...there’s always something going on around here.

From June 5th to 8th, Anitha had the opportunity to learn directly from the renowned Dr. Zaghi and his team at The Breathe Institute in Los Angeles. This groundbreaking center is at the forefront of research and innovation in the field of functional airway health for both adults and children.

Key topics included the latest protocols for tongue-tie surgery, optimal breathing techniques for children and adults, the importance of myofunctional therapy for airway health, surgical expansion techniques, and the role of nutrition in reducing inflammation.

With this newly gained knowledge and the most up-to-date treatment protocols, Dr. Raval is excited to share her expertise with all of our patients.
Visit us at My Sunny Smile Orthodontics to discover the best solutions for tongue-tie release, airway health, myofunctional therapy, and more!

Off to DFcon24! On Thursday, April 18th, we headed to Berlin for the second edition of the Dental Future Conference.

Our journey took us straight to the Melia Hotel, the event venue for DFcon. After checking into our lovely rooms, we took advantage of the great location and strolled over to the Brandenburg Gate and German Bundestag — just a 15-minute walk along the Spree River. After dinner, everyone was happily exhausted and turned in early to be fresh for the next day.

Friday kicked off at 9:00 a.m. with the first lecture after breakfast. A full day of exciting presentations awaited us, and we took home plenty of valuable input and inspiration. Between sessions, we were well taken care of with great food, and the day wrapped up at 5:30 p.m., followed by a relaxed evening get-together.

Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. began with a series of parallel workshops across three rooms. We selected the ones most relevant to our practice and interests. At 2:20 p.m., Sunny took the stage with his presentation — and of course, our entire team was there to support him.

The event wrapped up around 4:30 p.m., and shortly afterward, we headed home — full of new ideas and positive impressions.

A big thank-you to Dental Future Conference and Ortho Up to Date for organizing such an inspiring event all about digital innovation in orthodontics!

The Invisalign Roadshow made a stop in Stuttgart — so on Friday, April 12, 2024, Sunny, Anitha, and Christopher headed to the state capital to take part.

The new concept, “Align On Tour – Together Toward New Possibilities,” delivered a concentrated dose of expert orthodontic knowledge. Digital innovation was also front and center, with plenty of exciting updates and tools to explore.

In this one-day event, renowned speakers shared current, practice-relevant insights in a highly engaging format. We left with new knowledge, fresh ideas for our own practice, and lots of inspiration.
We also had the opportunity to expand our network, meet new professionals, and exchange ideas directly with fellow experts.

Thank you, Invisalign, for this fantastic new format! It was once again an incredibly valuable experience — and we’re looking forward to integrating another exciting tool into our practice soon. Stay tuned!

On Thursday, March 28th, we headed back to the Adventure Box in Karlsruhe for our next team event. This time, we split into three groups of 4–5 people and took on all three escape rooms!

• Anna, Manizha, Melisa, and Milina tackled Time Unit 49° N

• Dijana, Siggi, Emi, Daniela, and Julia entered The Fifth Element

• Christopher, Joana, Marco, and Jenni faced Mission Impossible

It was another great experience in team building — you can't escape on your own, teamwork is essential! Everyone was able to contribute their strengths to the puzzles and challenges, and together we cracked the codes and reached the goal.

All teams made it out — and had a fantastic time doing it.
We’re already looking forward to the next adventure!

On February 22, 2024, Anitha and Sunny traveled to Wroclaw, Poland, where they were invited to tour the Invisalign production facility.

It was a fantastic event filled with fascinating insights. They were able to see firsthand how our patients’ scanned impressions are processed — collaboratively refined by CAD designers and our orthodontic team. Once the treatment plan is finalized and approved, the aligner production begins. The aligners are then shipped in partial deliveries to the practice, ready for use with our patients.

One of the most impressive aspects was the amount of detailed manual work that takes place within such a high-tech production environment.

Several exciting innovations and updates were also introduced during the visit.

It was a thoroughly successful event, and Anitha and Sunny had the pleasure of reconnecting with many familiar faces from the Invisalign family and fellow orthodontic colleagues.

Valentine’s Day was a busy and exciting one at our practice! We kicked off the day with our very first My Sunny Smile Ice Rink Event. Afterwards, the team met at the Queens Hotel in Niefern for our quarterly Leadership Meeting.

Among other topics, we discussed how we can further optimize practice workflows and how to improve treatment outcomes with the help of our patients. Exciting updates are on the way — including new tutorials on optimal oral hygiene during treatments such as multi-bracket appliances. Our goal is to support you in achieving the best possible results!

We also aim to expand the use of Dental Monitoring to ensure even greater oversight and precision throughout your treatment journey.

We were very pleased with the outcomes of the meeting — and the ideas and improvements discussed will gradually be integrated into our daily routine.

On February 14, 2024 — fittingly on Valentine’s Day — we held our very first My Sunny Smile Ice Rink Event.

Wait, the first? Weren’t you on the ice last year too? That’s true — but this time, we weren’t alone. Our boss, Sunny, had a wonderful idea: to invite our patients to join us as a thank-you! And just like that, the plan became a reality. The Pforzheim ice rink was reserved just for us on that school holiday morning.

The response was fantastic, and we were thrilled to spend a joyful morning on the ice together with our patients. Thank you for all the positive feedback — it truly meant a lot to us to see so many of you there.

And as a sweet ending, our boss surprised us with Valentine’s roses. Thank you, Sunny! 

On December 1–2, Anitha, Sunny, and Julia attended the 18th KFO-Treff at the Stanglwirt in Going.

Nine speakers were invited to present on a variety of engaging topics. Among them was our very own Dr. Raval, who delivered his talk titled “Leadership – How to Build Your Dream Team.”
As many of our patients know, the atmosphere in our practice is always positive — and that’s no coincidence.

Team spirit and a healthy work environment are a top priority for our boss. Building a motivated, harmonious team plays a key role in that. Regular team-building events and the delegation of individual areas of responsibility are also essential motivators.

Anitha and Sunny also attended many other insightful lectures from fellow colleagues and returned home with valuable new input and inspiration.

On November 24–25, Dr. and Dr. Raval attended the TPAO Congress in Hamburg.

The event highlighted many exciting innovations — with a clear trend toward AI-supported systems shaping the future of orthodontics.

The presentations delivered a strong wow effect, and we’re already looking forward to seeing which of these new developments we can integrate into our practice.

Dental Monitoring has already marked the first step in this direction. Our first digitally designed braces are already on order — offering a major advantage in terms of precision and perfect fit.

On Saturday, November 25th, we held our annual Year-End Celebration.
As an eventful year comes to a close and the peaceful Christmas season begins, we took the opportunity to reflect and enjoy a relaxed evening together.

Over a delicious meal, we looked back on the highlights of the past year. To wrap up the evening, we held our traditional Secret Santa — and some of the gift exchanges came with truly spectacular stories!

On Wednesday, November 8th, we held our first Dental Monitoring training session.

The first patients have already been guided on how to scan their teeth from home using the app.
This system is suitable for aligners, as well as for removable and fixed braces.

Through weekly scans, patients stay in continuous contact with us regarding the progress of their treatment — and if an earlier appointment becomes necessary, we can detect it right away.

From November 1–4, Dr. Raval attended the MRC International European Summit in the Netherlands, where she gained in-depth knowledge on airway dysfunctions, craniofacial development, and myofunctional therapy.

She’s excited to bring this new expertise directly into our practice —
stay tuned, there's more to come!

On October 13–14, the annual Fachdental Südwest took place at the Stuttgart trade fair grounds — one of the largest dental expos in southern Germany.
It’s a key event where suppliers and manufacturers meet with dentists and practice teams to present the latest products and exchange ideas. One thing is clear: the digital trend continues to grow in the dental industry as well.

A personal highlight for us was the chance to try out magnifying loupes with 2.5x magnification, which allow for even more precise work while maintaining a more ergonomic posture. We’ve already ordered a test pair that will be put to use by our team in the coming weeks.

It’s always a pleasure to connect with our trusted partners and suppliers, learn about the latest trends, and ensure that we continue working at the forefront of dental innovation.

On October 1–2, we held our very first Leadership Training at the Roomers Hotel in Baden-Baden.
The event was divided into two key parts:
Part 1 – Defining our practice goals for the coming year
Part 2 – Strengthening communication and leadership skills for our management team.

Our current leadership team includes four members responsible for billing, reception, quality & HR management, and clinical care.

To stay innovative and creative, it's essential that these areas become even more interconnected — so we can deliver an even smoother and more exceptional experience for our patients.
One of Sanjay Raval’s favorite quotes from his mentor Tony Robbins perfectly sums it up:
“Progress makes happy!” — because ongoing development makes work truly enjoyable.

Key outcomes from our strategy session:

1. Improving our phone availability

2. Implementing digital monitoring for our patients

3. Creative brainstorming for our social media presence

Thanks to the team’s positive feedback, we’ve decided to hold a Leadership Training every quarter moving forward.

As part of the three-day event, a specialist trade fair and manufacturer exhibition took place in parallel.
Here, vendors and manufacturers showcased the latest products and emerging trends in our industry — and of course, digitalization continues to play a major role in orthodontics as well.

What impressed us the most was the digital monitoring system called Dental Monitoring (DM). In order to stay at the forefront of innovation, we’ve decided to integrate this system into our practice starting next week.

Dental Monitoring is a powerful tool that uses an app to transmit weekly updates on tooth movement (whether through braces or aligners) directly to the practice — enabling more precise, efficient, and timely care.

More details will follow in the coming weeks as we complete onboarding and begin integrating the system into our daily workflow.

From September 28–30, 2023, the DGKFO took place in Stuttgart.
After starting the day with a team breakfast, seven of us headed to the conference. The DGKFO is the leading national event for the latest research in orthodontics across Germany.

In addition to numerous specialist lectures from dental universities across the German-speaking world, the event also features a poster exhibition showcasing current doctoral theses and research projects.

This year, Katharina Grosch, a dental student at the University Hospital Bonn, presented a collaborative research project conducted with the My Sunny Smile Specialist Practice. Her work was featured in the most renowned orthodontic journal and presented as part of the poster exhibition.

After a two-year break, our traditional summer party took place once again on Friday, September 8, 2023 — this time at our bosses’ home.
The weather was absolutely perfect, and we made ourselves comfortable out in the garden. There were delicious grilled specialties along with a large, diverse buffet featuring traditional dishes from different cultures — lovingly prepared and contributed by the whole team.

After dinner, conversations continued late into the evening, and eventually, the karaoke machine made its appearance — with songs from all decades being enthusiastically sung by everyone.

It was a wonderful celebration, and we’re already looking forward to doing it all over again in two years!

On Thursday, June 29, 2023, we set off for our team outing to Tripsdrill.
Located in Cleebronn, it’s just a short 45-minute drive from us. The weather was perfect — warm but not too hot — and since school holidays hadn’t started yet in Baden-Württemberg, wait times for the rides were nice and short.

We raced through the tracks on Karacho and Volldampf, and soared through the loops on Hals-über-Kopf, safely strapped in. With Mammut, we thundered loudly through the curves, and during the bathtub flume ride, we got thoroughly soaked!

It was a fantastic, action-packed day, and we all had an incredible time!

For the first time, the “Dental Future Conference” was held in Berlin.
More than 150 practice owners and team members took part in this two-day event at the Hotel Palace. My Sunny Smile was represented by a six-person team — eager to experience the digital transformation in dentistry up close.

We were especially impressed by the wide range of digital tools now available, which significantly simplify daily workflows and offer real added value for our patients.

As a team, we’re committed to integrating new possibilities — such as explainer videos — into our everyday practice.

For an extended weekend (April 27–29), the My Sunny Smile team headed to Munich on Thursday to attend the annual Align DACH Summit, held at Motorworld Munich. We kicked off our trip with a fun sightseeing day in the city.

The event officially began on Friday morning — with our very own Dr. Sunny Raval taking the main stage as a featured speaker. His presentation focused on Invisalign treatment for teenagers and was met with great interest. The day wrapped up with a wonderful evening event hosted by Invisalign, complete with dinner and networking.

Saturday started at 10 a.m. with an inspiring keynote from Nicola Winter, one of the very few female Eurofighter pilots in the German Air Force — and currently on the shortlist to become an astronaut.

While she took us on a journey into space, our team continued into Staff Day, diving into the latest Invisalign developments and exploring effective communication strategies for daily practice life.

It was a truly valuable team outing that not only strengthened our team spirit, but also provided everyone with fresh insights and practical tips to bring back to the practice.

Team-Building – Escape Room Challenge
As in previous years, we kicked off our annual Escape Room Challenge on April 12, 2023, at Adventurebox Karlsruhe.

We split into two teams: Generation Z vs. the Experienced. Each group took on a different challenge — Team Gen Z faced Mission Impossible, while the Experienced team tackled Time Travel – Time Unit 49°N.

These rooms demand true teamwork — because solo players don’t stand a chance!
Both teams did an amazing job, and we all had a fantastic time.

"Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships."
— Michael Jordan

March 3, 2023, was all about one thing: Fine Dining. And what a treat it was!
Our evening took us to the historic Ochsenpost in Tiefenbronn, where we were spoiled with a truly special three-course gourmet menu.

It was a wonderful evening full of flavor, enjoyment, and great company — a real culinary highlight!

On February 28, 2023, all team members took part in a First Aid course held at our practice.
This training takes place every two years to ensure that our team is well-prepared for emergency situations — both in the practice and in everyday life.

First aid training has been a fixed part of our educational program since the founding of the practice and remains an essential pillar of our commitment to safety and responsibility.

On February 22, 2023, our entire team hit the ice at the St. Maur Ice Rink in Pforzheim.
We spent the morning brushing up on our skating skills — and as the saying goes, once you're on, you're in! After a short warm-up phase, everything went smoothly (literally!).

It was a fun and active team outing that had us gliding, laughing, and enjoying a refreshing break together.

Once a week, the My Sunny Smile team enjoys personalized training sessions with our coach, Lukas Maier.
We train in pairs or small groups in our very own fitness room — a great way to stay fit, healthy, and energized together.

As the year draws to a close, the peaceful Christmas season begins.
We've had an eventful year filled with milestones and memories — and we took the opportunity to reflect on it all during our annual year-end celebration.

The annual Fachdental trade fair takes place at the Oskar Lapp Hall on the Stuttgart exhibition grounds, bringing together dental companies of all sizes from across the industry.

Highlights included innovations such as online appointment booking, 3D printing, modern practice and lighting concepts, and the continued digital transformation in dentistry.

We took this opportunity to attend as a team and experience a full day of exploring the future of dentistry and orthodontics together.

Paris, Paris — how beautiful you are.
To finally celebrate our long-postponed 5-year anniversary, we made our way to the City of Lights. And it was absolutely worth the wait!

A truly unforgettable experience in a breathtaking city full of iconic sights, charm, and memories we'll never forget.

Europa-Park is always worth the trip!
We had an amazing time and spent a truly fantastic day full of fun and laughter in Rust.