In this episode of The Golden Age of Orthodontics, Dr. Leon Klempner and Amy Epstein sit down with board-certified orthodontist, inventor and entrepreneur Dr. Marc Lemchen to explore how robotics can improve efficiency, support orthodontic teams and create a more memorable patient experience. Drawing on more than five decades in orthodontics, Dr. Lemchen shares the thinking behind innovations such as Dolphin Imaging, EasyRx and Zeno Robotics, along with the lessons he has learned about introducing new technology into a practice.

The conversation also examines the role robotics can play in addressing staffing challenges, reducing repetitive work and giving team members more time to focus on patients. Dr. Lemchen discusses Zeno Steril, the robotic sterilization system recognized with the 2026 AAO Ortho Innovator Award, and explains why the most valuable technology is not simply impressive to look at, but meaningfully improves consistency, workflow and the overall patient experience.

Five takeaways

1. Technology can help an orthodontic practice stand out by giving patients a memorable experience they are more likely to discuss and share.
2. Robotics can reduce the time team members spend walking, retrieving items and completing repetitive tasks, allowing them to stay focused on patient care.
3. Automated sterilization may improve workflow consistency, documentation and reliability while reducing dependence on manual processes.
4. Practices are more likely to see meaningful efficiency gains when they fully adopt a technology rather than using it selectively.
5. The strongest return on technology comes from combining measurable workflow improvements with a better, more personal patient experience.

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