Lou Chmura, DDS, MS

Dr. Chmura completed his D.D.S. in 1985 and his M.S. in Orthodontics in 1987, both from the University of Michigan.  He is in private practice in Marshall, Michigan and is an active member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the American Dental Association, and the Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD).  Dr. Chmura became a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics in 1983.  He participates in three national and international orthodontic study clubs and in over 150 hours of continuing education each year. 

Dr. Chmura has been actively involved in using soft tissue lasers since 2005.  He earned Standard Proficiency in CO2 and Diode wavelengths by the ALD as well as Associate Fellowship in Er,Cr:YSGG Lasers by the World Clinical Laser Institute.

Dr. Chmura is the first orthodontist to have earned ALD Advanced Proficiency and the first orthodontic Fellow of the ALD.  He is the author of “Soft Tissue Lasers in Orthodontics" (Principles and Practice of Laser Dentistry-Elsevier, 2010) and numerous articles on the various uses of lasers in orthodontic practice.

Dr. Chmura has presents nationally on “Soft Tissue Lasers in Orthodontics” and through the Orthodontic Laser Training Institute and Egghead Ortho (eggheadortho.com) has provided numerous laser courses, including introductory webinars for orthodontists and for their staff, in-office, hands-on courses.  In addition, Dr. Chmura has co-taught several ALD Standard Proficiency courses.

Dr. Chmura's laser talks not only highlight the basic science behind laser usage, but also covers other aspects of laser usage, including safety considerations, managing workflow, diagnosis and treatment planning, smile design, gingivectomies and frenectomies and when a referral may be more appropriate. Of particular interest is enhancing staff abilities to prepare the patient, parent, and laser to allow a seamless integration of the laser into an orthodontic office.