Dr. Mike Chaffee grew up in Houston, Texas. He received his undergraduate education at Texas A&M University, and attended dental school at theUniversity of Texas Dental Branch at Houston. He completed a one-year general practice residency and practiced general dentistry for four years in the U.S. Air Force. He then returned to the University of Texas and obtained a Master's degree and Orthodontic Certificate.

Dr. Chaffee established a private practice in Coeur d'Alene in 1993, and finalized his ABO Board Certification Process in 2003, becoming the first board certified orthodontist in the Coeur d'Alene area. He now serves as an Examiner for the American Board of Orthodontics. Oral exams for orthodontists seeking board certification are given in St.Louis, MO. His practice continues to thrive, and was moved to the current location in Riverstone in 2008. He is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists and American Dental Association. He is also a member and past president of the Panhandle Dental Society.

Having a commitment to continuing education in order to provide his patients with the highest quality care possible, Dr. Chaffee is a member of the Texas Orthodontic Study Club andBorder-to-Border Study Club. He is also an affiliate member of the Northwest Component of the Edward H. Angle Society. These organizations are unique in that they require members to demonstrate their abilities in orthodontic treatment planning and finishing, and as a result they all push their members to be the best that they can be. In 2000 he received the C.T. Roland Award from the Texas Orthodontic Study Club, an award given to the new member with the most impressive and well-treated cases.

Dr. Chaffee strongly believes in evidenced-based orthodontics, and individualized treatment planning for each patient. He does have a special interest in "skeletal anchorage". While skeletal anchorage is now the hot topic in orthodontics, his experience with microscrew implants began in 2002 and he has been at the forefront of this paradigm shift in orthodontics. He has published several articles on the subject, and has lectured nationally and internationally, including presentations at the annual conventions of the American Association of Orthodontists and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

He loves spending time in the outdoors, enjoys gardening, backpacking, fishing, and archery hunting. He and his wife Susan cherish time spent with their son and daughter.