Hello from the "show me state"

trisha · 10-20-2007, 10:03 PM

Hi all,
I have an orthodontic lab that I started just about 8 years ago. I am pleased to meet other lab owners and hope we can share with each other helpful information. I feel fortunate to be able to do what I do, I love making appliances!!

RetainerDesigner · 10-21-2007, 02:09 AM

Hey Trisha,
How did you get your start in the ortho lab biz? Whats your lab's name?
I read in another post that you are on dial-up. I guess you were not able to access designing part of RetainerDesigner.com. Sorry about that(it even takes awhile to load on basic DSL broadband), I am working on slimming it down. With over 6400 retainer color combinations its kinda hard to do.

Enough questions for now, talk later
Cade

trisha · 10-21-2007, 11:50 AM

Hi Cade,
I worked for an orthodontist that sent me to Great Lakes for training in 1994. I liked the challenge and the tactical aspect of creating the appliances. 6 years later I started up TnT Orthodontic Lab.
How about you when did you get started and how long have you been in business?
Yes, I am on dial up, If I need to open big files or faster access I go to the library and use there computers. I was able to access your website, that is a clever idea. So many colors! Do you do much design work?

glad to meet ya,
trisha

RetainerDesigner · 10-21-2007, 05:04 PM

I started working for an orthodontist while I was a Junior in High School. I cleaned the office and drew out his ceph examinations after football practice. During the summer they asked if I wanted to train as an assistant. I said Heck ya! I worked as an assistant during the summers all during high school and college. After I graduated college(2000), i worked full time for a year while applying for dental school, during that time is when I dabbled in the lab part. I didn't get into dental school that first year

. During that time I got a brochure for a Dental lab school in San Antonio (University of Texas Health Science Center). The Orthodontist talked me into going while I applied for dental school again. I loved Dental Lab school. I meet great friends and had a blast. So much so I didn't apply for Dental school again, I wanted to own my own lab. I graduated in May 2003 got my CDT in OCT 2003 and open my doors for business in 2004.

Glad you liked the website, I made it for ortho labs, as a way for ortho patents to communicate with the doctors and labs. Those 4 designs are the ones I offer my doctors for free, because I can do them in one step. In the future, I will make the website to where any lab can customize it to the colors and designs they offer. Once I learn more about website coding

I do some design work as it comes in, I did a tie-dye the other day that was fun. But not as much as Harris Orthodontic Laboratory Harris dental lab is a genius when it comes to designs.

Enough of my novel,
Cade

trisha · 10-21-2007, 09:47 PM

I have heard that Dental college is really tough to get into.
Cephs were fun to trace, I wish I could still trace them. That is cool that you that you were able to go to a college that offered Ortho lab training. How long was the course?
Congratulations on starting your own lab and getting your CDT.
Harris Orthodontic Lab's website is great. I found it a few years ago.
Good luck on your website, I will be checking it regularly.

trisha

RetainerDesigner · 10-22-2007, 12:50 AM

Well I got my BS from a regular college. Then I went to The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Their Dental lab school was actually located in the Dental school building, which was cool. It was 26 months long with no summer break. The first year they teach you everything about dental labs. You learn all five specialties: Dentures, Removable Partial Dentures, Crown and Bridge, Ceramics and Ortho. The second your you choose your specialty. The last semester you have a preceptorship (internship) as an in-house technition for a doctor (which i did) or a lab. The last 2 week you come back to class give reports on you preceptorship, take the RG (Recognized Graduate) test, Which is actually the comprehensive written exam of the CDT test. They just call you an RG if you went to lab school. You graduate with an Associates Degree. They now have a 4 year program, with a Bacholers of Science degree program, which is cool.The CDT was pretty much necessary, A CDT is required to open a lab in the state of Texas.
Homepage - Dental Laboratory Technology - The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Allied Health Sciences

trisha · 10-22-2007, 10:58 AM

The program you spoke of sounds extremely interesting. I like the idea of learning about all types of dental labs then going into what you are most drawn to.

RetainerDesigner · 10-22-2007, 07:23 PM

Yeah, I couldn't decide between crown and bridge and ortho, but since I had more experience in ortho, I chose ortho. It is the cheapest lab to open anyway.

Travis · 10-22-2007, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetainerDesigner

The CDT was pretty much necessary, A CDT is required to open a lab in the state of Texas.

I never knew that, it would be nice if every state would follow this rule.

JEmirzian · 10-23-2007, 08:32 AM

Hello Trisha...Welcome to the forum!!

Cade,
It seems we have a similar path. I got my BS in Biology from a local college and was heading to dental school. It was one class that prevented from getting in and I have to say it was the best class I ever took. I am so glad I am a Tech!!! I worked in a dental office for 12 years as a technician. When I finally took off the blinders of going to dental school I realized it was where I really needed to be.

trisha · 10-23-2007, 01:25 PM

Hi JEmirzian
Congrats on your beautiful lab. That is great that you and your wife will be able to work together.

RetainerDesigner · 10-23-2007, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEmirzian

When I finally took off the blinders of going to dental school I realized it was where I really needed to be.

You hit the nail on the head, I was so determined to get into Dental school that when I got the brochure in the mail for lab school I was slightly peeved! I was thinking, " I'm not going to 'settle' for 'lab school', I'm going to dental school!" It was the Orthodontist I worked for that said he would love to retire into a lab, and he would help me open a lab if I went. That piqued my interest. I think I could have gone on to dental school if I wanted to after lab school if I would have applied again. But my blinders fell off. Two of my best friends I had in Lab school ended getting into dental school, and they kicked a$$ in the lab section of dental school. They would tell me stories of things like... dental professors would give the students 3 days to wax a crown, my friends would finish in like 15-30 minutes! They would spend the rest of the time helping the others. But they said the struggled with the rest of the school, I wouldn't miss that! or the tuition

AmyLouRDH · 10-25-2007, 05:03 PM

In an ortho lab what is your case load. I know a technician can do up to around 12 crowns a week. What is it like for retainers?

trisha · 10-25-2007, 08:45 PM

Anywhere from 30 to 50 cases a week would be manageable. Depending on how detailed the appliance is and how much you are willing to work.

10-20-2007, 10:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
trisha Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas City Missouri Age: 43 Posts: 284 Gallery: 5 Rating: 100% (1) Rep Power: 2	Hello from the "show me state" Hi all, I have an orthodontic lab that I started just about 8 years ago. I am pleased to meet other lab owners and hope we can share with each other helpful information. I feel fortunate to be able to do what I do, I love making appliances!!

10-21-2007, 02:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
RetainerDesigner Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Stephenville, Texas Posts: 186 Gallery: 8 Rating: 0% (0) Rep Power: 2	Hey Trisha, How did you get your start in the ortho lab biz? Whats your lab's name? I read in another post that you are on dial-up. I guess you were not able to access designing part of RetainerDesigner.com. Sorry about that(it even takes awhile to load on basic DSL broadband), I am working on slimming it down. With over 6400 retainer color combinations its kinda hard to do. Enough questions for now, talk later Cade __________________ http://retainerdesigner.com My location

10-21-2007, 05:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
RetainerDesigner Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Stephenville, Texas Posts: 186 Gallery: 8 Rating: 0% (0) Rep Power: 2	I started working for an orthodontist while I was a Junior in High School. I cleaned the office and drew out his ceph examinations after football practice. During the summer they asked if I wanted to train as an assistant. I said Heck ya! I worked as an assistant during the summers all during high school and college. After I graduated college(2000), i worked full time for a year while applying for dental school, during that time is when I dabbled in the lab part. I didn't get into dental school that first year. During that time I got a brochure for a Dental lab school in San Antonio (University of Texas Health Science Center). The Orthodontist talked me into going while I applied for dental school again. I loved Dental Lab school. I meet great friends and had a blast. So much so I didn't apply for Dental school again, I wanted to own my own lab. I graduated in May 2003 got my CDT in OCT 2003 and open my doors for business in 2004. Glad you liked the website, I made it for ortho labs, as a way for ortho patents to communicate with the doctors and labs. Those 4 designs are the ones I offer my doctors for free, because I can do them in one step. In the future, I will make the website to where any lab can customize it to the colors and designs they offer. Once I learn more about website coding I do some design work as it comes in, I did a tie-dye the other day that was fun. But not as much as Harris Orthodontic Laboratory Harris dental lab is a genius when it comes to designs. Enough of my novel, Cade __________________ http://retainerdesigner.com My location

10-22-2007, 12:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
RetainerDesigner Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Stephenville, Texas Posts: 186 Gallery: 8 Rating: 0% (0) Rep Power: 2	Well I got my BS from a regular college. Then I went to The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Their Dental lab school was actually located in the Dental school building, which was cool. It was 26 months long with no summer break. The first year they teach you everything about dental labs. You learn all five specialties: Dentures, Removable Partial Dentures, Crown and Bridge, Ceramics and Ortho. The second your you choose your specialty. The last semester you have a preceptorship (internship) as an in-house technition for a doctor (which i did) or a lab. The last 2 week you come back to class give reports on you preceptorship, take the RG (Recognized Graduate) test, Which is actually the comprehensive written exam of the CDT test. They just call you an RG if you went to lab school. You graduate with an Associates Degree. They now have a 4 year program, with a Bacholers of Science degree program, which is cool.The CDT was pretty much necessary, A CDT is required to open a lab in the state of Texas. Homepage - Dental Laboratory Technology - The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Allied Health Sciences __________________ http://retainerdesigner.com My location

10-22-2007, 07:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
RetainerDesigner Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Stephenville, Texas Posts: 186 Gallery: 8 Rating: 0% (0) Rep Power: 2	Yeah, I couldn't decide between crown and bridge and ortho, but since I had more experience in ortho, I chose ortho. It is the cheapest lab to open anyway. __________________ http://retainerdesigner.com My location

10-21-2007, 11:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
trisha Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas City Missouri Age: 43 Posts: 284 Gallery: 5 Rating: 100% (1) Rep Power: 2	Hi Cade, I worked for an orthodontist that sent me to Great Lakes for training in 1994. I liked the challenge and the tactical aspect of creating the appliances. 6 years later I started up TnT Orthodontic Lab. How about you when did you get started and how long have you been in business? Yes, I am on dial up, If I need to open big files or faster access I go to the library and use there computers. I was able to access your website, that is a clever idea. So many colors! Do you do much design work? glad to meet ya, trisha

10-21-2007, 09:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
trisha Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas City Missouri Age: 43 Posts: 284 Gallery: 5 Rating: 100% (1) Rep Power: 2	I have heard that Dental college is really tough to get into. Cephs were fun to trace, I wish I could still trace them. That is cool that you that you were able to go to a college that offered Ortho lab training. How long was the course? Congratulations on starting your own lab and getting your CDT. Harris Orthodontic Lab's website is great. I found it a few years ago. Good luck on your website, I will be checking it regularly. trisha

10-22-2007, 10:58 AM	#7 (permalink)
trisha Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas City Missouri Age: 43 Posts: 284 Gallery: 5 Rating: 100% (1) Rep Power: 2	The program you spoke of sounds extremely interesting. I like the idea of learning about all types of dental labs then going into what you are most drawn to.

10-23-2007, 08:32 AM	#10 (permalink)
JEmirzian Moderator Alchol Test Champion! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Wilbraham, MA Age: 31 Posts: 135 Gallery: 1 Rating: 0% (0) Rep Power: 2	Hello Trisha...Welcome to the forum!! Cade, It seems we have a similar path. I got my BS in Biology from a local college and was heading to dental school. It was one class that prevented from getting in and I have to say it was the best class I ever took. I am so glad I am a Tech!!! I worked in a dental office for 12 years as a technician. When I finally took off the blinders of going to dental school I realized it was where I really needed to be.

10-23-2007, 01:25 PM	#11 (permalink)
trisha Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas City Missouri Age: 43 Posts: 284 Gallery: 5 Rating: 100% (1) Rep Power: 2	Hi JEmirzian Congrats on your beautiful lab. That is great that you and your wife will be able to work together.

10-25-2007, 05:03 PM	#13 (permalink)
AmyLouRDH Junior Member Simon Champion! Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 20 Gallery: 0 Rating: 0% (0) Rep Power: 0	Question In an ortho lab what is your case load. I know a technician can do up to around 12 crowns a week. What is it like for retainers?

10-25-2007, 08:45 PM	#14 (permalink)
trisha Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas City Missouri Age: 43 Posts: 284 Gallery: 5 Rating: 100% (1) Rep Power: 2	Anywhere from 30 to 50 cases a week would be manageable. Depending on how detailed the appliance is and how much you are willing to work.

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