Dr. Kirsten Karkow

otto-matic confidence in every smile

Dr. Kirsten Karkow

Orthodontist

I love orthodontics. It’s a science and an art, and I’m proud to be in this field. Designing and creating gorgeous smiles is an artistic outlet for me, and I love working with all kinds of people to create their best smiles and watch their confidence grow. It doesn’t matter how complex the case is. We can do this, together.

Education

Early Acceptance into Dental School
Doctor of Dental Surgery — University of Iowa
Master of Science & Certificate in Orthodontics — Marquette University
Serves on the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Team Under the Division of Plastic Surgery

Personal

I grew up in Manchester, Iowa, in a big family. My husband, Nick, and I now live in Webster Groves with our daughters, Ava and Knox, and love the community there. I love hanging out with family, exploring the STL food scene, being active, and practicing pretty much any type of art.

Experience Our

5-Star Care

Check out what patients have to say about their 5-star experience with our amazing team. We can’t wait to provide you and your family with the same quality of care!

Jenna P.

The ladies at Otto were all so nice, it felt like I was talking to old friends more than doctors! I felt so welcomed!

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback, Jenna! It’s fantastic to hear that our team made you feel so comfortable and welcomed. We look forward to seeing you again at Otto Orthodontics!

Destinie E.

My daughter started going to OTTO this year and we are so happy with our experience. The staff were very welcoming and helpful with our questions and making sure she was comfortable. Highly recommend.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that your daughter is enjoying her time with us. Our team is dedicated to providing a comfortable experience for all our patients. We appreciate your recommendation!

Jooli K.

Love this place. Getting appointments is never a hassle. My kid usually has a short wait time. Everyone is professional; I have no doubt my child is getting the best most updated care. And honestly, I love the pink theme of the office and staff!

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review, Jooli! We're thrilled to hear that you and your child enjoy our office and the care we provide. We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you again!

Samantha B.

Although we don't go here anymore (double insured we needed to find a place that took both our insurance's) we absolutely loved it when we did! This office is truly full of dedicated wonderful staff that go above and beyond to make what can be a scarey experience so calm and inviting! The environment they created is fun and vibrant while still having that comfy cozy feeling making it a more relaxing experience than you would think possible for an orthodontist office. My girlie's really enjoyed the artwork and neon pink signs but they really thought it was cool the staff had matching shoes!! The kiddos like to dress up the same so that was like coolest thing for them! The best thing overall though was the ease of communication between the staff, orthodontist, myself, and my daughter! They just really made an effort to make you feel heard when asking questions, answering questions, explaining, just all of it!!! 10/10 I wish every office I HAD to go to was this way, I'd never miss any appointments! 😆

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you and your daughters enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere and dedicated service at our office. We appreciate your kind words and wish you all the best!

Page B.

My son is a new patient at Otto. Their staff is always super friendly, clean office, and smooth visits.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that your son's visits have been positive and that our team has made a great impression. We look forward to continuing to provide excellent care!

Tyler S.

I’ve never been to an orthodontist before and my experience with Otto Orthodontics was amazing. They far exceeded my expectations. The staff is so friendly starting with the front desk. The place was so vibrant and fun. My consultation with Ashley went better than I would have imagined. She was the perfect mix of professionalism and personable. I felt really comfortable going over the plan and I felt like I could talk with her forever. Dr. Roland was so nice and made me feel really comfortable and optimistic about my future smile. She gave me options to weigh as well as informed me on what she thinks would be the best route. Getting mouth work done can be stressful but this place is amazing and I’m so glad I pulled the trigger to check them out and can’t wait for to have the smile that I’ve always dreamed of. Thank you Otto Orthodonics!

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review, Tyler! We're thrilled to hear that your experience exceeded expectations. Our team is dedicated to making every visit enjoyable and informative. We look forward to helping you achieve your dream smile!

Megan F.

We have had an awesome experience here so far! The orthodontist was so informative and helped explain the plan so clearly for my son’s treatment. Everyone was awesome to work with!

Response from the owner:Thank you, Megan! We're thrilled to hear about your positive experience. Our team is dedicated to providing clear communication and exceptional care. We look forward to continuing your son's treatment journey!

Dave B.

Dr. Otto is awesome! My daughter had a great experience here. Everyone was kind, patient, and made the whole process way less stressful than expected. Highly recommend

Response from the owner:Thank you, Dave! We're thrilled to hear your daughter had a positive experience at our office. Our team strives to create a welcoming environment, making visits enjoyable and stress-free for all our patients. Your recommendation means a lot!

Tony F.

Jeanna P was AMAZING, so thoughtful on how things were explained and pretty sure we all laughed most of the time :) My daughter was actually kind of excited as we left, nice to know we are in good hands!

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that Jeanna made your experience enjoyable and informative. It's our goal to ensure every visit is positive and engaging for our patients.

Sara S.

We love Otto Ortho! Myself and two of my daughters have had braces through the practice, and everyone there has been wonderful to work with. We highly recommend the Wentzville location.

Response from the owner:Thank you, Sara! We're thrilled to hear that you and your daughters have had such a positive experience with us. Your recommendation means a lot, and we look forward to continuing to assist you all!

Jessy H.

Dr. Karkow and staff were absolutely amazing with our little cleft cutie! Everyone was so awesome and accommodating for such a young ortho patient!

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that Dr. Karkow and our team made your experience so positive. We look forward to continuing to provide exceptional care for your little one!

S M.

We are so excited for this journey! Otto Orthodontics has made everything so smooth and has such excellent knowledge! All of the Staff has been FANTASTIC!

Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words, S! We're thrilled to hear you're excited about your journey with us. Our team strives to provide excellent service, and your feedback truly motivates us. Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Anne K.

I can’t say enough about how incredible our first experience was with Dr. Otto and her stellar team. Her team made my kids feel so at ease and excited to be there! Dr. Otto was so thorough going over my twins treatment plan. Dr. Otto
is so knowledgeable and her passion for providing the highest care was very evident! The practice is beautiful and she invests in her patients with the best in class technology! We couldn’t be more thrilled to start our twins orthodontic journey with Dr. Otto! Thank Dr. Otto and team for a remarkable experience!

Response from the owner:Thank you, Anne, for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled that Dr. Otto and our team were able to create a comfortable environment for your twins. Your trust in us for their orthodontic journey means so much!

Jeff D.

Very well run practice with friendly, caring service. Easy to see why Otto Orthodontics is so successful.

Response from the owner:Thank you, Jeff, for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear you appreciate our friendly service. Our team is dedicated to providing the best care, and your feedback motivates us to keep excelling.

Janet B.

I had a wire that poked a little bit into my cheek. They were able to get me in and replaced the wire the same day. Kaitlyn was super nice and got me in and out really quick.

Response from the owner:Thank you, Janet! We're thrilled to hear that Kaitlyn provided you with quick and friendly service. Your comfort is our priority, and we're glad we could assist you the same day.

Dr. Kirsten Karkow

otto-matic confidence in every smile