Invisalign
Cosmetic · Orthodontics
Adult orthodontics in Phoenix, AZ
Southern Smiles provides Invisalign treatment for adults; we do not provide traditional braces or children's orthodontics. Dr. Monzer Shakally evaluates your teeth, gums, bone, bite, and existing dental work in South Phoenix, explains whether Invisalign fits your case, and coordinates a specialist referral when braces or another approach would be more appropriate.
Invisalign treatment for adults
No braces or children's orthodontics—referrals when needed
Bilingual care for South and East Phoenix
Real adult orthodontic patients
See Invisalign results from our practice
These are verified Invisalign cases completed at Southern Smiles. They show what doctor-directed Invisalign treatment accomplished for two individual patients; starting points, treatment needs, and results vary.
Invisalign
Kylee
Invisalign versus braces
Is Invisalign the right approach for your teeth?
The most discreet option is not automatically the best option, and the appliance does not replace diagnosis. The amount and type of movement, your bite, gum support, restorations, and daily routine all matter.
Invisalign
Invisalign uses removable clear aligners and can be a discreet option for many adult spacing, crowding, and bite concerns. Success depends on wearing the trays consistently, keeping them and your teeth clean, and returning for monitoring. Attachments, refinements, and retainers may be part of treatment.
Explore our Invisalign treatment page →Braces or specialist orthodontic care
Fixed braces do not depend on remembering to insert trays and may give better control for certain complex movements. If your diagnosis is better treated with braces, advanced orthodontic mechanics, or jaw-focused care, we will explain why and help coordinate the appropriate specialist referral.
Health before alignment
Adult treatment has to account for more than straight teeth
Adults may have gum recession, bone loss, missing teeth, implants, crowns, or planned restorative work. Those factors can change which teeth should move and when other treatment belongs in the sequence.
A safe starting point usually includes
- Teeth and gums without untreated decay, infection, or active periodontal disease
- Enough bone and gum support for the movements being considered
- A bite concern that can be treated predictably with the selected method
- A realistic plan for hygiene, visits, aligner wear, and long-term retainers
We may treat, coordinate, or refer first when
- Gum disease or bone loss needs periodontal evaluation and stabilization
- A missing tooth, implant, crown, or bridge changes the movement sequence
- The bite requires braces, advanced mechanics, or orthodontic specialist care
- A skeletal jaw relationship may need an orthodontic and surgical evaluation
The adult orthodontic process
Diagnose, choose the approach, monitor, then retain
The exact timeline varies, but a responsible plan follows the same sequence: evaluate health, document the bite, move teeth with supervision, and protect the finished position.
Step 1
Examine and document
We review your goals, teeth, gums, bite, existing dental work, photographs, and any X-rays or digital scans the case needs.
Step 2
Compare the options
We explain what Invisalign could accomplish, where it has limits, and when braces or specialist care would offer better control.
Step 3
Move and monitor
During active treatment, progress visits confirm that the teeth and supporting tissues are responding as planned.
Step 4
Finish and retain
After the planned movement is complete, retainers help hold the result while any coordinated cosmetic or restorative work is completed.
Consultation, cost, and payment plans
$99 Invisalign consultation
Your $99 consultation includes an exam, photographs, digital scans, and a complete workup explaining the recommended process and estimated treatment timeline. If you move forward with Invisalign, the $99 is applied toward your total treatment cost.
- A case-specific explanation of the process and estimated timeline
- A total treatment estimate based on the required tooth and bite movement
- Review of your individual orthodontic insurance benefit, if available
- Payment-plan options and help determining whether you qualify
From Dr. Shakally
Dr. Monzer Shakally explains adult orthodontics
Hear how Dr. Shakally compares adult treatment options and what he evaluates before recommending a path.
Common questions
Everything you need to know
Straight answers to common questions about starting orthodontic treatment as an adult.
Age alone does not rule out orthodontic treatment. The more important questions are whether your teeth, gums, and bone can support movement and whether the proposed plan fits your bite, health history, restorations, and goals.
Neither method is automatically better. Invisalign uses removable clear aligners that are discreet but require consistent wear. Fixed braces may provide better control for certain complex movements and do not depend on tray wear. Diagnosis should determine the method.
Active periodontal disease should be evaluated and stabilized before orthodontic movement. Moving teeth without adequate gum and bone support can create avoidable risk, so periodontal care and monitoring may need to be coordinated first.
Those conditions do not automatically prevent treatment, but they affect planning. Implants do not move like natural teeth, and the final tooth positions may need to be coordinated with future crowns, bridges, implants, bonding, or veneers.
Treatment time depends on the starting bite, the number and complexity of movements, the appliance selected, biological response, and adherence to the plan. We provide a case-specific estimate after diagnostic records rather than promise a standard timeline.
Yes. Teeth can shift after active orthodontic movement, so retention is part of treatment. The type of retainer and wear schedule are prescribed for your individual result.
Coverage varies. Some plans include an adult orthodontic benefit, while others exclude adult treatment or apply age limits, waiting periods, deductibles, or lifetime maximums. We can review your plan and provide a written estimate.
The Invisalign consultation is $99 and includes an exam, photographs, digital scans, and a complete workup explaining the recommended process and estimated treatment timeline. If you move forward with treatment, the $99 is applied toward your total Invisalign cost. We can also review payment-plan options and help determine whether you qualify.
Build the complete plan
Alignment may be the first step—not the last
These pages explain how orthodontic movement can coordinate with color, tooth shape, and a broader smile plan.
Invisalign
See the dedicated Invisalign page for candidacy, daily wear, treatment steps, costs, and real patient results.
Learn more →Teeth whitening
Plan when whitening should happen relative to aligner treatment and final restorative shade matching.
Learn more →Dental bonding
Compare moving a tooth with conservatively repairing a small chip, edge, shape, or space.
Learn more →Smile makeover
See how alignment can fit into a coordinated plan involving health, function, color, and tooth proportions.
Learn more →Could Invisalign be right for your smile?
Start with an exam and a real diagnosis. We will explain what Invisalign could accomplish, when another method makes more sense, and what the full sequence would involve.