Dr. Chris Carlson is thrilled to join the Bozeman community and bring his orthodontic experience to Montana. After practicing in Duluth, Minnesota for over two decades, Dr. Carlson is excited to make the mountains his permanent home while continuing his passion for creating beautiful smiles.

What drew Dr. Carlson to orthodontics? Every day is about making people smile—and it allows him to combine what he loves: problem-solving, engineering, technology, and working with people. Dr. Carlson earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan, followed by his Doctor of Dental Medicine from Southern Illinois University, and a Master of Science in Orthodontics from the University of Iowa. In 2010, he achieved Board Certification from the American Board of Orthodontics, demonstrating his commitment to the highest standards of orthodontic care through a rigorous examination process that evaluates both clinical knowledge and completed treatment cases.

Before entering dentistry, Dr. Carlson worked as an environmental engineer in Chicago for four years. However, he found that working with numbers wasn’t as fulfilling as working with people. This realization led him to commit to six additional years of advanced education to become an orthodontist—a decision that allowed him to combine engineering principles with patient care.

After many years of enjoying the mountains while on vacation, Dr. Carlson and his family are excited to finally call the Bozeman area home. A native of Ironwood, Michigan, he met his wife Amy while they were both on the alpine ski team in college. Married in 1995, they have two adult children: Lauren, who lives in Colorado, and Erik, who currently attends MSU.

When he’s not in the office, Dr. Carlson enjoys alpine and backcountry skiing, traveling to new places, aviation (he’s held his private pilot’s license since age 16), and bird hunting. He’s also an avid gravel and mountain biker, competing in his first Leadville Trail 100 MTB later this summer. Dr. Carlson looks forward to becoming part of the Bozeman community and providing exceptional orthodontic care.