By Jill Allen | Hey Docs! Podcast with Kevin and Reid Simmons, Planet DDS | April 9, 2026
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Orthodontic technology is evolving fast. Faster than most practices can realistically keep up with if they are not intentional about what they adopt and why.
New platforms. AI integrations. Multi-location capabilities. It all sounds promising. But here is the real question most practices should be asking:
Is this technology actually making your practice better, or just more complicated?
In this episode of the Hey Docs! podcast, Jill Allen sits down with Kevin and Reid Simmons of Planet DDS to break down where orthodontic technology has been, where it is going, and how to think about it as a business owner.
Before cloud-based systems and AI-driven workflows, orthodontic software was built for a much simpler version of the practice.
Reid Simmons helped develop one of the first orthodontic software systems, OrthoTrac, in the early 1980s. At the time, the goal was straightforward: digitize basic practice functions and improve efficiency.
Fast forward to today, and the expectations are completely different.
Modern orthodontic software is no longer just about managing schedules and records. It is expected to:
What changed is not just the technology. It is the complexity of the orthodontic business itself.
💡 JA&A Insight
Technology should evolve alongside your practice. If your systems are more advanced than your operations, you create friction instead of efficiency.
The shift from server-based systems to cloud-based platforms like Cloud 9 marked a major turning point.
Cloud-based systems allow practices to:
For growing orthodontic practices, this is not just a convenience. It is a requirement.
If your systems cannot support expansion, your growth will stall or become unnecessarily complicated.
The key advantage is flexibility. Practices are no longer tied to a single physical location or dependent on in-office servers to operate.
The acquisition of Cloud 9 by Planet DDS represents a larger trend in the industry.
Orthodontics is no longer operating in isolation. More practices are moving toward:
Planet DDS is positioning itself to support that shift by combining orthodontic and dental software capabilities into a single ecosystem.
This matters because fragmented systems create operational gaps.
When your technology does not communicate across locations or specialties, your team feels it, your patients experience it, and your data becomes harder to trust.
A unified system creates alignment across the business.
AI is one of the most talked-about topics in orthodontics right now. But most of the conversation is still surface-level.
What Kevin and Reid highlight is where AI is becoming practical, not theoretical.
Current applications include:
The goal is not to replace your team. It is to remove unnecessary friction from their day.
When used correctly, AI allows your team to focus on higher-value interactions like patient communication, case acceptance, and overall experience.
💡 JA&A Insight
If AI is saving time but not improving outcomes, it is not working hard enough for your practice.
One of the most important shifts happening right now is how technology companies are building their products.
Instead of developing in isolation, companies like Planet DDS are actively incorporating:
This matters because orthodontic practices are not one-size-fits-all.
The best technology solutions are built with input from the people actually using them every day.
If your software feels disconnected from how your practice operates, it is likely because your workflow was not part of the conversation.
Technology is not the strategy. It is the tool that supports it.
The most successful orthodontic practices are not the ones with the most advanced systems. They are the ones that:
The practices that struggle are usually not behind on technology. They are misaligned in how they use it.
If you are considering new systems, upgrades, or AI tools, the starting point is not the feature list.
It is your operational clarity.
Because better technology will not fix a broken system. It will just expose it faster.
The best orthodontic software is one that supports your current operations while allowing for future growth. Look for systems that offer cloud-based access, multi-location support, and strong integrations. The right choice depends on how your practice is structured and where you are headed.
For most practices, yes. Cloud-based systems provide flexibility, scalability, and lower infrastructure costs. They are especially important for practices managing multiple locations or planning to expand.
AI is currently being used to improve scheduling, automate data entry, and enhance reporting. Its primary role is to increase efficiency and reduce administrative workload so teams can focus more on patient experience and case acceptance.
Not always, but it is becoming more relevant. Practices that operate within group or multi-specialty models benefit from integrated systems that allow for better communication, reporting, and patient management across disciplines.
Your practice is ready when your current systems are limiting efficiency, growth, or patient experience. Before implementing new technology, ensure your workflows are clearly defined and your team is prepared to adopt and use the system effectively.
Yes, but only when paired with strong communication and processes. Technology can support case presentation, streamline workflows, and provide better insights, but it does not replace the need for a well-trained team and clear patient communication.
Technology is moving fast. Your practice does not need to chase all of it.
It needs to choose the right pieces, at the right time, for the right reasons.
If you are navigating what systems to implement or how to align your operations with your growth goals, that is exactly where strategy matters most.
And it is exactly where we help.
👉 Connect with our team to start building a smarter, more aligned practice.