Since 1999, Dr. Marc Allen has been delivering exceptional orthodontic care to the Charlotte and Lake Norman communities. Dr. Allen’s reputation for his extensive training in treating craniofacial malformations and the most challenging of all adult and child treatments extends to other parts of the world as well. Patients travel from abroad and across state lines daily, seeking his services.
He has used Invisalign since its beginnings 24 years ago. Also, he uses Teen Invisalign, Spark Aligners, TADS, and a range of orthodontic treatments for children, teens, and adults, all in a friendly and inviting setting.
A true Carolina native, Dr. Allen and his wife, Shawna, work together in the office in what the office team calls amazing harmony. They are raising their 2 teenage daughters uniquely, in a way they call aware, involved, and real-world-based, environmentally influenced democracy. When Dr. Allen finds alone time, he loves to design and build out spaces from the pencil to the screw, mountain bike, Peloton, yoga, and write chapters for the various books he has underway.
Education and Background
Dr. Allen began his academic journey after high school in Gastonia, NC, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology followed by a Doctorate of Dental Surgery. His leadership talents emerged as he took on the role of the National Vice President of the American Association for Dental Research Student Division, even digitally creating and writing their first website in 1996.
During his time at UNC, Dr. Allen volunteered on the Craniofacial & Cleft Palate Team, which led to internships at the Lancaster Cleft Lip and Palate Clinic in Pennsylvania and research in the orthodontic program at The University of Manchester, UK, working with acclaimed professors from Oslo, India, and England.
Additionally, he provided dental services to orphans at Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos in Mexico. He completed his orthodontic education with a Post-Doctoral Master’s in Craniofacial Anomalies and Distraction Osteogenesis at the University of Texas while also serving on the Texas Cleft Lip and Palate team.
He further honed his skills in interdisciplinary treatment, complex adult diagnoses, temporomandibular joint & joint pain management, and airway development methods at the Roth Williams International Center for functional occlusion for an additional 2 years after residency. He is one of the very few actively practicing Roth-trained orthodontists on the East Coast.
Passion for Innovation and for Orthodontics “Done right”
Dr. Allen is committed to remaining on the cutting edge of orthodontic advancements. He actively seeks out continuing education in areas such as:
- Functional Orthodontics
- Facial Aesthetics
- Surgical Orthodontics
- Temporary Anchorage Devices
- Airway Intervention
- Interceptive Treatment for Children
- Invisalign & Spark for All Ages
Environmental Stewardship
As the FIRST GreenDOC Certified Orthodontist in North Carolina, Dr. Allen has received the highest accolades from the ECO-Dentistry Association. He designed and built the world’s first stand-alone LEED-certified orthodontic practice and earned the association’s Leadership Award in May 2013 for his innovative approach to providing environmentally sustainable orthodontic care. His practice is one of only two worldwide to achieve this prestigious Gold Award certification.
Awards and Professional Affiliations
Dr. Allen’s proficiency has garnered him numerous honors, including recognition as a “Top Dentist” in Charlotte Magazine from 2007 to 2024 and in the “TOP 50 Orthodontists” in the USA. His notable achievements include:
- Recognized as a Top Premier Invisalign® Provider in the area
- Published works in the American Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Journal of Dental Research, and Oral Health Journal. Dr. Allen is also the first author of his published work, Craniofacial Anomalies and Distraction Osteogenesis.
- Graduated from Roth Williams International Center of Functional Occlusion
- The first recipient of the Outstanding Orthodontic Resident title at the University of Texas
- Completed the first phase of board certification with The American Board of Orthodontics
- Awarded the Top Orthodontist title among the Top 50 Orthodontists in America in 2012
- Received the Leadership Award in ECO-Dentistry at the Sundance Robert Redford Conference in 2013
- Named Best Orthodontist by Moms of Charlotte, NC
- Served as Treasurer/Secretary of the Charlotte Dental Society for 4 terms
Professional Memberships: Dr. Allen is actively involved in a variety of professional organizations, including:
- Spear Study Club
- American Association of Orthodontists
- American Dental Association
- Southern Association of Orthodontics
- North Carolina Association of Orthodontists
- Charlotte Dental Society
- American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association
- Eco-Dentistry
- Orthopreneurs Study Club
- Seattle Smile Design & Airway Study Club
- Functional Orthodontics
