Aligner checks vs wire changes: staffing and pay

Is anyone else seeing aligner‑heavy schedules change how assistants are staffed and paid? In our clinic we book 30‑minute wire changes but only 15 for aligner checks, plus 8–10 minutes for iTero scans and comfort steps (cheek rest breaks, lip balm, topical before IPR), and I’m the one placing/removing attachments and coaching comfort the whole visit. Do your offices bump pay or title for expanded functions, or just expect faster throughput?

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@OP We fixed this by adding a small “aligner column” premium ($1.50/hr) whenever an assistant is booked on the blocks with ‘15‑minute aligner checks’ and the 8–10 min iTero/comfort steps, so the pay matches the skill. Caveat: it only worked once we could flag those blocks in the schedule for payroll to pull. Can your system tag those slots?

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