Dr. Matthew Chesler is a native of Wayzata, Minnesota, near the Twin Cities. After high school, he left the “frozen tundra” behind for sunnier days in Southern California, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at UCSD and then moved on to USC School of Dentistry for his DDS degree in 2004. During his studies he received an AAE faculty award for excellence in Endodontics.  

While at USC, Dr. Chesler received a full scholarship from the US Navy. He first reported for active duty to Camp Pendleton where he completed a one-year residency in Advanced Education in General Dentistry. Shortly afterwards, he became one of the youngest residents to ever be selected for the Endodontics residency program at the Naval Postgraduate Dental School in Bethesda, MD. He completed the program in 2008 and concurrently earned a postdoctoral Master of Science degree from The George Washington University, Washington, DC.  

After graduation, he reported to Pearl Harbor, Hawai’i as the Endodontics department head. Commander Chesler was transferred back to the San Diego area in early 2011 where he served as the head of the Endodontics department at Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar. In 2015 he separated from the Navy after eleven years of active duty but is currently a naval reservist. 

Dr. Chesler has remained academically active. In Hawai’i he was chairman of the annual Tri-Service Dental Symposium, providing lectures to all Oahu-based dental officers.  He has also lectured extensively around the country providing general dentists and endodontists with the latest in endodontic continuing education and most recently completed multiple courses for SPEAR/CDOCS. 

Dr. Chesler maintains a 3 operatory practice in Escondido, CA where he partners with 40+ referring practices.  His team consists of Carmen & Alicia (his clinical assistants) and Melody (office manager). 

Dr. Chesler (“Matt”) and his wife Trang, who is also a dentist, have two sons.  Matt’s hobbies include 3-putting the greens of various San Diego golf courses, hiking, and posing as potential shark bait when he’s scuba diving.  His main interest is in all things automotive, where he is doing his best to get his two young sons as car crazy as he is.