%20website.png){kind=spacer}
Running an orthodontic practice in today’s economic climate is no easy feat. Rising operational costs, labour shortages, and shifting patient behaviours are forcing practice owners to rethink their operating models. Forward-thinking clinics are beginning to explore how a combination of remote staffing and selective AI adoption can improve efficiency, reduce risk, and build resilience — especially when done in a staged and supported way.
In this blog, we’ll explore the challenges facing orthodontic practices today, how remote and hybrid workforce models are evolving, and how integrating AI through a phased approach can enhance efficiency and long-term sustainability.
Inflation in Australia has surged, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reporting a 2.4% annual increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the December 2024 quarter. Orthodontic practices are feeling the pinch, with operational costs rising due to increased expenses for rent, utilities, equipment, and supplies. Rising wages in an increasingly competitive job market, place additional strain on practice budgets.
The healthcare sector, including orthodontics, is experiencing a shortage of skilled professionals. This is particularly challenging for practices in regional and rural areas, where finding qualified staff is even more difficult.
Economic uncertainty has led many patients to delay non-essential treatments, including orthodontic care. This shift in behaviour impacts patient volumes and revenue, adding to the financial strain on practices.
Human-AI hybrid teams combine the expertise of remote professionals with the power of automation and AI systems, creating a workforce that is both cost-effective and highly efficient. Taking a staged approach to AI integration ensures practices can scale operations while maintaining service delivery and reducing risks.
Jumping headfirst into AI can be overwhelming and risky. A recommended approach begins with building out detailed processes for each role and assigning a remote professional to manage these tasks. Once the processes are refined, AI systems are introduced to assist the remote professional, creating a human-in-the-loop (HITL) model.
A staged and HITL approach mitigates the risks of AI implementation by maintaining human oversight at key stages, ensuring regulatory compliance, safeguarding the secure and ethical handling of data, and enabling evaluation of AI-generated outputs.
In contrast to purely human teams, human-AI hybrid teams harness the power of AI to dynamically automate workflows. By adeptly managing repetitive tasks, AI significantly reduces the workload burden on clinical staff, ultimately enhancing the overall patient experience. Examples of synergistic human-AI functions in orthodontics include:
This HITL model ensures accuracy, reduces errors, and allows the team to handle a higher volume of tasks without compromising quality.
1. Filling a Full-Time Position with a Remote Team
A typical in-house non-clinical employee in an orthodontic practice earns $80,000 to $120,000 annually, including benefits. A skilled remote team can often be engaged for well under 50% of that cost.
2. Scaling with AI Integration
Once AI systems are implemented, the remote team shifts to supervising AI-driven workflows, enabling them to efficiently manage responsibilities equivalent to several roles—for example, handling the workload of three full-time employees.
This phased approach enables practices to expand their capacity in a sustainable way while substantially lowering costs.
Staff turnover is a costly and disruptive issue for orthodontic practices — and few remote staffing solutions truly address it. Allied Orbit’s Staff Continuity Guarantee (SCG) is a distinctive feature that ensures uninterrupted operations, even during staff transitions.
Allied Orbit's SCG and replacement process includes:
Unlike typical remote workforce models, SCG is designed to remove the burden of recruitment and onboarding entirely — providing orthodontic practices with long-term operational stability and a considerable reduction in staff turnover costs.
Economic challenges are testing the resilience of orthodontic practices, but they are also driving innovation. Models that combine remote professionals, continuity planning, and AI-supported workflows are enabling clinics to adapt to change.
By starting with clearly defined roles, bringing in remote support, and phasing in AI and automation where appropriate, practices can:
Whether you're just starting to explore these models or already implementing parts of them, success lies in taking a strategic, measured approach — supported by the right systems and partners.
Have questions? Chat with AIA, our AI Assistant, anytime for instant answers—or connect with our friendly team to explore what a customised workforce strategy could look like for your organisation.
Sources:
Have questions or need recommendations? Our smart AI assistant is ready to assist you—just tap the button to chat!
