AGpO MEMBERSHIP NEWS Setting Goals Beyond the New Year Happy New Year! I hope that you were all able to spend time over the holiday season with those you hold dear. As we embark on 2026, many people are promoting the “New Year, New You” mentality. We tend to start off each year setting a lofty list of goals—both personal and professional. This year, I encourage you to reconsider your focus. You may be familiar with the book Atomic Habits , but if you aren’t, I highly recommend it. Early in the book, James Clear makes a statement that has profoundly changed how I view my future direction and strategy toward achievements. “You don’t rise to the level of your goals,” Clear writes. “You fall to the level of your systems.” With Clear’s words in mind, instead of looking to overhaul everything that you are, I encourage you instead to review and analyze your systems to find a way to optimize the future you want to realize. Some-times, we can do this on our own, but luckily, we are part of the wider AGpO community, which can help us through mentorship and continuing education. A great way to learn about systems is through direct shadowing. The Clear Aligner Summit (April 16–17), an in-person course with Dr. Milton Ntra-gatakis and Dr. Zack Lawerence, offers education for both you and your staff—not only on diagnosis and treatment planning, but also on office systems and work flow. For those of you further on in your journey, Dr. Fred Der will host an advanced in-person Amanda Larsh, DMD course on June 12 and 13 cover-AGpO President ing growth and development, wire bending, and troubleshooting. A major part of every office’s system is a well-trained and motivated staff. Dr. Charles Young will host his comprehensive hands-on orthodontic assis-tant training from July 30 to Aug. 1. The course is beneficial for anyone looking to ensure your staff members feel confident and ready to take on your future plans. Also, remember that our monthly Mastermind Sessions provide an opportunity to review diag-noses, treatment planning, and implementation. Finally, please mark your calendars for our Annual Meeting in Plano, TX, Sept. 24–25. This year's topics include Tip-Edge ortho, Clear Aligner therapy, and marketing. I highly encourage you all to come. I wish you all the very best as we kick off the new year. Here’s to a fabulous 12 months and a new, systemized you! Amanda Larsh, DDS 2026 Three-Day Dental Assistant’s Course Announced The AGpO has confirmed that Dr. Charles Young will teach the Academy’s three-day Dental Assistant Course again this summer. The course will be held at the American Orthodontic Society Institute in Grapevine, TX, from July 30 to Aug. 1. Registration and the course schedule can be found on the Academy’s website. This course, intended for assis-tants with little orthodontic training and more experienced assistants in need of a refresher, includes a hands-on lab portion, making it an indis-pensable in-person experience. The course will give the chair-side dental assistant a better understanding of orthodontics and the Differential Straight Arch (Tip-Edge) Technique. Dental assistants will work in pairs on study casts from their own office, along with typodonts provided by the Academy. Assistants will learn how to apply brackets, bands, and auxiliaries using the Tip-Edge System. Young will cover the Tip-Edge stages of treatment, tracing cephalometric x-rays, and modeling analysis for the diagnosis of arch length discrepancy. The Academy will supply a T.P. Orthodontics supply kit, which includes bracket kits, archwires, and a carousel dispenser. A list of addi-tional supplies needed from atten-dees’ offices will be sent with course confirmation. Set time aside now, call the Academy at 1-800-634-2027, and speak to Adam Griswold to reserve space for this popular yearly course. orthodontics.com Winter 2026 31
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society Winter 2026: Page 31
