Name: Matthew Fail
Age: 17
Occupation: High School Senior, Crew Trainer at McDonalds
Favorite Innovative Drink: Frozen Strawberry Lemonade
How do you spend your free time? I’m usually either at work trying to prepare for college, or at home doing homework. In my actual ‘free time,’ I’m usually cleaning my 2006 Buick Lucerne or on my computer playing games.
Favorite quote: “He that is without sin may cast the first stone.” John 8:7
Best moment at Innovative Dental: Finally seeing my new smile
How has your new smile impacted your life? It’s given me a lot more confidence in everyday tasks, and has even had physical benefits too, such as clearing up some of my speech impediments.
The crowd erupted in applause. It was the largest audience Matt Fail had ever performed for; he clutched his saxophone and took a deep breath in. The mixed feelings of satisfaction and excitement bubbled up, but he contained it from entering his face. His mother, Beth, snapped a photo of his proud moment.
“I remember I was wearing my black suit, purple dress shirt, and had my white sax – I looked pretty stunning, not going to lie,” Matt joked, and then paused seriously. “The one flaw about it is was that I wasn’t really smiling.”
As a sophomore, Matt had earned the highest rating at the District level for his saxophone solo, and would soon be moving on to compete at the State level. His proud director gave Matt the opportunity to perform his solo at the Christmas concert, to showcase the fruits of his hard work. It was one of his proudest moments in front of family and friends. Despite so many reasons to smile, Matt could only produce a tight-lipped grin. Beth took note. She knew how he felt about his smile.
“I looked pretty stunning, not going to lie,” Matt joked, and then paused seriously. “The one flaw about it is was that I wasn’t really smiling.
“I’d say my teeth were borderline horrible,” said Matt. “I simply never showed my teeth to anyone. They were crooked, pushed forward, crowded, chipped, and just plain unappealing.”
Matt continued to succeed with his saxophone. His hard work paid off and he went on to earn another top rating at the State level. His band director nominated him for The Missouri Ambassadors of Music, which would take him on to Europe to perform. Soon after, Matt received a formal letter of invitation from the governor of Missouri. Less than a hundred kids in the entire state were selected. Matt and his mother traveled with Ambassadors of Music USA to seven different countries in Europe – including England, France, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany- and played concerts in four of those countries. Over 400 people attended the concert in Germany alone.
Throughout his success, Matt continued to wear only a mild, close-lipped smile. “Matthew’s smile prior to Invisalign was almost non-existent,” said Beth. “There was never that full on ‘life-is-great’ smile.”
The summer before Matt entered his final year of high school, his parents knew it was time to seek a solution to his misaligned teeth. Beth began doing research, and came across Innovative Dental. She knew with limited time, they would need an innovative solution.
“We did not want Matt to be self-conscious about starting college with traditional metal braces, so I started doing research about invisible braces.” said Beth. “I was very impressed with Innovative Dental’s Elite status, and their outstanding reviews from patients.”
At his consultation, Dr. Grant Olson estimated that his Accelerated Invisalign treatment could be as short as eight months. Beth was shocked – she expected one to two years. Dr. Olson explained how the use of advanced orthodontic techniques such as Propel that would speed the orthodontic process by up to 70%. Matt was elated with the idea that he could complete his treatment before the school year was over.
On the day he received his first Invisalign aligners, the news got even better: his treatment was only going to last three months! This meant he would have a straight smile before the school year even started. “When you take into account what these trays can do in three months compared to what braces do in 18 plus, it’s the only option that makes sense,” said Matt.
Not only was the length of his treatment a surprise, so was the ease of his overall experience. “You aren’t limited in what you can eat with the trays,” said Matt. “Popcorn? Go for it! Gum? Just take out those trays!”
Yet it was what Matt felt when the journey was over that left the biggest impact. Matt grins wide with all of his teeth when he recalls his experience.
“I just love every single aspect of my smile. I smile with my teeth a lot more,” said Matt grinning. “Especially during conversations, and of course for pictures. My overall speech has improved slightly due to a more consistent bite. In general, I have a lot more confidence in anything I do.”
His mother’s own smile beams as she talks about Matt’s journey to a confident smile: “It has been just incredible watching his face light up with that full blown smile where I can see his teeth.,” said Beth. “As a mother, there is no greater joy than seeing my son smile and laugh without being self-conscious about his teeth. It has truly been life changing! Matt is an amazing young man and his face just lights up with his new smile.”
“As a mother, there is no greater joy than seeing my son smile and laugh without being self-conscious about his teeth.
