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!

Gina S.

Dr. Larkin is the best! His attention to detail is unmatched. He focuses on dental health and beauty. The staff is also so nice and fun!

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review, Gina! We're thrilled you found Dr. Larkin's attention to detail and our team's friendliness exceptional. Your smile is our priority, and we appreciate your kind words!

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!

Summer F.

Everyone there was so friendly and never made me feel bad or uncomfortable about how bad my teeth are and went over lots of options for my treatment and were very understanding and accepting was just overall amazing definitely made me feel very comfortable

Jamie H.

Dr Otto has been phenomenal throughout our journey. Very honest, educated and aligned with our goals. Highly recommend.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review, Jamie! We're thrilled to hear that Dr. Otto has made such a positive impact on your journey. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we look forward to continuing to support your goals.

nancy R.

Absolutely wonderful experience. I have some questions and am looking forward to speaking with them soon. They are so enthusiastic about what they offer they go all out to please their patients in every way.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled you had a positive experience. Your questions are important to us, and we look forward to discussing them with you soon. Thank you for choosing us!

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!

Alma Giselle N.

We had such a wonderful experience today with Dr. Roland and the entire orthodontic team! From the moment we walked in, the staff was incredibly friendly, patient, and willing to go above expectations to help me with my insurance plan. Their customer service is always superb — they truly treat every patient with kindness & respect.

Dr. Roland was thorough, kind, and made sure we understood everything before we left.

I can’t recommend this office enough. Every visit is a great experience, and I’m so thankful for a team that consistently goes above expectations to provide the best care possible. Five stars all the way! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Response from the owner:Thank you, Alma, for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear about your positive experience with Dr. Roland and our team. Your recommendation means a lot to us. We look forward to seeing you again!

Kelly H.

Very thorough exam and explanation of benefits and care plan! We love the energy of OTTO. My children love it as do I.

Response from the owner:Thank you, Kelly! We're thrilled to hear that you and your children enjoyed the thorough exam and care plan. Our team is dedicated to creating a positive experience for all our patients. We appreciate your support!

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!

Today my son received his top set of braces and our experience from the consultation to today with Otto Orthodontics has been amazing. All of the ladies made my son comfortable and they were so informative and we left today knowing exactly how to take care of his new braces. Even though we’ve only been going for a short time, I highly recommend them. They are just lovely 🥰

Carla E.

My 2 daughters go here and they're amazing today our youngest one started her braces journey. They was so kind to her even though she cant sit till long. But she did great and so did the lady working on her she was very patient with our daughter.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review, Steve! We're thrilled to hear that your daughters had a great experience with us, especially as your youngest begins her braces journey. Our team truly values patience and kindness, and it’s great to know they made such a positive impact. We appreciate your trust in us and look forward to continuing to support your family!

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!

Maureen S.

started braces for my son today. Super friendly welcoming environment. The person working with him was careful to explain everything so He knew what they were doing.

Response from the owner:Thank you, Maureen! We’re delighted to hear you and your son had a positive experience. Our team is dedicated to ensuring every patient feels comfortable and informed throughout their orthodontic journey.

Alicia Nicole W.

Love Otto Orthodontics! I was able to get started with my treatment back in May and have had nothing but great experiences at every single appointment since then! Both Dr do such a great job at really addressing your needs, answering all questions, and making sure your teeth stay on track! Just got my daughter started in treatment here a couple months ago and couldn’t imagine going anywhere else!

Response from the owner:We are so happy to hear it, Alicia! Thank you!

Lashae W.

Very Pleasant Place and Staff ! Clean and beautiful facility. In and out. My son and I was very welcome. My son was so comfortable and respected! Guided us through the whole process

Response from the owner:Thank you, Lashae! We're thrilled to hear you and your son felt welcomed and enjoyed our clean facility. Your kind words motivate us to continue providing excellent service. We look forward to seeing you again!

Dr. Kirsten Karkow

otto-matic confidence in every smile