Blog

On behalf of Dr. Lauren Windhorst and the whole team at Choice Orthodontics, we would like to welcome you to our practice’s official blog!

From traditional orthodontic treatments like metal braces and ceramic braces to more modern appliances like Invisalign, SureSmile, and AcceleDent, our skilled orthodontist and her team of trained professionals offer exceptional, compassionate care to children, teens, and adults at every turn.

With two convenient locations in St. Joseph, MO and Gallatin, MO, our practice is proud to be the trusted hometown orthodontist of many different communities across Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas, including Savannah, Maryville, and Cameron. No matter where you’re from, our orthodontic office can provide you with the right treatment to reach the beautiful, more confident smile you’ve always wanted.

Learn more about the types of braces we offer, Invisalign, SureSmile, and other oral and dental topics by checking out our latest blog posts. Or, contact the team at Choice Orthodontics today. We would love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have about getting started with an orthodontist!

How to Keep Your Teeth Straight After Braces

10/15/2020

Finally, the time has come! After months and months, you are finally able to take your braces off. We know how exciting that can be, but what happens after that? Will your teeth stay straight? Well...not exactly. Unfortunately, your teeth shift all the time.

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Halloween Season & Tips for Caring For Your Teeth!

10/12/2020

Halloween is a fun holiday for kids and adults of all ages. Whether you’re taking your child trick-or-treating this year or you’re still a child at heart and excited about all the tasty treats available in stores, caring for your or your child’s teeth, braces, and general dental care remains paramount.

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Healthy Foods For Dental Health

09/07/2020

Your diet affects your entire body, including the health of your teeth. At Choice Orthodontics, we want to ensure that you are eating the best possible foods to increase your oral health. Our Gallatin orthodontist, Dr. Windhorst, recommends eating more of the following foods: cheese, apples, leafy greens, carrots, yogurt, almonds, and celery.

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How to Take Care of Braces at Home

08/01/2020

Braces are a right of passage for most pre-teens and teenagers, but they also come with a lot of responsibility. This applies to adult patients with braces, Invisalign, SureSmile, and Acceledent as well. Braces need to be cared for at home and in between orthodontic appointments.

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Fixing Gummy Smiles

02/12/2020

Some people feel self-conscious about smiling because they believe their gums are too prominent. Though we each have our own definition of what makes a smile beautiful — including how much gum is too much — orthodontists define a smile as “gummy” when 4 millimeters (just over 1/8 of an inch) of gum tissue shows.

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What to Expect When Getting Invisalign

01/10/2020

Invisalign is slowly becoming the most innovative and popular orthodontic treatment option in the teeth straightening industry. It combines 3-D computer graphic technology to create customized aligners for your teeth. If you’re looking for a healthier, more beautiful smile, Invisalign might be the perfect solution for you!

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Difference Between Orthodontics & Dentistry?

12/05/2019

You may know that orthodontics and dentistry both relate to teeth, but do you know what differentiates the forms of service these two areas offer? If you’re in need of treatment for your teeth, you need to know. Both dentists and orthodontists work on oral health and dental care, but they can help your teeth in different ways.

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Is it Time to See an Orthodontist?

11/11/2019

Many people wait to seek orthodontic treatment for a number of reasons, the main one being that they’re simply unaware that orthodontic treatment is what they need. Our team members at Choice Orthodontics of Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas are here to offer guidance on when to see an orthodontist by highlighting a few common conditions and problems we treat that should get attention sooner rather than later!

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Direct-to-Consumer Braces vs. Orthodontist

10/15/2019

If you’ve ever considered using braces to straighten your teeth, you’re most likely familiar with direct-to-consumer orthodontic treatment options, as advertised on TV. These companies have exploded in popularity recently—boasting their affordability and less fuss involved. However, not all aspects of direct-to-consumer treatment are good. There are strong, unwavering benefits to completing orthodontic treatment with a certified and experienced orthodontist vs. getting the quick fix of straight-to-order aligners. Here are some things you should consider before clicking “purchase” on a smile kit.

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What is Diode Laser Treatment?

07/16/2019

Orthodontic technology has come a long way. In addition to the many first-rate orthodontic treatments that can straighten your teeth, there are other ways you can enhance your smile. With the use of innovative diode laser treatment, for example, you can easily remove excess gum tissue to improve the state of your smile.

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When to See an Orthodontist

06/21/2019

When is the right time to see an orthodontist? This is an excellent question, especially if you’ve been thinking about braces or orthodontic treatment for yourself or someone you care about.

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Adolescent Treatment

01/19/2019

Choice Orthodontics delivers quality orthodontic care for people of all ages. While we proudly offer adult orthodontic treatment as well as early orthodontic treatment, most of the treatment we provide is in the form of adolescent orthodontics.

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Life with Braces

12/10/2018

Braces are a right of passage for many people in this day and age. Though, despite being well-known, the actual process of living life with braces may not be as familiar.

At Choice Orthodontics, we believe that braces are only as good as the orthodontic team that cares for you while you have them. So, in order to take that first step toward providing excellent care, we want to keep you as informed about the process as possible so you know what to expect.

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Meet Our Staff

11/06/2018

At Choice Orthodontics, our team is dedicated to providing exceptional service to all our patients. In order to complement our experienced orthodontist, our team has been comprised of the most skilled, and caring team members. Together, we are able to offer amazing orthodontic services to the Saint Joseph and Gallatin, MO area—building beautiful and straight, healthy smiles every day! Continue reading below to learn more about our staff members and contact us to book an appointment today.

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Traditional Braces vs. Invisalign—Which One is Right for You?

11/02/2018

Fall is here, which means another school year is in full swing with activities, meetings, and social events. So, whether it’s for yourself or your child, it may be time to invest in a plan to straighten your teeth. But should you pick braces or opt for Invisalign? At Choice Orthodontics, we offer both Invisalign and traditional braces as great options to straighten teeth. By considering your individual teeth, goals, and preferences, we can help you choose which option is right for you.

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Why Choose Invisalign Clear Aligners?

10/09/2018

Orthodontic technology is continuously improving in terms of comfort, results, and appearance. This last element “appearance,” in particular, is an element of orthodontic treatment that has been innovated over the years in order to offer orthodontic patients treatment plans that are as discreet as possible. Invisalign clear aligners are a leading solution to this aesthetic quest.

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How to Tell If You’re Having an Orthodontic Emergency

09/15/2018

Having braces or Invisilign takes a bit of getting used to at first, and a lot of care. You may heed all directions from your orthodontist and still experience minor aches and soreness, which is completely normal. There may come a time however, although rare, that you may actually experience an orthodontic emergency. But how do you know when it’s just regular pain or an emergency? Continue below to read a summary of some common orthodontic problems, learn if they’re emergencies or not, and discover how to treat them.

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How to Clean Your Invisalign Aligners

08/08/2018

Invisalign is a great option for orthodontic treatment. The aligners are practically invisible, they’re removable, and best of all, you can eat any foods that you want. However, to get the most out of your experience with Invisalign, you have to take good care of your aligners and make sure you clean them properly. The Choice Orthodontics team has created a comprehensive list of the biggest do’s and don’ts when it comes to taking care of and cleaning your Invisalign aligners.

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Canker Sores

07/26/2018

Imagine that you’re brushing your teeth or diving into a plateful of your favorite food and you suddenly feel a sharp pain in your mouth. Once you get in front of a mirror you get a closer look and you see a small, white sore. You’ve just found yourself a canker sore, and they’re never fun. The good news is that your local Saint Joseph and Gallatin, MO oral health experts at Choice Orthodontics are here to help you with all the information about canker sores that you need to know for prevention and treatment.

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Early Orthodontic Treatment

04/13/2018

It’s never too late to begin orthodontic treatment. But when it comes to your child’s teeth, earlier is better than later. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an initial screening at age seven to determine if early orthodontic treatment is right for your child. In most cases, if orthodontic work is not needed, your orthodontist will simply monitor your child’s growth patterns until the best time for treatment is determined.

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Wisdom Teeth & Wisdom Tooth Extraction

03/18/2018

Your third molars are more commonly called "wisdom teeth." Usually appearing in the late teens or early twenties, wisdom teeth often lack the proper space in the jaw to erupt fully or even at all. This common condition is called impaction.

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How to Prevent Tooth Decay

02/02/2018

At Choice Orthodontics, we work hard to provide high-quality orthodontic care to families across Saint Joseph, Gallatin, Savannah, Cameron, and other Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas communities. Dr. Windhorst and her highly-trained staff want to make every patient feel at home in our offices.

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Orthodontic Headgear

01/02/2018

Sometimes braces alone aren't enough to move teeth into a better position, or correct a problematic bite or misaligned jaw growth. In those situations, your trusted St. Joseph and Gallatin orthodontist may recommend the use of special appliances, such as orthodontic headgear. Orthodontic headgear is worn partly outside the mouth and applies just enough force to move the teeth properly and guide the growth of the face and jaws.

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Thumb Sucking & Tongue Thrusting

11/29/2017

Thumb and finger sucking habits are a perfectly natural way for babies and toddlers to soothe themselves. However, as a child grows there comes a point when this comforting habit can cause more harm than good. While it is completely natural for children to engage in thumb sucking during the first few years of life, prolonging the habit could cause social awkwardness and damage to the jaw’s growth pattern.

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Sleep Apnea

11/03/2017

Most people don’t associate teeth with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). However, a 2012 study revealed that many children who are diagnosed with ADD don’t really have the condition. Rather, their behavioral problems are actually due to sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD), such as sleep apnea.

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Pregnancy & Your Child’s Developing Teeth

10/05/2017

At Choice Orthodontics, it’s our mission to offer efficient and effective services that help our patients achieve healthy, beautiful smiles. As part of this commitment, we’re always happy to share information on how you and your family can maintain great dental and oral health. For example, for all those soon-to-be parents out there, did you know that there are steps you can take during pregnancy to ensure your child develops healthy teeth?

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