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!

Susan T.

We had great experiences with our kids at Otto Orthodontics. They have the best staff! The boys loved the reward system and actually looked forward to their appointments.

Response from the owner:Thank you, Susan! We're thrilled to hear that your boys enjoyed their visits and the reward system. Our team is dedicated to making every appointment a positive experience. We look forward to seeing you all again!

Samyra M.

They are awesome, it’s organized and many colors for braces. The place overall gives you good vibes and everyone is very nice.

Response from the owner:Thank you, Samyra, for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere and our team's kindness. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we look forward to seeing you again!

ellaha M.

My sister had a wonderful braces experience with Otto and now my brother is with them too! Everyone is so kind and professional. This orthodontic practice is the best there is!!

Response from the owner:Thank you for your glowing feedback! It’s wonderful to hear that your sister had a great experience and that your brother is now receiving care with us. We appreciate your kind words about our team's professionalism and support.

Laetitia G.

Carl and Olivia both had a great visit at Otto Orthodontics. Carl’s first time getting braces went very smoothly, and Olivia did great on her second visit as well. Thank you for taking such good care of them!

KERRI F.

Third child to get braces with Dr. Otto & as always, she and her team are just tremendous!! Cannot recommend them enough🙌🏼!

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review, Kerri! We're thrilled to hear that you and your family have had such positive experiences with Dr. Otto and our team. Your recommendation means a lot to us!

Justin W.

Mary Grace has treated our family with the utmost respect during our visits to Otto Orthodontics. She remembers our family and takes great care of my son. I’d highly recommend this establishment to anyone looking for a kid friendly orthodontist.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words, Justin. We're thrilled to hear that Mary Grace has made such a positive impact on your family's experience. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to continuing to serve you!

Ashley K.

This office is so nice and clean. Nicole was very sweet and patient with my daughter! I highly recommend this office!

Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words, Ashley! We're thrilled to hear you had a positive experience with Nicole. Our team is dedicated to providing a welcoming environment for all our patients. We appreciate your recommendation!

Kim T.

Everyone here is amazing and so friendly. My daughter was so scared to get braces and they made the process so easy! We love Otto orthodontics!!!

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback, Kim! We're thrilled to hear that our team made the braces process easy for your daughter. We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you both again!

Megan M.

We love Otto Ortho and we’re so glad we chose them!! So kind, so patient, and so approachable. Everything about their office and staff feels relaxing and professional.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that you find our team kind and professional. Your comfort is our priority, and we look forward to continuing to serve you.

meliha A.

My brother has been going here over two years now I believe so and when I decided that I wanted braces I knew I wanted to come to this place because they are very welcoming and the team is hard-working and even with my own experience today I had such a pleasant and comfortable experience. They are so helpful and kind.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear about your positive experience and appreciate your trust in our team. We look forward to continuing to provide you with exceptional care!

Andrea S.

First appointment out of many for two of my kids today. I was super impressed by Nichole she was amazing with my 8 year old who was very nervous about getting his expander and does not do well with the unknown. Thank you Nichole!

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback, Andrea! We're thrilled to hear that Nichole made your child's first appointment a positive experience. We look forward to seeing you and your kids again soon!

Arshley W.

First appointment went great!! I had a wonderful experience at this dental office. The staff was welcoming and supportive, making me feel comfortable throughout my first appointment.They took the time to guide me through the steps while answering all my questions and thoroughly explaining my dental issues. I truly appreciate their professionalism and kindness. Looking forward to my journey!!

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that your first appointment was a positive experience. Our team looks forward to supporting you on your orthodontic journey. See you soon!

Madilyn S.

This place is amazing! First time getting braces and it was so fun! Everyone here is so nice and kind and I feel very welcome!

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that your first experience with braces was enjoyable and that our team made you feel so welcome. We look forward to seeing you again!

Lauren W.

We love Otto Orthodontics! All of the staff is so nice and knowledgeable. They stay on top of appointments and are always so helpful!

Response from the owner:Thank you, Lauren! We appreciate your kind words about our team. It's wonderful to hear that you find our staff knowledgeable and helpful. We look forward to continuing to serve you!

Sara S.

Great first experience! Every staff member we encountered was phenomenal from scheduling our consultation to the orthodontist and everyone in between. The office is clean, decorated great for teens, and upbeat. ALL staff was smiling and seemed to enjoy being there. They have state of the art technology and the best pricing I have seen in the area. Our consult was quick (but not rushed, they answered all my questions). They just really had everything put together well and streamlined. Dr. Larkin was super friendly and didn’t push any appliances or upgrades we didn’t need. We were able to have my daughter’s braces placed that day! Dr. Larkin was able to remove a pesky loose tooth that had been holding on for months without numbing medicine for my child without tears. The staff knows how to talk to kids/teens to keep them engaged and make them feel at ease. They have a pretty sweet rewards program to keep kids on track and an even sweeter looking “Braces Off Bar”. I have seen Otto Orthodontics baskets donated at a few fundraisers I have been to and they also have the cutest booths at many community functions around town. It’s great that they give back to their community and stay involved throughout the year! No wonder they were voted #1 Orthodontist!

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Sara! We are thrilled to hear that you had such a great first experience with us and that our team made a positive impression. It's great to know that our efforts to create a welcoming and supportive environment for both clients and their families are appreciated. We look forward to continuing to serve you and your daughter as she progresses with her braces!

Dr. Kirsten Karkow

otto-matic confidence in every smile