Meet Us
Schedule AppointmentDr. Chris Carlson
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 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, helping with kids’ activities, flying small planes (he‘s had his pilot’s license since the age of 16), and bird hunting with the family’s yellow lab, Lucie.
Why choose a Board Certified Orthodontist?
Dr. Carolyn Whittow
She is a native of South Carolina and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Wofford College. While at Wofford, she played collegiate volleyball (despite her petite size!) and received the William Stanley Hoole Award, which is awarded to the senior intercollegiate athlete with the highest academic average.
Prior to becoming an orthodontist, Dr. Whittow worked in environmental education. She spent several years in the Twin Cities, working with YMCA camps and environmental education centers, but ultimately decided to pursue a career in which she could combine her love of science and mathematics with the transformative experience of creating a beautiful smile. Her husband, Ryan, grew up in Wisconsin and they are happy to be in the Midwest and closer to family. Together, Dr. Whittow and Ryan love to travel and explore new places. They enjoy outdoor adventures including summer hiking, boating on the lake, and winter activities such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. On the weekends you may also find them cheering on the Wisconsin Badgers or Green Bay Packers while spending time with family and friends.
Dr. Whittow is an active member of the American Association of Orthodontics, American Dental Association, Minnesota Dental Association, Wisconsin Dental Association, South Carolina Dental Association, and the Southern Association of Orthodontists.
- 2018 - Best Dental Office, Best Customer Service
- 2019 - Best Dental Office, Customer Service, Small Company to Work For, Workplace Culture
- 2020 - Best Dental Office, Customer Service, Small Company to Work For, Workplace Culture
- 2021 - Best Dental Office, Customer Service, Small Company to Work For, Workplace Culture
- 2022 - Best Dental Office, Customer Service, Small Company to Work For, Workplace Culture
Welcome to our Office
First and foremost, we’re committed to making every member of your family feel like a member of our family. That’s the obvious difference. But what you may not know is that along with all the leading edge technologies we offer patients, our team stays completely up to date on how to use those technologies to deliver a great patient experience. You can find out a bit about each team member by clicking on their photos below.
Meet the Team
Amy
Annie
Ashley
Ellen
Erinn
Jeannie
Kayli
Lindsay
Mackenzie
Maya
Shelby
Shelly
Sophia
Tayla
Tirzah
Amy
Outside the office you can find Amy at the local hockey rinks with her four children, Jacob, Jenna, Jane, and Jack. She loves fishing, cross country skiing, hockey, and traveling.
Annie
Annie met her husband, Chris, at UMD in a chemistry class and it was love at first sight. He was originally from the twin cities but loves the outdoors so much they decided to move to Duluth to raise their family. They have 3 children, Kaitlyn, Jacob, and Henry. Annie and Chris also enjoy watching and coaching their three kids’ softball, baseball, and basketball teams.
Ashley
Ashley moved to Duluth from a little farm town in the most Northwestern part of Washington state with her boyfriend, Trent, and they just purchased their first home together. When she’s not at work you can find her on hikes or biking around the area!
Ellen
Ellen loves to spend time outside, hiking and biking around Lake Superior with her dog, Jackson. The two even like to take an early morning swim in the big lake if the weather allows! When Ellen is not outside or watching “The Office”, you can find her on a volleyball court, as she loves to play as often as she can.
Erinn
Erinn grew up in Duluth and lives here now with her husband, Mike, her two children, and their Shih Tzu, Penny. Summer is her favorite season because she enjoys spending time with her family at their cabin in Canyon. Erinn’s family loves going on adventures from Twins' games to ski hills. When she’s not at work she likes to knit hats and mittens, cook comfort food, bake treats for her coworkers, and read.
Jeannie
Jeannie and her husband Brad have been married for over 26 years, and together they have 3 kids: Blake, Courtney, and Kenzie. They also have 3 dogs named Bauer, Piper, and Roxy. Fall is her favorite time of year – she loves everything about this amazing season and Halloween is, of course, her favorite holiday!
Kayli
Kayli and her husband, Shane, have two energetic and wildly curious boys, Lincoln and Oliver. Minnesota is the only home she’s known, being born and raised in Duluth, MN. In her free time, she likes to put her artistic talents to use by refurbishing furniture and scrapbooking.
Lindsay
Lindsay currently lives in Ashland, but she is from Red Cliff, WI. Her favorite season is summer; she enjoys being outside, being with friends and family, and she also loves playing basketball.
Mackenzie
Mackenzie grew up in Sauk Rapids and went to Sauk Rapids-Rice High School. She moved to the area for college and loved it so much she didn’t want to move back! She met her dapper husband, Ross, at Va Bene in Duluth, where they used to work. She has three adorable young daughters named Molly, Lucy, and Elliott, and two dogs, a Teddy Bear named Penny and a Welsh Terrier named John.
Maya
Maya lives with her family just outside of Ashland. Her favorite things to do outside of work are taking her dog for walks, reading, and traveling to new places.
Shelby
Shelby grew up and lives in small town Wisconsin, but even though she was raised by a cheese head family she lives and breathes for the Vikings, Twins, and Minnesota Wild. She married her husband Sean and together they have 2 kids, Evie and Beckett, three dogs, and a cat. Shelby and her husband are also avid beekeepers and love the beekeeping community, Save the Bees! She enjoys any outdoor activities, warm or cold, and going on new adventures.
Shelly
Shelly lives with her family in Washburn. Fall is her favorite season, but she does enjoy summer in her pool, spending time in her garden, boating on Lake Superior and buggy riding. Shelly also enjoys life with their 3 dogs and 1 cat.
Sophia
Outside of work, Sophia loves spending time with friends and family. Her hobbies are hiking, fishing, playing volleyball and paddle boarding. She also enjoys traveling and has been to Alaska and the Grand Canyon.
Tayla
Tayla lives on a farm in Hermantown that has been in the family for more than 100 years! They raise cattle, and have goats, chickens and a donkey named Linus. She enjoys being outdoors and often goes fishing (summer and winter) and spends a lot of time at her family’s cabin in Cotton over the summer. Tayla’s adventurous spirit has led her to many travel destinations, but she’s glad to call Minnesota home.
Tirzah
Tirzah lives with her husband, Josh, and their two daughters, Audrey and Natalie. They have a golden retriever named Ryder and love to do anything outdoors! Hiking, exploring, and spending time on a lake in their little boat with her family is how Tirzah spends her free time.