Meet Us

Dr. Chris Carlson is one of those people who goes out of his way to make people happy. He says that making others happy is the key to a fulfilled life. That’s why he ultimately chose to be an orthodontist. Every day is about making people smile - and also allows him to combine what he loves: problem-solving, engineering, technology and working with people.

Dr. Carlson earned a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, working as an environmental engineer in Chicago for four years before committing to an additional six years of advanced education to become an orthodontist. He says working as an engineer was not as satisfying as he’d hoped it would be because he was working with numbers more than people. Orthodontics allows him to combine the principles of engineering with dentistry and now, just like the smiles he creates, it’s a perfect fit. He began his orthodontic practice in 2003. Dr. Carlson is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. This board certification is awarded after a rigorous process including examination of both knowledge and completed orthodontic cases. It's just another way that Dr. Carlson has put extra effort into providing you with the highest level of care.

Dr. Carlson is a native of Ironwood, Michigan. He met his wife Amy while on the ski team in college. They were married in 1995 and have two children, Lauren and Erik. They chose to build their life and business in Duluth because of the quality of life in the area: endless outdoor opportunities, great people, and Lake Superior. When he‘s not working, Dr. Carlson enjoys both alpine and nordic skiing, mountain biking (you’ll see him skiing in the Birkie and riding in the Chequamegon each year), traveling to new places, flying small planes (he‘s had his pilot’s license since the age of 16), and bird hunting.

Dr. Jake Schroeder is known for his upbeat, kind-hearted, and personable attitude towards everyone he meets. Deeply curious at heart, he has a strong desire to find exactly what will put a smile on the face of those he runs into. His curiosity is what led to his knack for figuring out how things work. Inspired by his father, he grew up doing woodworking, welding projects, and fixing anything that had an engine. When he was 14, he landed his first job repairing machinery at Superior Striping near his hometown. He seemed destined for a career in engineering, but above all, Dr. Schroeder is a people person, and he found his true calling in dentistry. He loves working with his patients - engineering beautiful smiles is the perfect fit and he truly feels like he is doing exactly what he was meant to do!

As a golden gopher, Dr. Schroeder started his 10-year academic journey at the University of Minnesota by earning a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. He then continued to get his DDS from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, where he finished top of his class, and then finally earned his master's degree and training in the orthodontics specialty from the very same institution. He received this advanced training under the guidance of Dr. Brent Larson, past American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) President and is currently a member of the AAO, American Dental Association and Minnesota Dental Association.

Dr. Schroeder is beyond excited to bring his energy and passion for orthodontics and oral health care to the Duluth area. Born and raised in Elk River, Minnesota, he grew up traveling with his family to the north woods as a young boy. Seeking any adventure, he could get his hands on, he quickly grew passionate about outdoor activities. In his free time, he can be found waterskiing, cross-country ski racing, snowboarding out west, and participating in endurance races across the country. Not only has he run the Bryce Canyon Ultramarathon, Rim-to-Rim on the Grand Canyon, and raced the American Birkebeiner numerous times, he was also a HED-sponsored triathlete and placed 4th in his first Ironman triathlon in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho!

Dr. Caple received his DDS from the University of Minnesota with top honors. He proudly served as a member of the U.S. Navy Dental Corps where he provided dental services to members of the U.S. and Allied Forces. In addition to running a dental clinic in California, he served on a medical triage team for the Marines, and even performed emergency root canals on Military Working Dogs. Dr. Caple honorably separated from the service to pursue his passion in orthodontics and made his way back to the University of Minnesota to obtain his Orthodontic Specialty Training and Master of Science.

As a Duluth native, Dr. Caple is thrilled to be back in the North to enjoy the beautiful area and people he has grown to know and love. When he’s not straightening teeth and creating beautiful smiles, Dr. Caple can be found with a smile on his face while hiking, rock climbing, swing dancing, or listening to live music.