General Info

Dr. Ryan K. VanLaecken received his Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) in 1994 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry. He practiced general dentistry for five years, receiving the Outstanding Young Dentist of South Dakota Award in 1997. In 1999, Dr. Ryan returned to school to obtain his Master of Science degree in Dentistry and his Certificate in Orthodontics from West Virginia University College of Dentistry in 2002. Dr. Ryan has been providing quality orthodontic care for 12 years. Dr. VanLaecken is a board certified orthodontist and holds the title of Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO). This is a status that only 25 percent of all practicing orthodontists obtain in their careers. He is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), is currently serving as a board member of the Midwest Society of Orthodontists (MSO), secretary/treasurer of the South Dakota Society of Orthodontists, a member of the American Dental Association, and is currently president of the Northern District of the South Dakota Dental Association. Dr. Ryan has also conducted research focusing on the Herbst appliance which has been published in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. He has been recognized and invited to join select groups compromised of elite orthodontists from across the nation who are working together to study the latest advancements in the orthodontic field. These accomplishments and opportunities ensure the most technologically advanced treatment planning and design for his patients. In his spare time, Dr. Ryan enjoys spending time with his wife, Jennifer, and their four children, as well as traveling, golfing and pheasant hunting with his black lab, Bishop. Dr. Ryan and his wife are involved in many community and church activities as well as promoting the education of young people.