Orthodontic Retainers and Custom Appliances: The Clinic-to-Lab Workflow

Which appliances does Digidental manufacture?

Digidental manufactures:

• clear retainers;
• fixed lingual retainers;
• Hawley retainers;
• space maintainers;
• bleaching trays;
• sports mouthguards.

Each appliance is made according to the prescription and requirements received from the practice. See Orthodontics and Custom Appliances for service details.

The laboratory's role and the clinic's role

Digidental is a manufacturing laboratory. Diagnosis, treatment planning and clinical decisions remain the treating dental professional's responsibility.

The laboratory therefore needs a clear prescription: it manufactures what is requested; it does not decide it.

Digidental does not adjust retainers: they are manufactured according to the prescription and the scan or impression received.

Digital or conventional: both are accepted

An intraoral scanner is not required. Digidental accepts:

• digital scans (iTero, 3Shape TRIOS, Medit, Carestream / DEXIS, Dentsply Sirona Primescan);
• conventional impressions;
• existing physical models.

A conventional impression can be poured into a model and digitized at the laboratory before design and manufacturing. To compare both approaches, read Digital vs conventional impressions.

What to send with the case

To avoid back-and-forth, the prescription should state:

• the requested appliance;
• the arch or arches involved;
• the arch files or impressions required for the case;
• any specific instructions for the technician.

If information is missing, our team contacts the practice before proceeding. If you are unsure about a file format, see our STL, PLY, OBJ and DCM guide.

Production time

Production time varies by appliance type and case requirements. It is confirmed at intake, and shipping is in addition to production time.

Pickup and delivery are available in Laval and Greater Montreal; elsewhere in Quebec, cases travel by courier or mail.