Inside the Mind of Smile Doctors' CEO: Leadership, Growth & Culture Artwork

The Orthopreneurs Podcast with Dr. Glenn Krieger

What does it mean to become an Orthopreneur? Hi there! My name is Dr. Glenn Krieger and I believe that in today’s competitive world, the orthodontic and dental communities should be collaborative. And I've created Orthopreneurs so that we can move towards that goal together. Orthodontists are smart people. You’ve accomplished a lot to get where you are, but chances are you never got a formal education in how to run the most effective and lowest stress practice possible. Don’t sweat it! Because we’ve got your back... Being an Orthopreneur means that you’re a part of a community. A community that brings peers together to become the best clinicians and the best business owners they can be. Becoming an Orthopreneurs means you never ever need to practice alone. Join the FREE Facebook group by simply applying:https://www.facebook.com/groups/OrthoPreneurs

All Episodes

The Orthopreneurs Podcast with Dr. Glenn Krieger

Inside the Mind of Smile Doctors' CEO: Leadership, Growth & Culture

March 25, 2025 • Dr. Glenn Krieger / Jay Hedrick

What does it take to build and run a billion-dollar orthodontic empire? Jay Hedrick - CEO of Smile Doctors, knows the answer firsthand.

I had the honor of having a conversation with Jay, an experienced executive with a wealth of experience in private equity-backed companies. He sheds light on what it's like running a multi-billion-dollar orthodontic organization and the day in the life of a CEO.

Among many other interesting insights, Jay dispels the myth that corporate orthodontics is focused solely on profits. Smile Doctors prioritizes creating value for patients and doctors alike to ensure a win-win scenario for all stakeholders.

This episode provides a behind-the-scenes peek into private equity in our profession, equity opportunities, and what drives a successful OSO.

Key Takeaways

Introduction (00:00)

Jay Hedrick's background and career journey (00:52)

Day-to-Day Life of a CEO (12:13)

Private Equity and its Role in Smile Doctors (14:44)

Equity and value creation in Smile Doctors (20:53)

Joint venture model and its benefits (26:36)

Bolt-On and De Novo strategies (30:13)

Cultural alignment and patient care in OSO/DSOs (32:51)

Advice for orthodontists joining OSOs or DSOs (35:21)

Additional Resources

- Smile Doctors: https://smiledoctors.com/

—

- Register for the OrthoPreneurs Summit 2025: http://opsummit2025.com/

- For more information, visit: https://orthopreneurs.com/

- Join our FREE Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OrthoPreneurs