Smile Doctors Off Mute

Mentorship has the power to shape not just careers, but entire lives. Few people understand that better than Dr. Jackie Zimmer. Inspired by the intentional mentorship of the late Dr. Tom Sperry, Dr. Zimmer of Prairie View Orthodontics in Illinois has built a career rooted in paying that guidance forward. Today, she’s one of the experienced mentors behind the Smile Doctors Doctor Fellowship, where...

At 13 years old, Dr. George Bork told his local newspaper that he was going to become a Harvard-trained orthodontist. After seeing a friend suffer from harsh bullying about her smile, he examined his mediocre grades and decided to make a change that would set him on a lifesaving journey. As he puts it, orthodontics became his North Star. What began as a middle school dream eventually brought him t...

What Ideas Resonated the Most in 2025? Let’s take a step back to revisit the conversations that meant the most to our listeners. This special “Best of 2025” episode features five standout moments — from honest reflections on perfectionism and leadership growth, to stories of partnership, mentorship, and building practices that are both efficient and deeply patient-centered. These aren’t highlight...

How Many Orthodontists Can Say They've Been in Every Seat in a Practice? On this episode of Smile Doctors Off Mute, Dr. Scott Law interviews Dr. Kathleen Pale (Orthodontics Limited in Pennsylvania), whose journey through orthodontics began long before dental school. At eight years old, Dr. Pale was a phase-one patient to treat her high, narrow palate. By sixteen, she started working as a sterile t...

What if new orthodontists could start succeeding sooner? This was the question Dr. Tonya Volk found herself pondering throughout years of conversations with her peers. Was the answer a playbook? A blog post? A podcast? No. It was a community. This year, Smile Doctors launched our inaugural fellowship program — a cohort of 51 doctors who are within 5 years of joining our organization — with Dr. Vol...

How Does Seeing the Person Before Seeing the Problem Change the Outcome? When his dental hygienist told him he had a crossbite, John Hite called his local orthodontist. His rare genetic neuromuscular disorder means that surgeries are no small thing, and he was desperately seeking a doctor to correct his bite through traditional treatment. When Dr. Chris Mattingly’s office got John’s call, life cha...

Is “Scalable Success” Just a Buzzword or the Real Deal? Most orthodontists have an entrepreneurial spirit — our industry is full of titans who love to grow, build, and expand (no pun intended, of course).   Helping doctors capitalize on this natural impulse is the heartbeat of the Smile Doctors Joint Venture Model. And no one knows the program quite like Dr. Ben Fishbein, Clinical Director of...

What's the Secret to Social Media Success? As part of our mission to support doctors in all aspects of their business, we’re thrilled to pass the Smile Doctors Off Mute Mic to non-clinical professionals who are creating serious awesomeness in their corners of the orthodontic industry.   On this episode, Dr. Law welcomes Justin Chalender, Senior Manager of Social Media at Smile Doctors, for a...

What Does Success Have to Do With Intelligence? Dr. Dan Keith's life changed in 5 minutes. A hard-working collegiate athlete, every moment of Dan's life was spent working toward law school. It wasn't until a routine ortho visit on mom and dad's dime that he considered a career outside of a legal office. Enter: his local orthodontist. What started as a quick conversation with a man who barely knew...

What Do an Unshakable Wife, Savvy Cousin, and Trusted Business Partners Have to Do with Dr. Glenn Krieger’s Success? Glenn Krieger’s career has been defined by relationships.  His wife, whose unflinching support and partnership encouraged him to return to orthodontic school at age 44.  His cousin, whose background in private equity offered him confidence in the financial strength and bri...

How Does a People-First IT Leader Succeed in a Field That Values Sameness? As Chief Technology Officer for the world’s largest network of leading orthodontists, Jenni Doyle’s motto is “one size fits one.” Where most IT pros take a cookie-cutter approach to tech, Jenni and her team put people first.  From writing her first computer program at age 12 to now leading as one of the few female CTOs...

Can Convenience and Clinical Excellence Coexist? It’s a story that will live in industry infamy: the rise and fall of some of the largest DIY aligner companies — and what about all those suffering patients?   After meeting many who were lured in by compelling marketing and the promise of ultimate convenience, Dr. Zach Casagrande of Northern Virginia Orthodontics, the global leader in Invisali...

What if Your First Job Out of Residency Didn’t Come With the Added Pressure of Feeling Like You Needed to Have It All Figured Out? Fresh out of residency, Dr. Andrew Syvertsen knew he wanted more than just a job — he wanted a career where he could lead, connect, and keep growing. But he also didn’t want to figure everything out on his own. On this episode of Smile Doctors Off Mute, Dr. Syvertsen j...

What's it Like to Be an "OG" Smile Doctor?  As the very first orthodontist to join Smile Doctors, Dr. Dal Margeson went all-in on an unknown venture. Through years of sweat equity in Smalltown, USA, he earned the trust of his community and dental partners, and the distinction of being a forerunner in our industry-leading OSO. On this episode of the Smile Doctors Off Mute Podcast, Dr. Margeson...

What Does It Take to Go from Total Beginner to Industry Leader? On this episode of Smile Doctors: Off Mute , Dr. Scott Law sits down with Shelli McNabb, VP of Operations Excellence for Smile Doctors. Shelli’s journey into orthodontics wasn’t just unexpected — it was a complete pivot. She once dreamed of being a second-grade teacher, but life had other plans. As a single mom of four starting over i...

Can You Boost Efficiency Without Sacrificing Care? Adopting Invisalign® in 1999 and growing to be two of the top providers in the world, Dr. Damon DeArment and Dr. Dan Lill are no strangers to new technologies. But it was when they coupled their passion for early-adoption with dynamic scheduling, two-phase treatment, and team-member buy-in that their clinical efficiency truly began to soar.  ...

Is it Possible to Thrive — Not Just Survive — Through Life’s Struggles? As a child who was bullied for her smile, Dr. Colby Cajero is a first-generation college student turned doctor who has dedicated her life to helping others find the healthiest, most confident versions of themselves. Although no one can anticipate life’s many curveballs, she is the picture of perseverance through them.  Af...

Is Work-Life Balance a Real Thing? For Dr. Jacquee Schieck of Schieck Orthodontics in Northfield, Minnesota, living with purpose is not about doing everything ; it’s about focusing on the right things . As an orthodontist, a leader, a mother, and even a bassist and vocalist for the all-orthodontist band Relapse, Dr. Schieck knows firsthand how challenging it can be to juggle the demands of work, f...

What Was Your Favorite Off-Mute Moment of 2024? That’s a wrap on 2024! On this special episode, we revisit interviews that shaped the first 9 months of Smile Doctors Off Mute, hosted by Dr. Scott Law. From clinical advancements and improving patient care to navigating practice management and professional growth, these highlights capture the heart of our podcast’s mission: creating a space for open...

How is Life as a Practicing Orthodontist Different from Residency? Dr. Jessica Itani is bringing big sister energy to orthodontics. A powerhouse associate with the world's leading Invisalign® provider, Dr. Itani was the youngest doctor to lecture at the 2024 Invisalign® Ortho Summit in Las Vegas — just 3.5 years after graduation.   Now, she joins Dr. Law on the Smile Doctors Off Mute podcast...

What Happens When Two Orthodontists Meet at a Pivotal Moment in Their Careers? On this episode of Smile Doctors Off Mute, Dr. Scott Law chats with Dr. Jack Devereux and Dr. Phuong Nguyen — two orthodontists whose professional journeys collided, shaping their practice and paving the way for the next generation of doctors. From general dentistry and starting his own practice to taking over a partner...

When Does Innovation Create More Problems than It Solves? As the moat around the one-size-fits-all treatment approach evaporates, it’s more important than ever to be an expert in many treatment modalities to serve just one patient. At the same time, perpetual innovation can sometimes feel like chaos. But when executed with precision and confidence, it can usher a practice into the future of our sp...

Can a clinic be more than just a treatment space? When Dr. Farah Kar transitioned from a background in art, architecture, and project management to orthodontics, she brought a unique vision that informed her approach to patient care and practice culture. For Dr. Kar, building an empowering, welcoming environment for both her patients and team isn’t just about aesthetics — it’s about intentionality...

Do OSOs Stifle Creativity? On this inspiring episode, we delve into the world of orthodontics with Dr. Amanda Gallagher, a trailblazing orthodontist in Baltimore, Maryland. Discover her incredible journey from her early aspirations in medicine to becoming a leader in her field, known for her unique practice that blends aesthetics, orthodontics, and exceptional patient care.  Join us as Dr. Ga...

Does Joining an OSO Solve Problems or Create New Ones? In 2018, Prairie View Orthodontics hit a plateau. Despite a thriving practice with a decades-long legacy in the community, they struggled to reach the next level of growth. When Dr. John Lippincott decided to affiliate with Smile Doctors, it seemed like the perfect solution — but the journey was anything but smooth.  On this episode of Sm...