Preparing to practice and manage: A program for educating orthodontic residents in practice management.

The purpose of this article is to describe how the integration of practice management principles into orthodontic graduate programs can help young practitioners avoid many of the mistakes commonly made in developing an orthodontic practice and to provide guidelines and resources for starting off in the right direction. This article also describes how practice management education was integrated as one of the 4 principal components of contemporary orthodontic education at a California university. Specific goals, concepts, and components of a comprehensive practice management program are outlined. A structured practice management curriculum can provide opportunities for residents and alumni to learn some of the latest developments and techniques in orthodontic practice management.