Smiling Pretty

Dr. Gene Dongieux

Dr. Gene Dongieux, D.D.S., M.S., P.C.
Published Biography Written By Damion Michaels

Times have changed. Generations have passed. Cultures have evolved. Okay. No matter how you say it, "they just don't make them like they used to." I am speaking about Dr. Gene Dongieux, D.D.S., M.S., P.C.

Born in 1932, right in the middle of the depression, Gene Dongieux was conditioned by the toughness of the times. He came out swinging and determined to enjoy life to the absolute fullest.

Throughout high school and college, Dr. Dongieux supported himself by playing the saxophone, clarinet and flute in hotel bands and combos. He even worked in “big bands”, playing colleges throughout the Southeast. When he was 20, he earned his first college degree – an undergraduate in Industrial Management (a combination of business and engineering) from the University of Mississippi.

Upon graduation, he joined the service and became a single engine jet fighter pilot. Considered to be one of the best, he served out his active duty as a flight instructor and test pilot. In 1957, Dongieux finished his active duty tour with the Air Force but continued to fly jets and multi-engines for the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve.

Dongieux then went to briefly work for the Westinghouse Corporation in Philadelphia as a Management Trainee and the Champlin Oil and Refining Company as a division administrative assistant. Not yet finding his footing in his professional life, Dongieux decided on a clear path to his future.

While this path took many turns through various colleges such as University of Omaha, Mississippi Southern, Louisiana State and Florida Universities to qualify himself for dental school, Dongieux eventually ended up at Loyola of the South (dental school) in 1959.

During his four years at Loyola, Dongieux worked hard at his studies and hard at supporting himself – working as the night manager at the Pontchatrain Hotel and as a laboratory technician at West Jefferson General Hospital. It was also during his four years at Loyola, Dongieux found himself, his career and his passion for cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics. Having found his passion, Dongieux began his specialty training in orthodontics at Loyola of Chicago in September of 1963 and graduated with a Master of Science degree in 1965. During orthodontic school, he again flew for the Air National Guard and served on the teaching faculty of Loyola of Chicago.

In the almost 40 years that Dr. Dongieux has practiced orthodontics, he has characteristically challenged himself personally and professionally. Personally, when not working, Dongieux spent his time travelling extensively, race car driving, motorcycling, water and snow skiing, scuba diving, surfing, sailing and golfing in the Bob Hope Desert Classic. He even found time to run a couple of marathons – and that was just since he’s turned 50!

Professionally, Dongieux built an extremely successful orthodontic practice using traditional orthodontic procedures. Once again, in the middle of this success, Dongieux challenged himself to do better for his patients and embarked on his current mission – improved orthodontic procedures with minimal aesthetic impact. In other words, when his colleagues were perfectly happy to give their patients “tin grins”, Dongieux sought to not only eliminate the “tin grin” but to improve the corrective procedure.

Typical of his style, Dongieux traveled the world over to study and work with the best orthodontic researchers in the field of Lingual Braces (or rear mounted braces). Dongieux now promotes Invisalign, clear removable aligners, and Lingual Braces as his preferred method of orthodontic procedure because “these procedures treat the whole patient by giving the patient maximum corrective effort with minimal aesthetic impact." Lingual braces are especially effective in correcting severe orthodontic problems.

As you can see Dr. Dongieux has spent his life maximizing his efforts and opportunities - never settling for the “accepted normal” way of doing things. Dr. Dongieux’s efforts are the renaissance of service and treatment to his patients that have long since been forgotten.

Once when people talked about renaissance men, they referred to men who balanced the arts and sciences. Today’s renaissance man not only balances art and science but also thrill seeking action to quiet self-introspection, solitude to busy family life, and relationships to professional ascension. Problem is – there are very few renaissance men left in this world – and I count Gene Dongieux in that few.

Awards, Certificates of Recognition, Continued Education:

1973 American Board of Orthodontics
States that Dr. Gene Dongieux is Board Certified for Eligibility

1982 Invisible Orthodontics
Recognizes Dr. Gene Dongieux as a Pioneer in Lingual Treatment Technology as evidenced by attending the Invisible Orthodontics Seminar in Newport Beach, California.

1986 American Lingual Orthodontic Association
Awards Dr. Gene Dongieux a founding membership in the American Lingual Orthodontic Association.

1987 American Dental Association, LA Dental Association, New Orleans Dental Association
Certifies that Dr. Gene Dongieux is in good standing with the principles of the Code of Ethics and Professional Behavior

1995 Certificat Seminare Orthodontique
Dr. Gene Dongieux has completed research and studies with Docteur Didier Fillion in Paris, France.

2000 Dirk Wiechman of Bad Essen, Germany
Certifies that Dr. Gene Dongieux has completed extended areas of training in ECO-Lingual Therapy and Transfer Optimised Positioning System

2001 New York University, David B. Kriser Dental Center, College of Dentistry
Certifies Dr. Gene Dongieux has completed courses for Continued Dental Education

1996, 2002 European Society of Lingual Orthodontics
Certifies Dr. Gene Dongieux participated in the Annual World Congress of European Society of Lingual Orthodontics

2003 Lingualcare
Certifies that Dr. Gene Dongieux has completed the Lingualcare Training Course

Align Technology, Inc. - Invisalign
Certifies Dr. Gene Dongieux has completed training

Member in Good Standing of The American Lingual Orthodontic Association, International

Credential