08/20/2026
Ep 87 - What Separates Growing Orthodontic Practices From the Rest With Jill Allen
Why do some orthodontic practices continue to grow while others plateau?
In this episode of *The Golden Age of Orthodontics*, Dr. Leon Klempner and Amy Epstein welcome back orthodontic consultant Jill Allen, founder of Jill Allen & Associates, for a practical conversation about what separates growing practices from those struggling to gain momentum.
Jill breaks down the four key sources of practice growth: dental referrals, community relationships, online visibility, and internal patient referrals, and explains how the balance between them changes as a practice matures. The discussion also explores why data, office culture, patient experience, and consistent communication all play a role in generating more starts.
They also dig into one of the most common mistakes practices make: investing more money in marketing before fixing the systems responsible for converting inquiries into consultations and consultations into starts. From unanswered leads to weak follow-up and overlooked observation patients, small breakdowns inside the practice can quietly limit growth even when marketing is working.
Whether you are building a startup, managing an established orthodontic practice, or trying to break through a plateau, this episode offers a clear framework for identifying where growth is coming from and where opportunities may be slipping away.
Key takeaways:
• The four primary sources of orthodontic practice growth and how their importance changes as a practice matures
• Why data, patient experience, and office culture are critical to generating referrals and converting more starts
• How stronger relationships with referring dentists and patients can create more sustainable growth
• Why practices should fix conversion and follow-up “leaks” before increasing their marketing spend
