Meet Our Dentist - San Antonio, TX | New Braunfels, TX

Chad R. Ryker, D.D.S., M.S.

Chad R. Ryker, D.D.S., M.S.

Dr. Chad Ryker has been practicing dentistry for 21 years and periodontics for 15 years. He graduated from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry entered the Air Force in 2002, starting his career at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH as an Advanced Education in General Dentistry resident. He then served at Lajes AFB, Azores with a follow on assignment to Hickam AFB, HI. He then completed his residency in periodontics at Wilford Hall Medical Center Lackland AFB, TX. From there he was stationed at Peterson AFB, CO from 2011-2016. He moved across town to The United States Air Force Academy to instruct the AEGD-1 residents in periodontics from 2016-2017. Then he moved to Joint Base Pearl Harbor/ Hickam in July 2017 and served as the Chief of Dental Services and Chief of Periodontics. He went to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland and instructed periodontics residents from Aug 2020 to Oct 2022. He moonlighted in private practice from Jan 2021- Oct 2022. He retired from the Air Force in Oct 2022 after 20 year and 4 months of service and entered full time private practice. Dr. Chad Ryker is married to his wife of 14 years, Dr. Nicole Ryker. They have 1 artistic daughter (11 years old) and 3 very active young boys (8, 6, and 2 years old). The whole family loves to travel. Dr. Ryker’s hobbies include trail running, cycling, snow skiing, and pretty much any outdoor activity. He also loves to spend time with his family, read and listen to podcasts.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS:

American Dental Association Member

American Academy of Periodontics Member

American Board of Periodontology Diplomate

Education & Training:

June 1998 Undergraduate Education – B.S. summa cum laude, The Master’s College, Santa Clarita, CA

June 2002 Professional Education – D.D.S., The Ohio State University College of Dentistry

June 2003 Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency, Wright Patterson AFB, OH

Sept 2004 Squadron Officer School, Air University (correspondence)

May 2010 Postgraduate Education – M.S., University of Texas Health Science Center at
San Antonio – Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

June 2010 Certificate of Training in Periodontics, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland
AFB, TX

May 2011 Diplomate, American Board of Periodontology

Licensure & Certification:

2002 – present State of Ohio Dental Licensure (30.021661)

2003 – present Nitrous Oxide Anxiolysis Certification

2003 – present Intravenous Conscious Sedation Certification

2003 – present Forensic Dentistry Certification

2002 – present CPR & ACLS Certification

2011 – present Oral Conscious Sedation Certification

2012 –present Board of Periodontology Diplomate

2020 –present Texas Licensed Dentist (36875)

Professional Experience:

Jan 2021 – Present Private Practice

Aug 2020 – Oct 2022 Periodontics Flight Commander/Residency Staff, USAF Periodontics Residency, Air Force Postgraduate Dental School, JBSA-Lackland, TX

Aug 2020 – Oct 2022 Clinical Assistant Professor, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School – Department of Periodontics, San Antonio, TX

July 2017 – July 2020 Chief of Dental Services/ Chief of Periodontics/ Chief, Clinical
Dentistry Element, Joint Base Pearl Harbor/ Hickam, HI

July 2016 – July 2017 Chief of Periodontics/ Support Flight Commander/ AEGD
Instructor United States Air Force Academy, CO

June 2011 – July 2016 Chief of Periodontics/ Support Flight Commander/ Clinical Flight
Commander, Peterson AFB, CO

June 2008 – June 2011 Periodontics Resident, Lackland AFB, TX

Nov 2004 – June 2008 General Dentist, Hickam AFB, HI

Aug 2003 – Nov 2004 General Dentist, Lajes AFB, Azores, Portugal

May 2002 – Aug 2003 A.E.G.D Resident, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:

2007 – present American Dental Association

2007 – present Southwest Society of Periodontists

2012 – present American Board of Periodontology

2011 – present American Academy of Periodontology

Professional Honors & Awards:

2020 United States Air Force Meritorious Service Medal

2017 United States Air Force Meritorious Service Medal

2016 United States Air Force Meritorious Service Medal

2014 United States Air Force Meritorious Service Medal

2014 Field Grade Officer of the Year, 21st Dental Squadron, Peterson AFB, CO

2014 Field Grade Officer of the Quarter, 21st Medical Group, Peterson AFB, CO

2012 Field Grade Officer of the Year, 21st Dental Squadron, Peterson AFB, CO

2010 Volpe Award Finalist, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

2008 United States Air Force Commendation Medal

2004 Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, 65th Medical Operations Squadron, Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal

Professional Teaching Experience:

July 2020 – Oct 2022 Periodontics Flight Commander, USAF Periodontics Residency, Air Force
Postgraduate Dental School, JBSA-Lackland, TX

July 2020 – Oct 2022 Clinical Assistant Professor, The University of Texas Health Science
Center at San Antonio Dental School – Department of
Periodontics, San Antonio, TX

Jul 2016 – Jul 2017 Periodontics Instructor, Advanced Education in General Dentistry, United States Air Force Academy, CO

Jan 2010, 11, 21, 22 USAF Periodontics Postgraduate Course Instructor, Lackland AFB, TX

FORMAL LECTURES / PRESENTATIONS:

2020 Managing Ailing and Failing Implants, AFPDS Perio Post-graduate program, Lackland AFB

2017 Acute Periodontal Conditions, USAF AEGD-1, United States Air Force Academy, CO

2017 Periodontal and Implant Maintenance, USAF AEGD-1, United States Air Force Academy, CO

2017 Periodontal Medicine and Systemic Etiologic Factor, USAF AEGD-1, United States Air Force Academy, CO

2017 Mucogingival Surgery, USAF AEGD-1, United States Air Force Academy, CO

2017 Guided Tissue Regeneration, USAF AEGD-1, United States Air Force Academy, CO

2017 Crown Lengthening, USAF AEGD-1, United States Air Force Academy, CO

2016 Post-Operative Complications, USAF AEGD-1, United States Air Force Academy, CO

2016 Ridge Preservation, USAF AEGD-1, United States Air Force Academy, CO

2016 Osseous Surgery, USAF AEGD-1, United States Air Force Academy, CO

2016 Comprehensive Periodontal Exam, USAF AEGD-1, United States Air Force Academy, CO

2016 Periodontal Prognosis, USAF AEGD-1, United States Air Force Academy, CO

2016 Principles of Periodontal Surgery, USAF AEGD-1, United States Air Force Academy, CO

2016 Etiology of Periodontal Disease, USAF AEGD-1, United States Air Force Academy, CO

2016 Periodontal Classification, USAF AEGD-1, United States Air Force Academy, CO

2016 Periodontal Surgical Anatomy, USAF AEGD-1, United States Air Force Academy, CO

2016 Periodontal Anatomy, USAF AEGD-1, United States Air Force Academy, CO

2012-2016 Suturing Skills and Flap Reflection, USAF AEGD-1, United States Air Force Academy, CO

2010 T-Reg effect on T-Cell Responses to Aggregatibacter Actinomycetemcomitans –District 8 Presentation, AAP Annual Meeting, Honolulu, HI

2010 T-Reg effect on T-Cell Responses to Aggregatibacter Actinomycetemcomitans –
International Association for Dental Research Presentation, Washington D.C

2010 Relationship of Occlusion to Periodontal Disease – Senior Resident Lecture Series, Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio Texas

2003 Uses of CO2 Laser in Oral Surgery Procedures, Table Clinic Presentation, Hinman Meeting, Atlanta, GA

Research Mentorship:

2020 Periodontics Resident Mentor: “Evaluating the feasibility of XSTAT for dental hemorrhage control”

Publications:

Thesis: “The Effect of Regulatory T Cells on Human T Cell Responses to Rough and Smooth Aggregatebacter Actinomycetemcomitans” October 2010

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