Born and raised in southern Oregon on the former Klamath Indian reservation, Dr. Dexter earned his B.S. in Psychology from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon and his DMD degree from the Oregon Health Sciences University-School of Dentistry. He is an enrolled member of the Klamath Tribes of southern Oregon.

Dr. Dexter has had the experience and benefit of a varied professional background. He worked in the public health service as a Chief Dental Officer with the Indian Health Services. His responsibilities included the administration and delivery of dental services as well as the research and development of community health programs. Dr Dexter is actively involved in organized dentistry with membership in the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry.

He is the first member of his family to attend and graduate from college and the first member of his tribe to attend and graduate from dental school.