South Side orthodontist hopes to set example with Black-owned practice

CHICAGO (WLS) -- August is Black Business Month: a time to celebrate Black entrepreneurs and the impact they're making in their communities.

And on Chicago's South Side, one orthodontist isn't just building a business, she's building representation in a field where very few people look like her.

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At Dr. Yvette Battle's Bronzeville practice, Black culture is part of every smile.

When Battle opened her practice, she was on a mission to bring Black culture to life. From the artwork on the walls to the T-shirts on the shelves, she reimagined the typical orthodontist's office by creating a space that feels like home.

"I found a lot more Black dentists than orthodontists; the hunt, it started off a little rough," patient Kosi Amor said.

"I want them to go out and, you know, get that job now that they got their braces off and, you know, to smile confidently or talk to that girl or, you know, go to that interview," Battle said.

According to a 2026 report published by the National Library of Medicine, only about 3 percent of orthodontists nationwide are Black, and Black women represent an even smaller slice of the profession.

"I knew that my skills and my knowledge and my education could hold up against anyone," Battle said. "I will say Howard did prepare us for that - to know that this, this is rare."

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A Howard graduate, Air Force dentist and now orthodontist and owner of Bronzeville Orthodontics, Battle's nearly two-decade journey has put her in a position to become the representation she once rarely saw.

"I was working for others and I just didn't feel as appreciated. Why don't I just do this for myself?" Battle said.

So, in 2021 she did just that.

With Black art on her walls, a gem on her tooth and Jordans on her feet, every detail is intentional and authentically her.

"It's more at home," Amore said. "When I come here, I probably do more laughing than anything."

And while Battle brings her own style to orthodontics, her patients say the quality speaks for itself.

But the real impact Battle hopes to leave is more than perfecting smiles.

It's showing the next generation, including her own daughter, that they don't just have to find a seat at the table.

They can build their own.

"I would hope for that to be my legacy," Battle said.

Battle is accepting new patients.