Retainers for the "MySpace" Generation

[RetainerDesigner]

Are we busy or what?

Well thought I would tell you guys, if your interested, that I was asked to speak at the DLAT (Dental Laboratory Association of Texas) Conference and expo in Houston, TX. Sept. 19-21. I was asked to speak about RetainerDesigner.com and how a lab owner would use it in their lab and a doctor would use it in their office. I have a 3 hour block of time reserved for the presentation, so I might need need filler...

I thought that I would ask you guys, what questions you would like answered if you heard the title and were able to attend. Or what questions do you have now about the site and why it exists.
Once I get the presentation put together I will post it online for everyone to see. Maybe I could do a live online presentation if that is possible to do.

Title:
Retainers For The "MySpace" Generation.
Short Description:
How to implement RetainerDesigner.com to market your lab as a contender in the internet age.

Anyways thanks in advance for any help. I am excited and a little nervous, this will be my first public speaking since dental lab school.

[labdude]

Nice work Cade. Great postion your getting into.
Gets you right out front and noticed.
You might want to mention something about GPs with no ortho training after dental school, practicing ortho. Orthodontists have 2 to 3 years training after dental school. Hot topic. No clear cut line to make it o.k or not o.k. I would like to see something in place to educate the public about this issue. At least a required disclosure of your ortho training, or not.
Would upset most GPs however, mostly those that do ortho. Would put you in "tight" with Orthodontists at the same time.
The use of Retainerdesigner.com would expose a given labs clients to CadeTech lab. Why dangle your business in front of someone else?? I do like the idea of the design site, letting a patient design their own retainer over the web. How about the situation of a patient occupying more chair time if they do it in office?? Probably low probablity as there are now computers for sign in etc.
Then I wonder about timely placement by the patient, of their request for a design. This could be a problem if the patient leaves the office, and either forgets, or is uninspired to respond for some reason.
What as been your experience with those situations???
I would like to know here, and those issues would be good in your presentation. I'm sure you already have that simpler stuff in your presentation anyway.
Best to you Cade,
Mike.

[trisha]

Congrats on the great opportunity. I will be thinking of any questions that might come up.

How about the situation of a patient occupying more chair time if they do it in office??

excellent point.
Did you hire an employee yet?
trisha

[labdude]

Here's something humorous. (Trisha).
Cade, hire a woman. They are very capable.
Any woman can do anything a man teaches her.

[trisha]

Any woman can do anything a man teaches her

PAALEEZE!

Woman give birth to you men, did'nt teach us that now did ya!

t

[Inman Labs]

Cade:

Congrats....great opportunity!
When you design your presentation also think how you would give it if you were talking to a group of orthodontists or ortho assistants and maybe save two versions. Get it polished and complete and send me a copy, I will try like hell to get you a presentation slot at the 2010 AAO...the 2009 AAO is already slotted.

No promises as I have no real pull but I do have a few friends and I personally love your site.

Don

[RetainerDesigner]

Originally Posted by labdude

You might want to mention something about GPs with no ortho training after dental school, practicing ortho.

Not touching that powder keg!

Originally Posted by labdude

The use of Retainerdesigner.com would expose a given labs clients to CadeTech lab. Why dangle your business in front of someone else??

CadeTech Ortho Lab has no association with the site ,theoretically of course, I will be in charge of the site and the owner of a lab. All lab, doctor and patient information will be kept securly on a database sever. I do have access to but no idea how to use it, I will leave that up to my web guy.

Originally Posted by labdude

How about the situation of a patient occupying more chair time if they do it in office?? Probably low probablity as there are now computers for sign in etc.
Then I wonder about timely placement by the patient, of their request for a design. This could be a problem if the patient leaves the office, and either forgets, or is uninspired to respond for some reason.

I thought of that...there will be an option to send the patient home with a reservation number and let them design at home, the design will be sent directly to the lab. You are right about all the extra computers in the office, one dentist even stated something about setting up a computer just for RetainerDesigner.com. As far as timely placement, hopefully most kids will be excited about designing their retainers online that they wont forget, we may implement email or text reminders if it gets bad. The office will also have to stress that if they forget to design their retainer in time, they will get just a clear retainer or pink. also if they let the kids design their retainer in between their second to last appt and last appt it may solve problems of a week turn around for the labs.
We are currently putting in the ability for labs to make two custom acrylic charts for each of thier doctors if they want. One for quick and simple in-office designs , for the uninspired, and one for the patients sent home to fret over their color choices.

Originally Posted by trisha

Congrats on the great opportunity.
Did you hire an employee yet?

No employee yet, finally going to get my wife full time starting next week( son starting "wee" school), that should help. Just in time too, just picked up 2 more orthodontists! Busy Busy Busy!

Originally Posted by Inman Labs

Cade:

Congrats....great opportunity!
When you design your presentation also think how you would give it if you were talking to a group of orthodontists or ortho assistants and maybe save two versions. Get it polished and complete and send me a copy, I will try like hell to get you a presentation slot at the 2010 AAO...the 2009 AAO is already slotted.

No promises as I have no real pull but I do have a few friends and I personally love your site.

Don

That would be cool! maybe by then it will be good! I was thinking the same thing about the 2 versions. After the presentation in Houston I was going to modify the presentation and give small little presentations to the offices possibly over lunch that I provide for them. Some of the offices have monthly training days or meetings, I will try to get in on that.
There are also many online options I was thinking of posting the presentation online for all to look at, kind of a tutorial. And/Or give online live presentations online to any labs /doctors with broadband internet that wants to see it.


We are currently still working on the "backend" the part the labs and docotrs use. It is taking longer than we though tbut will be worth it.

Thank you guys for all the input, keep it coming, I will give you guys first preview of the completed site when it comes online. Till then keep playing with the front end! BTW just found out that the designs will print out. There is another option for kids to use. They can print up there designs and bring it to their orthodontist.


Cade

[trisha]

Sounds like things are moving full speed ahead! Good things are happening for you and your hard work is paying off. I wish you the best!!
You go boy!!!!!
t

[RetainerDesigner]

Just a quick update:
The DLAT meeting has been moved to November 21-23rd, because of hurricane Ike.

Here is more info if anyone is interested. Also a contact if you would like to make a donation fellow lab owners that fell victim to Hurricane Ike.
DLAT Home Page