Meet Dr. Michael Ryckman
It is not as hard to wake up in the morning when you are lucky enough to have a career that you enjoy and are passionate about. The single most fulfilling aspect of orthodontics is not the new smiles that we create; it is the change in confidence that we can perceive in our patients as their teeth straighten out. In school, I knew I would enjoy the “tooth-moving” aspect of orthodontics, but it turns out that getting to know the families in our practice and seeing what orthodontics can do for them is what I love most of all.
It is my goal to make sure that patients are treated as individuals. Too many dental and medical practices have a one-size-fits-all treatment approach, but I strive to develop an individual treatment plan for every patient, factoring in things like facial aesthetics, so that we can plan for the best, long-term smile possible.
I am so fortunate to work with the most caring group of people you will ever find. They go above and beyond every single day to make sure that our patients are treated the right way. The technical aspects of their jobs are almost secondary, because they do such a good job of treating the individual and not just the individual’s teeth.
Education and Continuing Education
Originally from Mansfield, I graduated from Lexington High School in 1997. I attended Centre College where, in 2001, I earned my BS in biochemistry, magna cum laude, and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.
I had considered a career in healthcare for as long as I can remember. I decided on dentistry after I began to realize how it so uniquely combines science and art together, all while working so closely with the patients to achieve their goals.
I completed my dental education at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry in 2005, and earned my Doctorate of Dental Medicine with high honors as an inductee into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society. I obtained my Master of Science in dentistry at Saint Louis University, Center for Advanced Dental Education.
Since finishing my formal education, I have completed well beyond the required hours of continuing education because it is important to me to stay on top of the most recent trends and technologies in orthodontics. In the past few years, I have focused much of my continuing education on Invisalign®, which enables me to treat more complicated cases.
Professional Affiliations
- American Association of Orthodontists
- Great Lakes Association of Orthodontists
- Ohio Association of Orthodontists
- American Dental Association
- Ohio Dental Association
- Dayton Dental Society
Outside the Office
I have been a resident of Sugarcreek Township for a decade, living here with my wife Rachael, our kids, Graham, Clara, and Adelyn, and a small collection of farm animals. Spending time with people that mean the most to me, in particular my family, is what takes up the majority of my free time. The rest is devoted to playing golf! I also enjoy traveling with my family, snow-skiing, and working around our small “play” farm.
I am also dedicated to my community, both personally and professionally. My family and I are active in Kirkmont Presbyterian Church in Beavercreek, and professionally, I have partnered with Smiles Change Lives, a nonprofit organization that provides steeply discounted orthodontic treatment to children that really need it but do not have the means to do so.
Orthodontics can be such a life-changing experience for certain individuals that I want it to be accessible to everyone that truly needs it. Our partnership has been an unbelievable success so far, not just for the patients, but for our practice as well.
