CHICAGO (WLS) — August is Black Business Month: a time to celebrate Black entrepreneurs and the impact they’re making in their communities.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24\/7. Click here to watch<\/a><\/p>\n At Dr. Yvette Battle’s Bronzeville practice, Black culture is part of every smile.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “I found a lot more Black dentists than orthodontists; the hunt, it started off a little rough,” patient Kosi Amor said.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n