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You Should Know: Focus Ortho by Benjamin Lund, Editor, Orthotown Magazine

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You Should Know:
Focus Ortho
by Benjamin Lund, Editor,
Orthotown Magazine

Orthotown Magazine chats with Charlie Dunham, president and CEO of Focus Ortho, a practice management software program made specifically for orthodontic practices.

Charlie, tell me about Focus Ortho, how it formed and what you provide to orthodontists.
Dunham: We started developing Focus Ortho Practice Management Software in 2009. Early in our development, we teamed up with a large group practice based in Dallas, Texas. They had used most of the major software packages available and felt that none of the existing programs met their needs. Thanks to the large size of this group, we were able to work with seasoned individuals who added their expertise in areas like finance, scheduling and insurance to make Focus Ortho robust enough to handle virtually every scenario in an orthodontic practice, while still offering ease of use. Focus Ortho has been successfully running this large group for almost a year.

In 2011, I joined the Focus Ortho team. I have worked in the orthodontic software industry for almost 20 years. I managed a worldwide team which provided sales, customer support and development of software for all facets of the orthodontic practice. This includes 2D and 3D imaging, treatment planning, case presentation and even a 3D modeling service. I believe this breadth of knowledge gives Focus Ortho a unique opportunity to develop efficiencies in all aspects of the orthodontic office. Focus Ortho is designed to be accessible, organized and efficient. We are excited to bring the power of Focus Ortho to the orthodontic community.

How does your practice management software differ from the competition?
Dunham: Focus Ortho has an interface that is incredibly fast and easy to use. Our focus is to go beyond features to offer solutions that practices can use. The software is intuitive and consistent in use and feel, making training for offices much easier. Users can get more done, faster and with less hassle. For example, once a patient file is open, all the patient data is available within two mouse clicks.

As cloud-based software, we recognize the power of electronic communication. Patient communication and appointment reminders are easy with Focus Ortho’s integrated e-mail capability. Users also have the ability to create and send electronic newsletters to groups of patients or referring doctors. Our program features an integrated patient web portal. This portal allows patients to view their financial and appointment history, print receipts, pay bills and even complete online forms. All of these features work off the same database as the practice management system. This not only eliminates the hassles of duplicate data entry or synching two databases, but also removes the need for costly add-on products required with other systems.

Last, but not least, we believe all features should be available to all users. When users purchase our software, they do not have to pay for additional modules. When new features are ready for deployment, our cloud software is automatically updated.

What is your philosophy at Focus Ortho? What is your goal?
Dunham: Our goal is to make Focus Ortho the Practice Management Software that helps orthodontists become more productive. Focus Ortho wants to be a partner in practice. An unhappy user is just unacceptable. Our goal is to be transparent and share all we have learned about orthodontic practice management with the world.

What would you consider to be the “best kept secret” about Focus Ortho?
Dunham: The thing that most people don’t know about Focus Ortho is our strength and experience. It is easy to assume that since we are a new company, our software is not reliable and we do not have the necessary resources. However, between our management experience and the fact that we have been running a group with 15 offices and more than 100 users, we are certain our software can handle the needs of virtually any orthodontic practice.

How can an ortho practice begin working with you?
Dunham: All they need to do is call 888-247-6360 or go to FocusOrtho.com and fill out our contact form. We are very accessible to demonstrate the software and answer any questions or concerns. Our staff is here to guide the customer through the steps to greater efficiency. We even take care of transferring your old data. Training the staff is a breeze, and it usually takes just a few days. All you need is a computer and a fast Internet connection.

As far as continuing support, we have developed a support team that is incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and thorough. We provide support on the user’s level and never talk down to users. Our goal is to answer all support issues quickly and completely. Communication is the key and customers should always expect to hang up happy.

Orthotown Magazine
October 2025
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