Downers Grove Dentist Partners with Chicago Bandits Softball Team

A Downers Grove dentist has been tapped as the new team dentist for the Chicago Bandits professional softball team.

Dr. Eric Jackson of Oral Health Care Professionals, 2033 Ogden Ave., will serve as the Bandits' official dentist for the 2013 season, providing both preventative care and treatment for injuries.

"I'm ecstatic," Jackson said. "It's a fun opportunity to partner with a great organization. I'm look forward to a great season."

Jackson said the Bandits reached out to him through social media to see if he was interested in the job. In the coming months, he'll begin fitting each player for custom mouth guards.

"We're still ironing out the details, but I'll basically be there for whatever dental care they need throughout the 2013 season," he said.

Jackson and his partner, Dr. Jeffrey Wascher, took over Oral Health Care Professionals in 2009. The office had been open since 1981.

Together, Jackson and Wascher offer a range of general and cosmetic dentistry services, including preventative care and cleanings, veneers, cosmetic bonding, whitening, dentures and treatments for sleep apnea. They also offer implant services, Invisalign and laser treatments.

"We love what we do, and we love Downers Grove," Jackson said. "We're patient-focused, but we also try to stay involved in the community through various charities and programs."

Jackson said he sees his new partnership with the Bandits as a fun opportunity for him and his family. His wife, Lauren, and his sister-in-law are both former softball players who now coach the junior varsity squad at Lyons Township High School.

"I come from a big softball family, so we've actually been fans of the Bandits for a while now," Jackson said. "Everyone is just really excited for this new opportunity, and hopefully to see some games this summer."

The Chicago Bandits softball club was founded in October 2004 as part of the National Pro Fastpitch league. That December, the team signed Olympic gold medalist Jennie Finch, and has since boasted an array of Olympians and former college standouts.

The Bandits are two-time NPF champions, having won in both 2008 and 2011. Since 2011, they have played their home games at The Ballpark at Rosemont, located at 27 Jennie Finch Way.

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