Graduate &
Past Clinical
Faculty of
USC School of Dentistry
 

Dr. Louie Invisalign Provider

Dr. Louie has been one of the few Invisalign Premier Providers in the United States. This certificate is only awarded to those who achieved an exceptional level of Invisalign case experience.

 Dr. Louie has been named a Top Dentist in the Consumers’ Research Council of America Guide to America's Top Dentists.
 

Invisalign®

Invisalign's® invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners will give you the beautiful straight teeth you've always wanted. And best of all, no one can tell you're wearing them. Invisalign is great for adults and teenagers.

Actual Patients of Dr. Louie
 

Before & After

Before & After

What is Invisalign®?

• Invisalign® is the invisible way to straighten your teeth without braces.
• Invisalign® uses a series of clear, removable aligners to straighten your teeth without metal wires or brackets
• Invisalign® has been proven effective in clinical research and in orthodontic practices nationwide.
• Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment option that allows doctors to straighten teeth using a series of clear, removable, nearly invisible, plastic appliances called aligners. Doctors have successfully used removable appliances for years for very limited treatment. With the application of 3-D computer technology and customization, Invisalign can be used to treat almost anyone who wants straighter teeth.
• Invisalign is a method doctors use to treat malocclusion or the misalignment of teeth. Because it does not rely on metal or ceramic brackets and wires, Invisalign reduces some of the limitations associated with traditional braces, including patient concerns about aesthetics, discomfort and hygiene.
• Invisalign has two primary components: ClinCheck® and aligners. ClinCheck is the Internet-based application that allows dentists to simulate treatment in 3-D by modeling stages of tooth movement. Aligners are thin, nearly invisible, removable dental appliances that correspond to each stage of the ClinCheck simulation. Each custom made aligner is worn over the teeth for two and a half weeks before being replaced by the next aligner in the series, until treatment is complete.
• Invisalign has been proven effective in clinical research and in orthodontic and dental practices worldwide. Invisalign is a compelling treatment alternative for most of the patients who would seek traditional orthodontic treatment. In addition, given the significant benefits of Invisalign, Align Technology has the opportunity to expand the U.S. orthodontic market by addressing the needs of millions of individuals who would not seek treatment with traditional appliances.

How Does Invisalign® Work?

• You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss.
• As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move little by little, week by week - until they have straightened to the their final position
• You'll visit us about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.
• Total treatment time averages 9 - 15 months and the average number of aligners during treatment is between 18 - 30, but both will vary from case to case.
• The patient meets with an Invisalign-certified dentist who takes orthodontic records of the patient’s teeth, including impressions, and fills out an Invisalign treatment planning or prescription form and sends all the material to Align Technology. The doctor reviews and approves the rendering of his treatment plan (the 3-D movie) on a secure portion of Align’s website. Align Technology produces a series of clear, plastic aligners that corresponds to the stages of tooth movement in the 3-D movie.
• The patient wears each stage of aligners for approximately two and a half weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. As the patient replaces each Aligner with the next in the series, their teeth move – little by little, week by week – until they have straightened to the final position the dentist has prescribed. Patient visit their dentist periodically to ensure that treatment is progressing as planned and to receive their next few sets of Aligners. Average treatment time is about a year.

How Are Aligners Made? You'd Be Amazed...

• The aligners are made through a combination of our expertise and 3-D computer imaging technology.
• Align Technology, Inc. of Santa Clara, California manufactures and markets Invisalign®. The company was founded in 1997 by Zia Chishti and Kelsey Wirth, who realized the benefit of applying advanced 3-D computer imaging to the field of orthodontics.
• During the initial consultation with the dentist (which is completely complimentary), all related issues regarding the teeth are discussed and the kind of results a patient would like to see. Once the doctor decides on the suitable Invisalign treatment, a treatment plan will be mapped out and then, impressions and pictures of the patient’s teeth will be taken for digitization purposes. These are done in order for the doctor to work with a computerized 3-D image of the patient’s teeth. The doctor will then plan tooth movements throughout the entire treatment timeline. From the doctor’s precise treatment plan, customized aligners are created with advanced technology for the patient to wear at each stage of treatment. While the number of aligners varies for each individual situation, a full set of treatment includes 20-30 aligners per arch.
• The virtually invisible aligners, which are made of a thermoplastic material uniquely developed for the Invisalign treatment plan, look similar tooth-whitening trays. Invisalign aligners are custom-made to move the teeth in the sequence determined by the doctor. These aligners and retainers are made with USP Class VI medical grade, high molecular weight, polyurethane resins. Test have been conducted to determine the biocompatibility of these materials, and show that they are biocompatible and pass all applicable regulatory requirements and thresholds for human wear in the mouth. The FDA classifies Invisalign aligners as Class II medical devices, and Align Technology, Inc. has held the necessary clearance from the FDA since 1998 to be able to sell and market the Invisalign system.

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