leads and convert them into sales -- while nurturing the long tail of opportunity from your existing patients. This presentation will examine current trends in online marketing and showcase the innovative tools your team can use in-house to remain competitive.

After this lecture you will be able to:

• Identify new methods for finding patients and keeping them
• Implement digital strategies with little cost in terms of time and money
• Create metrics to determine the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns

2016 AAO Annual Session - Staff Management and Staff Meetings

Credits: None available.

Charlene has interviewed thousands of team members in her career as a management consultant. A happy and productive team is the foundation to an excellent marketing plan. All HR systems need to be in top shape to attract and keep the best talent on the team.

After this lecture you will be able to:

• Assess what is needed to create an effective staff meeting that gets results
• Identify the key points that create a Peak Performance team
• Recognize the team members' roles, goals and benchmarks according to their position on the team

• Consultant: Progressive Concepts, Inc.

2016 AAO Annual Session - Managing Risks to Enjoy the Rewards of Patient Receivables

Credits: None available.

Just as no two orthodontic cases are the same, each patient’s financial situation differs greatly. By taking a customized approach and maintaining a big picture view for the practice, you can have a greater success in managing patient receivables. This session will discuss national guidelines, sensitive collection topics, the role of financial arrangements, and new approaches to handling patient accounts.

After this lecture you will be able to:

• Identify and prioritize your patient delinquency workload
• Assess patient accounts for issues like renegotiation, bankruptcy, missed auto payments, and multiple responsible parties
• Conduct collection activity in a consistent, professional, effective manner

2016 AAO Annual Session - Oral Hygiene Education and Documentation

Credits: None available.

Over the years, orthodontics has definitely changed. More and more we are being held solely responsible for our patients' final results. Making sure that all oral hygiene information is covered and documented, and educating your patients on their role in their orthodontic treatment, is imperative. Documenting any and all communication with patients/parents, as well as their dentist, helps to protect your practice. The final results can depend on the way you address oral hygiene with your patients while they are in active treatment.

Learning Objectives:

• Define the important elements of oral hygiene for orthodontic patients
• Identify procedural areas in my practice that need improving

2016 AAO Annual Session - The Inventory Investment: New Technology Combined with Traditional Strategies is Changing How to Manage Inventory

Credits: None available.

Every office needs to have a written inventory control strategy in place; after all, it is your second highest expense after staff wages! It is time to invest in your inventory management to produce future savings in time and money! Learn what questions need to be asked to start your inventory strategy and what actions are the most effective. Some new technologies can simplify the inventory management process. Investing the right amount of time and resources by incorporating new technology with traditional strategic planning can produce maximum efficiency and savings.

After this lecture you will be able to:

• List five actions to take today that are the most effective in order to manage inventory better
• Discuss five questions every practice needs to answer to start their written inventory strategy
• Identify what technologies would be the most effective to your inventory management strategy and why

• CEO: Up, Inc.

2016 AAO Annual Session - Informed Consent and the Standard of Care: What do Those Terms Really Mean?

Credits: None available.

We are all familiar with the terms “informed consent” and “standard of care” but do we really know what those terms mean or how they relate to our ability to practice good dentistry? Are we really sure what the standard of care is or who determines it? This presentation is designed to define and clarify two important legal concepts that have a significant impact on our ability to practice with confidence and security.

Learning Objectives:

• define the standard of care
• provide proper informed consent
• manage risk more effectively in their orthodontic practice

2016 AAO Annual Session - Aligners: What Assistants Need to Know

Credits: None available.

Clear aligner therapy is increasing in prevalence as a treatment modality to correct malocclusions. Aligners are now delivered to treat minor problems like orthodontic relapse and even more complex cases involving extractions. This lecture will provide an overview of aligner treatment: covering the spectrum of case types that can be resolved predictably and what assistants need to know, start to finish, to deliver quality aligner care.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize malocclusions that can be treated predictably using aligners
• Outline, start to finish, the procedures involved in delivering aligner care
• Manage patient aligner treatment from initial aligner delivery to retention

2016 AAO Annual Session - Empowering the "On-Time, Doctor-Time" Scheduling Coordinator

Credits: None available.

In this lecture, Ken uses his considerable orthodontic practice management experience to look at Doctor Time Scheduling from the scheduler’s point of view. Few things create more upset in a practice than wrongly-scheduled appointments. The entire team is welcome to evaluate the difficulties in scheduling patients and how to systematically go about alleviating wrongly-scheduled appointments. It certainly begins with a strong, well prepared set of scheduling templates, but there is so much more to scheduling that must happen on a daily basis to achieve maximum on-time efficiency in an enjoyable way that can be reproduced day after day.

After this lecture you will be able to:

• Evaluate scheduling in orthodontics from the Scheduler's point of view
• Discover concrete solutions to many of the common pitfalls in scheduling
• Create a scheduling system on which the entire practice can depend to produce enjoyable results

• Consultant: Alexander and Sons