Set It and Collect It: How Smart Practices Are Building Recurring Revenue After Aligner Treatments

What happens after orthodontic treatment ends? For many practices, it's a missed opportunity. Patients lose retainers, stop wearing them, and eventually see their results begin to shift. Meanwhile, practices lose touch with patients and leave recurring revenue on the table. In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with Dr. Blair Feldman, orthodontist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Retainer Club, to discuss how practices can transform retention from an afterthought into a scalable patient care and revenue strategy. Drawing from his experience building and exiting multiple orthodontic practices, Blair shares how subscription-based retainer programs help practices protect treatment outcomes while creating a seamless patient experience. Dr. Len and Blair explore the economics of retainer programs, patient compliance, recurring revenue opportunities, AI adoption, and the importance of maintaining relationships with patients long after treatment is complete. Whether you're an orthodontist, Invisalign provider, or general dentist offering aligner therapy, this conversation offers practical strategies for extending patient lifetime value while improving clinical outcomes. What You’ll Learn -Why retention is one of the most overlooked stages of orthodontic treatment -How recurring revenue models can benefit both patients and practices -The biggest mistakes practices make after treatment is completed -How online retainer fulfillment improves patient compliance -Recommended strategies for pricing retainer programs -Why patient education is critical for long-term treatment success -The role technology and automation play in post-treatment care -How practices can increase patient lifetime value through retention programs -The importance of transparency when discussing retention and retreatment -Business lessons from building and scaling a successful dental startup — Key Takeaways 01:28 Set It and Collect It: How Smart Practices Are Building Recurring Revenue After Aligner Treatments 04:00 The Retainer Gap Most Practices Overlook 07:40 Why Retainers Need Regular Replacement 10:30 Building Predictable Recurring Revenue with Retainer Programs 13:18 The Ideal Retainer Program Playbook 16:18 What Happens When Patients Lose Their Retainers? 17:40 Creating Long-Term Retention and Wellness Scan Strategies 21:10 Subscription Models and Automated Retainer Delivery 22:17 Beyond Orthodontics: Veneer Guards, Whitening Trays, and More 24:45 Why Every Aligner Practice Needs a Retention Program 28:30 Common Objections Practices Have About Retainer Programs 30:10 Lightning Round: Business, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship 35:25 Special Offer for Raving Patients Listeners — Connect with Dr Blair Co-Founder & President, Retainer Club LinkedIn:   / drblairfeldman   Website: https://www.retainerclub.com/ Learn more about how Retainer Club helps practices create recurring revenue while protecting patient outcomes through seamless retainer fulfillment programs. — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at: https://www.drlentau.com This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more at: https://www.dentalintel.com/ This podcast is sponsored by CallRail, call tracking & lead conversion software for dentists. Find out more at: https://www.callrail.com/ Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!