About Us
Our office has been creating beautiful, confident smiles for children, teens and adults throughout the Kansas City Area! We have two convenient locations. Our main office is located in Gardner, Kansas, and we have a second location in St Joseph Mo.
Personalized Treatment
Our team works together to provide personalized service and an enjoyable orthodontic experience in a comfortable, stress-free environment. Dr. J. Andrew Baxter and his staff will work closely with you to develop a treatment plan that is best suited for your orthodontic needs and lifestyle.
Advanced Technology
We offer several types of braces, including traditional metal braces, invisible ceramic braces and Invisalign®. Ceramic brackets are clear and blend with your natural tooth color to make your braces less noticeable. Invisalign is a series of invisible aligners that are used to straighten your teeth without the metal wires or brackets. They are comfortable and ideal for certain types of cases for teen and adult patients who are concerned about esthetics. We use the Bidimensional Bracket System which results in a more precise, comfortable and efficient treatment experience.
Meet Our Doctor
Dr. Baxter has over 17 years of experience in orthodontics
Dr. J. Andrew Baxter was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was raised in Monticello, Arkansas. He excelled in academics and sports and graduated from Monticello High School. He played baseball and football, and was an All-Conference defensive end. He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from the University of Arkansas at Monticello in 1993. Next, he attended the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry, where he obtained his D.D.S. Degree and graduated with honors in 1997.
From 1997 to 2010, he was the owner of a cosmetic and general dentistry practice in Rogers, Arkansas. During that time, he developed an interest in orthodontics. Over the years, he attended hundreds of hours of orthodontic continuing education with other general dentists and pediatric dentists. These weekend courses teach general and pediatric dentists to treat simple and limited orthodontic cases. Over the years, he began to treat more complex cases as he gained more experience, but he knew there were limitations to the weekend continuing education he had received. Complex cases should only be treated by a dentist who receives formal education through an orthodontic residency program to become an orthodontist.
In 2010, he decided to pursue and limit his practice to the specialty of orthodontics. He was accepted into a 2 year orthodontic specialty residency program at Jacksonville University School of Orthodontics in Jacksonville, Florida. He sold his general dentistry practice and headed off to Florida. In 2012, he obtained his CAGS specialty Certificate in Orthodontics.
Dr. Baxter wanted to continue his pursuit of excellence and clinical proficiency in orthodontics. Over the course of the next 2 years, he pursued board certification by passing the three phases of intense written, clinical, and oral exams administered by expert orthodontists of the American Board of Orthodontics. In 2014, he become a board certified orthodontist or, Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. Board certification is voluntary in orthodontics, and only a small percentage of orthodontists actually go through this rigorous process.
He is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, Southwest Society of Orthodontists, American Dental Association, Kansas Dental Association, and the Fifth District Dental Society of Kansas.
Dr. Baxter, his wife, Rebecca, and their children, Blaire and Clayton, reside in Weatherby Lake, Missouri. Rebecca was born in Ft. Worth, Texas and was raised in Seattle and Spokane, Washington. In 2000, she graduated from Whitworth Presbyterian University in Spokane with a Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education. She obtained her Master of Science Degree in Counseling from the University of Arkansas in 2004.
Dr. Baxter enjoys spending time with his family and attending their activities. His interests include hunting, camping, kayaking, biking, snow skiing, golf, and traveling. He also enjoys following Arkansas Razorbacks sports, especially football, and attends all home games in Fayetteville.
Meet Our Staff
Ann – Financial Manager
Ann has over 6 years of experience as a Financial Manager in orthodontics. As our Financial Manager, she will help you in all areas of patient financing and insurance benefit coordination. She enjoys helping patients achieve their smiles through affordable payment options and maximizing dental insurance benefits. Ann is married and has two daughters and three grandchildren.
Sheri – Treatment Coordinator
Sheri has over 14 years of combined experience as an Orthodontic Assistant and Treatment Coordinator. Sheri will guide you through the initial exam and educate you on the doctor's recommended treatment. It's rewarding for her to see the patients gain confidence as we create beautiful smiles for them. Sheri is married and has two children of her own, two step-children, and a grandson. She enjoys spending time with her family, going to the lake, and doing arts and crafts.
