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!

Kati D.

Such a great staff. Wonderful environment. My kid felt at ease immediately. Every step was explained, as well as financial breakdowns. Kids questions and concerns were answered immediately

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that your child felt comfortable and well-informed during their visit. Our team is dedicated to providing a supportive environment for all our patients.

Tabitha R.

Dr. Otto and her team are amazing! As a single parent, her and her team have made it affordable for both of my kids to have braces. That alone shows such kindness, compassion, and selflessness. Every time we are at their office, it always feels so warm and welcoming. I would truly recommend them to anybody. There is a good energy in the office. It’s a real team! I love Dr. Otto and her group.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you and your kids feel welcomed and supported at our office. Your recommendation means a lot to us. We look forward to seeing you again!

Hannah B.

I appreciate Dr. Otto’s orthodontic expertise and customized plan to finalize my Invisalign treatment. She and her team are very friendly, time efficient, and take time to answer my questions. They work really well with my dental sensitivity and each visit I leave feeling well cared for and thankful for their excellent treatment. My kids also see Dr. Otto for their orthodontic treatment- We are all smiles about their care and cannot recommend them enough!

Response from the owner:Thank you, Hannah, for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear about your positive experience with Dr. Otto and the team. Your family's smiles are our top priority, and we appreciate your recommendation!

Kelly N.

Went in for a free consultation and left as happy, first time clients. Brittany, Jennifer and Dr Karkow were all amazing! So kind and helpful and answered all of our questions.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience with Brittany, Jennifer, and Dr. Karkow. We look forward to helping you achieve your smile goals!

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.

Denis H.

Great orthodontist! Their skills and experience are the best we have worked with. They listen to your concerns and proactively response to any questions you may have!

Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words, Denis! We're thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience with our team. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we look forward to continuing to support your orthodontic journey!

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!

Jaime E.

My daughter just started her journey here but wow! Such a friendly office!! Everyone goes out of their way to make you feel comfortable. Even after your appointment, they reach out to check in on you. Highly recommend coming to Otto!!

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that your daughter feels comfortable in our office. Our team is dedicated to providing exceptional care and support. We appreciate your recommendation!

Brian Dawson R.

The staff is amazing and welcoming! Our daughter has had a great experience on braces with Otto.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review, Brian! We're thrilled to hear that your daughter had a great experience with our team. We look forward to continuing to provide excellent care!

3rdchancebeener S.

It was pretty good! Although it slightly hurt. It wasnt bad. Im still nervous to continue the 2 year journey though.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your review! We’re glad to hear that you had a good experience overall. It's completely normal to feel a bit nervous at the start of your journey with us, but we're here to support you every step of the way. If you have any concerns, feel free to share them with us.

Alaina P.

From the moment I entered the office everybody was awesome. Friendly informative staff, made me feel welcomed and happy that I chose them for my orthodontic needs.

Response from the owner:Thank you, Alaina! We're thrilled to hear that our team made you feel welcomed and informed. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we look forward to supporting your orthodontic journey!

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!

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!

Kelly P.

They took suck good care with my son getting his braces on. They answered all of his questions and taught him how to take care of them.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted to hear that your son felt well cared for during his braces appointment. Our team is always here to support and educate our patients.

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!

Dr. Kirsten Karkow

otto-matic confidence in every smile