"Beta testers" needed

Message

#1 Post by **retainerdesigner** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 5:05 am

Hello all,
I am the owner of an Orthodontic lab and I have launched a website that I need help with.
The website is an online virtual retainer color picker and designer. It is free for all to use to see what their retainer will look like with different colors and designs. Their are 40 colors to choose from and 5 designs. I think I have finally worked out the small little kinks and problems with the site. And, I already have had feedback from other orthodontic labs and Orthodontists, but i need some feedback form the end user, you guys. I thought this forum was an excellent choice for this experiment. With the mature audience here I will be sure to get wonderful feedback and helpful hints.
So if you have some time to kill I would greatly appreciate you guys "beta testing" this site for me. Tell me what you think with the ease of use and if you come across any "bugs". If you would like to save your designs, you can substitute your email address for the "Email Code" and an email will be sent to your email address with a link to your design. Not to worry your email will not be saved and is protected from spammers.
Dont worry this is not spam, I'm not selling anything, the site is completely free to all orthodontic patients across the nation.
The website is: http://retainerdesigner.com/
Thank you for your help, and be sure to ask any questions,
Cade

#2 Post by **retainerdesigner** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 8:13 am

Athena wrote: I just had a look at your site...... i loved what I saw... i am still many months away, maybe a year, from retainers but i like the idea of being able to pick and choose...

Great I'm glad you like it! Congrats on getting so close to freedom! I know the last few months are tough, because the doctor is making very fine, precision adjustments you may not be seeing any changes. Stay strong!

Remember that my site is free to all Doctors, Labs and Patients. You can use the site at anytime to get ideas for your retainer. You even send your design directly to your Orthodontist's lab by getting an "Email Code" from your Doctor.
Let me know if you have any suggestions, requests or questions.

Cade

#3 Post by **purpleteeth** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 6:20 pm

I like your site

Thanks for sharing. I am not even sure what type of retainers I will be getting, as that was not my main concern when I got my consult, but it sure was fun to make the retainer look dreamy and fun! I am also at least a year away from getting my braces off, but I hope I can get a retainer as fun looking as the ones I created today.

#4 Post by **mardziewall** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:08 pm

hello cade i think its great but can you do any other designs case i had a friend and she had one made with a cherry in the middle when i waas younger! sont know if you can still do it tho o well it a very good and fun site but im just getting my braces on in a few weeks i did have a essiks retainer tho when i was a little younger !

#5 Post by **retainerdesigner** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:08 am

purpleteeth wrote:I like your site Thanks for sharing. I am not even sure what type of retainers I will be getting, as that was not my main concern when I got my consult, but it sure was fun to make the retainer look dreamy and fun! I am also at least a year away from getting my braces off, but I hope I can get a retainer as fun looking as the ones I created today.

I'm glad you like the site. The site should work with any orthodontic appliance that has acrylic in the roof of the mouth. Even will work on lower retainers too, it will just look a little different. I hope in a years time to have even more colors and designs on the site, So check back when you get your braces off you might find a design you can live without!

Cade

#6 Post by **retainerdesigner** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:32 am

mardziewall wrote:hello cade i think its great but can you do any other designs case i had a friend and she had one made with a cherry in the middle when i waas younger! sont know if you can still do it tho o well it a very good and fun site but im just getting my braces on in a few weeks i did have a essiks retainer tho when i was a little younger !

I Plan on adding decals in a couple of months. Here is a link to what the decals will look like:
http://picasaweb.google.com/RetainerDes ... 8802275570
You will be able to add them to any color retainer.
As far as custom work each lab has their own designs, I would check with your doctors they may have many options from their labs. Check back with my site when you get your braces off, by then labs should have the ability to upload there own designs to the site.
Here is a link to Harris Orthodontic Lab's site (not my lab) Maggie, who owns this lab does some amazing work with custom retainers!
http://myretainer.com/CustomDesigns.html

#7 Post by **ariel86** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 1:09 pm

This is really cool! Does it work only for the united states? what if i live in Canada? i like ur choices and i finish braces in about 1 month!!

#8 Post by **platinum** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 2:23 pm

I would like to have pictures on my retainer, like a picture of Jude Law, Ralph Fiennes or James Mcavoy!!!

#9 Post by **4113n** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:39 am

WHAT?? are all retainers like this? i thought it was like 1 wire across the teeth and nothing more... there is that thing for ur upper mouth too? argg not looking forward to it....

but nice site... but im guessing orthos dont customize retainers?

Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:02 pm

ariel86 wrote:This is really cool! Does it work only for the united states? what if i live in Canada? i like ur choices and i finish braces in about 1 month!!

It will work anywhere there is an internet connection, more specifically, anywhere email works. In essence, you will be emailing your design to your doctor's lab. You will just have to discuss this with your doctor and either get your doctors email or his labs email. You will then place this email in the "Email Code" box on the submission page. You will need to work out the timing with your doctor, the lab will need to know what color you want before they make your retainer.

Have fun and let me know if you have any questions.
Oh yea, another option is to design your retainer online in your doctor's office if they have internet connection, broadband recommended.

Cade

Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:12 pm

platinum wrote:I would like to have pictures on my retainer, like a picture of Jude Law, Ralph Fiennes or James Mcavoy!!!

LOL, The funny thing is, is that it is possible! Find a picture that is the size of a dime or smaller, cut it out, put clear tape on both sides and give it to your doctor to have the lab put it in the acrylic when they make it.
note: only works with upper Hawley retainers.

Way to think outside the box...or mouth!

Cade

Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:35 pm

4113n wrote:WHAT?? are all retainers like this? i thought it was like 1 wire across the teeth and nothing more... there is that thing for ur upper mouth too? argg not looking forward to it....

but nice site... but im guessing orthos dont customize retainers?

Good Point, Meryaten is absolutely correct. This site is only for the upper Hawley retainer. Although you can use it for the lower Hawley, and other specialty appliances that need acrylic on the lingual of the teeth.

As far as customization, Meryaten is correct again, different orthos(and labs) have different policies on charging for anything other than basic pink. Most doctors just reflect what the labs charge. As a lab owner, I don't charge anything for these colors or designs on the site it is just a perk I offer my doctor's patients. (so that they will be more inclined to wear their retainers!) But I do charge extra for some designs that take longer than usual to make, like zebra stripes, polka dots and moo cow designs.

The acrylic you see (or don't see) on the palate of the mouth is mainly there to hold the wires you do see in place.
It also serves some other functions, like:
-Anchorage (keep the retainer from falling out of you mouth when you talk)
-Retention (the acrylic on the backside of the tooth keeps the tooth from rotating or moving lingually)
-Active Element - The acrylic plate will "move" teeth back to their original place ( the moment you got your braces off) if your teeth relapse any while the retainer is out of your mouth.

Sorry kinda long, though someone might be interested
Retainer Nerd,
Cade

#13 Post by **diande** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:04 pm

Hi Cade,

I like the website!

I tried a half and half blue and then purple glitter design but it wouldnt do the second colour but went to "Page Not Found". I tried twice...maybe just a fluke?

I learnt a lot from your last post re the uses of retainers. Can you tell me if an upper Hawley retainer could work to make upper and lower 'side teeth' (i.e. premolar and canines) fit together properly, corresponding when the mouth is closed. Does it move teeth needing these finishing touches too?

Great work on the site!
DD

#14 Post by **SDFD TSchott** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:02 pm

The glitter red and glitter blue looks absolutly nothing like the retainers I'm going to get, they are blue in color not clear and has glitter! same thing for the red!

Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:45 pm

diande wrote:Hi Cade,

I like the website!

I tried a half and half blue and then purple glitter design but it wouldnt do the second colour but went to "Page Not Found". I tried twice...maybe just a fluke?

I learnt a lot from your last post re the uses of retainers. Can you tell me if an upper Hawley retainer could work to make upper and lower 'side teeth' (i.e. premolar and canines) fit together properly, corresponding when the mouth is closed. Does it move teeth needing these finishing touches too?

Great work on the site!
DD

Hmm interesting...i tried to duplicate the results but it came out alright , which blue were you trying, I was using "Blue Acrylic" as my first color choice. Maybe try it again, if you could remember the exact blue that would help. If there is a fluke I need to fix it. Thank you so much for you help, this is exactly what I need to test the site! With over 6400 retainer combinations possible it is hard to test them all.

If you want, if you get a combination you like (or have a question about) you can send using Email Code: cade@retainerdesigner.com
that way I can see what you guys chose. You can also type comments in the "Comments/Request for your Retainer" field.

Regarding your second question:
A Hawley retainer can move teeth in and out (toward the cheek or toward the tongue) but not Up and Down, or more specifically intrude or extrude (erupt).
Now teeth have an amazing ability that is both a blessing an a curse to "grow" all through out our lives. If a tooth, say a bicuspid, is not occluding (chewing against) another tooth it will extrude "grow" until it hits something. If it is hitting something or in occlusion it will stop growing/extruding. That being said sometimes after we get our braces off the teeth need sometime to "settle", to "grow" that half a millimeter until it touches another tooth. The braces where holding from extruding before. Orthodontist are masters at using this feature of mother nature to their advantage. They may purposely hold some teeth out of occlusion to allow other to come into occlusion. But sometimes it is hard to predict how the teeth will react once the braces come off. But the Orthodontist are very good at what they do, they will use this "growing" factor in their consideration of retainers.
*the following comments are generalizations*
Essixs - do not allow extruding at all
Hawleys - Some (perfect middle ground)
Wraparound hawleys - even more
No retention - the teeth are as if with wings and fly off in different directions!

This of course does not take into account tongue thrusts

Regarding your question if a Hawley can fix your occlusion,
Simple answer, no.
Complicated answer - it can aid in the fixing of occlusion. Your orthodontist can adjust the acrylic of a Hawley to allow more eruption and can adjust your bite (equilibrate) until your teeth fit properly. Or can Prescribe a wraparound Hawley to give the teeth more freedom than a regular Hawley. It will depend on your mouth and your Orthodontist.

Sorry so long
Retainer Nerd signing off
Cade