A new location means more convenient access to trusted orthodontic care for families in St. John and the surrounding Northwest Indiana communities.
7 min read | Practice News | New Location | Braces & Invisalign
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Puntillo & Crane Orthodontics is opening a new office in St. John, Indiana this fall at 11020 W. 96th Pl., St. John, IN 46373. It will be our fourth Northwest Indiana location, joining Crown Point, Schererville, and Valparaiso.
- All four of our orthodontists will see patients in St. John: Dr. Puntillo, Dr. Crane, Dr. Gardiner, and Dr. Herrera. Families get the same doctors and the same treatment options, closer to home.
- The St. John office will offer our complete range of care: braces, clear braces, and Invisalign for children, teens, and adults, along with early orthodontic evaluations for kids around age 7.
- Nothing changes for current patients. Keep your appointments as scheduled, and once St. John opens you can ask to move your visits there if it is closer for your family.
- You do not have to wait for the doors to open. Your first visit is complimentary, and you can begin treatment at any of our current offices now and transfer to St. John when it opens.
Introduction
If your family lives in St. John, you know the routine. An after-school adjustment appointment means picking up at Lake Central, driving to the orthodontist, waiting, and driving back before practice or dinner. Over a two-year course of braces, that adds up to a lot of time in the car.
We have been building smiles across Northwest Indiana since 1994, and for years many of the families we treat have been making that drive to us from St. John, Dyer, and Cedar Lake. So we are bringing the practice to you. Puntillo & Crane Orthodontics is opening a new office in St. John this fall, and all four of our orthodontists will see patients there.
Here is where the office is, who will be treating patients there, what care will be available, and what the new location means if you are already a patient with us.
Meet Dr. Puntillo, Dr. Crane, Dr. Gardiner, and Dr. Herrera
The St. John office will be staffed by the same four orthodontists who see patients at our other locations. All four are orthodontic specialists, meaning each completed an accredited orthodontic residency after dental school, focused entirely on tooth movement and the growth of the jaws and face.
Dr. Anthony Puntillo is a board-certified orthodontist who has been treating Northwest Indiana families for more than 30 years. Patients know him for careful, precise treatment planning and for a warmth that makes first-time visitors feel at ease.
Dr. Christopher Crane brings a modern, technology-focused approach to every case and is deeply involved in the communities our offices serve. He helps families choose confidently among braces, clear braces, and Invisalign.
Dr. Carolyn Gardiner grew up in Crown Point and came home to practice here. Her family-centered style and her knowledge of local schools and schedules make her a natural fit for the families who will be coming to St. John.
Dr. Jose Herrera joined our doctor team in 2026 after earning his Doctor of Dental Surgery with High Distinction, a Master of Science in Dentistry, and his orthodontic specialty certificate at the Indiana University School of Dentistry. He is also a Crown Point native.
Together, our doctors have built more than 20,000 smiles, earned more than 845 five-star Google reviews, and hold Platinum+ Invisalign Provider status, which reflects the volume of aligner cases our practice treats each year.
Where Is the New St. John Office?
The new Puntillo & Crane Orthodontics office is located at 11020 W. 96th Pl., St. John, IN 46373, and it is scheduled to open this fall. The office phone number is 219-323-3800.
St. John will be our fourth location in Northwest Indiana, alongside our offices in Crown Point, Schererville, and Valparaiso. That puts an office within a short drive of most families in Lake and Porter Counties, and for families on the southwest side of Lake County, it closes the gap that used to mean a longer trip for every visit.
We will announce the official opening date and office hours on pandcsmiles.com and on our social media pages as the date gets closer. In the meantime, the St. John phone line and our patient text line are the fastest ways to get on the schedule.
Which Communities Will the St. John Office Serve?
The St. John office serves families in St. John, Dyer, Cedar Lake, and the surrounding neighborhoods of southwestern Lake County, as well as anyone in Schererville who finds it a more convenient stop.
Much of that area is served by the Lake Central School Corporation, which covers the Tri-Town community of St. John, Schererville, and Dyer. Lake Central High School sits on Wicker Avenue in St. John, and its three middle schools, Clark, Grimmer, and Kahler, are where many of the teens we treat spend their school days. To the south, the Hanover Community School Corporation, based in Cedar Lake, serves Cedar Lake and portions of St. John, Crown Point, and Dyer through Hanover Central High School and Middle School.
For a Lake Central or Hanover Central student, an orthodontic office in St. John means an adjustment visit can fit between the final bell and evening practice without a long drive in either direction. For parents, it means fewer afternoons rearranged around an appointment.
What Orthodontic Care Will Be Offered in St. John?
The St. John office will offer the same complete range of orthodontic treatment as our other three locations: traditional metal braces, clear braces, Invisalign, and Invisalign for teens, for patients of every age, along with early orthodontic evaluations for children.
Early Orthodontics for Children
Early orthodontics does not mean early braces. It means an orthodontist assesses how a child's teeth and jaws are developing while there is still time to guide that growth, if needed. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that every child have a first orthodontic check-up by age 7.
Most children we see at that age do not need treatment right away. In many cases, we simply monitor growth with periodic visits and step in only if a problem develops. When early treatment is recommended, it is usually to make room for incoming permanent teeth or to correct a bite issue that would be harder to fix later.
Braces and Invisalign for Teens
The teen years are the most common time for orthodontic treatment, because most of the permanent teeth are in and the jaws are still growing. Teens in St. John can choose from traditional braces, clear braces that blend in with the teeth, or Invisalign for teens, which uses removable clear aligners. Which option fits best depends on the complexity of the bite, the teen's habits, and how consistently aligners would be worn, so that decision is made together at the first visit.
Braces and Invisalign for Adults
Adults can receive orthodontic treatment as long as their teeth, gums, and supporting bone are healthy. According to the AAO, one in three orthodontic patients today is over the age of 18. Many of the adults we treat choose clear braces or Invisalign because they are less noticeable at work, and both can correct crowding, spacing, and bite problems that have bothered someone for years.
What Does a First Visit Look Like?
A first visit at Puntillo & Crane Orthodontics is a complimentary consultation that includes a comprehensive exam, digital X-rays, and a conversation about your treatment options. You leave knowing whether treatment is recommended, what it would involve, how long it would likely take, and what it would cost.
If treatment is recommended, we build a plan around your family's schedule and budget. We accept most major insurance plans and offer flexible payment options, including in-office financing, so the cost of braces or Invisalign can be spread out in a way that works for you.
Because the St. John office will use the same doctors, records, and treatment systems as our other locations, a plan started in Crown Point or Schererville can continue in St. John without missing a step.
What This Means for Current Patients
If you are already in treatment with us, nothing about your plan changes. Your appointments, your doctor, and your treatment timeline all stay exactly as they are.
Once the St. John office opens, patients who live closer to it can ask our scheduling team to move future visits there. Your records travel with you, and because our doctors rotate among all of our offices, you will continue to see the same team. If you are partway through deciding on treatment, you can start now at any office and simply transfer when St. John opens.
Why Northwest Indiana Families Trust Puntillo & Crane Orthodontics
Since 1994, over 20,000 patients across the Region have chosen our practice. With a fourth office on the way, here is what that trust is built on.
- Four offices across Northwest Indiana: Crown Point, Schererville, Valparaiso, and now St. John, so patients in Lake and Porter Counties are a short drive from care
- The same four orthodontists at every location: Dr. Anthony Puntillo, Dr. Christopher Crane, Dr. Carolyn Gardiner, and Dr. Jose Herrera
- More than 30 years and over 20,000 smiles built for Northwest Indiana families
- Platinum+ Invisalign Provider, reflecting the number of aligner cases our doctors treat every year
- More than 845 five-star Google reviews from families who trust us with their care
- Care for every age: early evaluations for children, braces and Invisalign for teens, and discreet options for adults
- Complimentary consultations and flexible financing, with most major insurance plans accepted
Conclusion
Great orthodontic care should fit into your life, not add hours to your schedule. This fall, patients in St. John, Dyer, Cedar Lake, and the surrounding communities will have a new, convenient place to receive trusted orthodontic care close to home.
At our new St. John location, you’ll have access to our experienced team of four orthodontists, a full range of treatment options for children, teens, and adults, and a complimentary first visit designed to help you understand your options and feel confident about your new smile.
We look forward to welcoming you to our new office at 11020 W. 96th Pl. in St. John, bringing exceptional orthodontic care closer to the patients we are privileged to serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the new Puntillo & Crane Orthodontics office in St. John?
The new office is at 11020 W. 96th Pl., St. John, IN 46373, and it is scheduled to open this fall.
When does the St. John office open?
The St. John office is opening this fall, and we will post the exact opening date and office hours on pandcsmiles.com and our social media pages as soon as they are set.
Which doctors will see patients at the St. John office?
All four of our orthodontists, Dr. Puntillo, Dr. Crane, Dr. Gardiner, and Dr. Herrera, will see patients in St. John.
Can I schedule a consultation for the St. John office now?
Yes, you can text 219-244-2524 or call 219-323-3800 to request a St. John consultation, and if you would rather not wait, your complimentary first visit can happen at any of our current offices.
Can I move my current appointments to St. John?
Yes, once the office opens, current patients can ask our scheduling team to move future visits to St. John, and your records and your doctor stay the same.
Will the St. John office offer Invisalign?
Yes, St. John will offer Invisalign and Invisalign for teens along with traditional and clear braces, the same options available at all of our locations.
At what age should my child first see an orthodontist?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic check-up by age 7, when enough permanent teeth are in to spot developing bite or jaw-growth problems early.
Sources
- American Association of Orthodontists. When Should a Child See an Orthodontist? The Age 7 Visit. View AAO patient resource
[https:/
/ aaoinfo.org/ whats- trending/ when- should- your- child- see- an- orthodontist/ ] - American Association of Orthodontists. 1 in 3 Orthodontic Patients is an Adult: Why Adult Braces Are Trending. View AAO patient resource
[https:/
/ aaoinfo.org/ blog/ number- of- adults- seeing- an- orthodontist- is- at- an- all- time- high/ ] - American Association of Orthodontists. Orthodontist vs. Dentist: What’s the Difference? View AAO patient resource
[https:/
/ aaoinfo.org/ resources/ orthodontist- vs- dentist/ ] - Lake Central School Corporation. About LCSC. View district resource
[https:/
/ lcsc.us/ about- lcsc/ ] - Hanover Community School Corporation. Our District. View district resource
[https:/
/ www.hanover.k12.in.us/ our- district]
This blog is intended for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized medical, dental, or orthodontic advice. Individual orthodontic needs differ, and treatment recommendations require an in-person examination. Please contact Puntillo & Crane Orthodontics or your healthcare provider with specific questions about your individual orthodontic care or treatment plan.
