Meet Dr. Jackson

Eric G. Jackson

DDS, MAGD, FICOI, FASD, FICD, FADI, FPFA

Meet Dr. Jackson

Eric G. Jackson

DDS, MAGD, FICOI, FASD, FICD, FADI, FPFA

Early Education

Dr. Jackson grew up close to our dental practice in Oak Brook, Illinois. He attended Hinsdale Central High School where he was a member of the school’s tennis team as well as the stellar basketball teams that competed in the Illinois State High School Association Boys Basketball State Tournament two years in a row. After graduation, he attained his Bachelor of Science in Biology from The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Dr. Jackson then returned to the Chicagoland area to complete his dental training at The University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry attaining not only his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree but a Bachelor of Science in Dentistry as well. In his final year of dental school, Dr. Jackson was awarded The American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Award for his efforts and skill in the field of dental radiology. Dr. Jackson has a love for dentistry in his blood. During the period between the 1940’s through the 1960’s, Dr. Jackson’s great-grandfather owned and operated Modern Dental Laboratory located near 63rd and Halsted in Chicago. Dr. Jackson’s father is a retired orthodontist who operated a private practice near Midway Airport for 40 years. In We addition to his orthodontic practice, his father instructed orthodontic students as a clinical assistant professor in The Orthodontic Department at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry for 20 years.

Advanced Education

Dr. Jackson is a firm believer in the importance of lifelong learning and has long said that graduation from dental school is not the end of your education, it’s the beginning. He takes numerous continuing education courses annually and because of this multiple dental organizations have awarded Dr. Jackson with advanced education designations. These designations are termed Fellowships and Masterships and are indicated by the letters after the “DDS” that appears after Dr. Jackson’s name. They are often compared to a Masters or Doctorate degree earned by those with careers in education and teaching. Patients often ask what they all stand for and mean, so the following is a breakdown of each.

2010 Fellowship in The Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD)

In 2010, Dr. Jackson was 1 of only 3 Illinois dentists awarded Fellowship in The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) at that year’s national meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. To earn a Fellowship Award, a dentist must be an AGD member for three consecutive years, earn a minimum of 500 approved continuing dental education credits, pass comprehensive 250 question examination, apply for the award, and attend a convocation ceremony at the National AGD Meeting. In the first 60 years of the AGD’s existence (2012), only 15,343 dentists had ever earned their Fellowship in the organization. Less than 5% of all dentists ever achieve Fellowship and Dr. Jackson is very proud to have done so within the first 5 years of his dental career. Once inducted, a Fellow in good standing is authorized to use the letters “FASD” after his/her name.

2011 Fellowship in The International Congress of Oral Implantologists (FICOI)

In 2011, Dr. Jackson was awarded a combination Surgical & Restorative Fellowship in The International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI) at that year’s annual meeting in Chicago, IL for his skills and accomplishments in both surgical and restorative aspects of implant dentistry. To achieve this type of Fellowship, a dentist must A) provide a listing of 20 completed implant cases (both surgical & restorative), all of which must be at least 12 months old, for evaluation by the ICOI’s Credentialing committee. B) Provide documentation of completion of 75 hours or more of implant education in the preceding five years. C) Provide a letter of recommendation from a current ICOI Fellow, IPS Master, ICOI Diplomate, or member of ICOI’s Credentials Committee. To maintain the Fellowship, a dentist must maintain their membership in good standing and must attend at least one ICOI/IPS sponsored or co-sponsored meeting every three years as well as accumulate 75 hours or more of implant education within five years after becoming an ICOI Fellow. Once inducted, a Fellow in good standing is authorized to use the letters “FICOI” after his/her name.

2011 Fellowship in The Academy of Dentistry International (FADI)

In 2011, Dr. Jackson was honored to be 1 of 27 dentists from The United States to be awarded Fellowship that year in Las Vegas, Nevada. A Fellowship in The Academy of Dentistry International (ADI) is a distinctive honor that is bestowed on a person who has notably contributed to the advancement of the dental profession in one or more ways, such as: Clinical Practice; Research; Education; Public Service; Literature or Journalism; and Service to the Profession. Once inducted, a Fellow in good standing is authorized to use the letters “FADI” after his/her name.

2012 Mastership in The Academy of General Dentistry (MAGD)

In 2012, Dr. Jackson progressed further within The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) and was awarded Mastership in the organization. He was 1 of only 97 dentists worldwide to receive this honor at the national meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the 60-year anniversary of the AGD in 2012, only 2,818 had earned the title of Master. That means that less than 1% of all dentists in modern dental history have achieved Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Jackson is immensely proud to be one of these elite few. To attain Mastership members must first have earned Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry. Once Fellowship is attained, they must earn an additional 600 approved continuing education credits, meeting minimum requirements in certain dental disciplines. 400 of the required credits must be in participation courses, in which skills are learned through live manipulation of dental materials. In total, a Master of the Academy of General Dentistry has taken a total of 1,100 hours of approved continuing education over 16 disciplines in dentistry, such as periodontics, orthodontics, endodontics, pediatrics, and dental implants. Once inducted, a Master in good standing is authorized to use the letters “MAGD” after his/her name instead of the “FAGD” designation of Fellowship.

2013 Fellowship in The International College of Dentistry (FICD)

In 2013, Dr. Jackson was one 290 American dentists to be awarded Fellowship in The International College of Dentistry (ICD) that year in New Orleans, Louisiana. Established in 1928 with over 12,000 members around the globe, the ICD is the oldest and largest international honorary dental organization. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only and is granted in recognition of a dentist’s “outstanding professional achievement, meritorious service, and dedication to the continued progress of dentistry for the benefit of humankind.” Prior to being recognized as a Fellow of the ICD, the candidate’s qualifications and achievements are evaluated by a series of credential committees to ensure that he or she is deserving of this high honor and adheres to the ICD motto, goals and objectives. Once inducted, a Fellow in good standing is authorized to use the letters “FICD” after his/her name.

2020 Fellowship in The Academy for Sports Dentistry (FASD)

In 2020, Dr. Jackson was awarded Fellowship in The Academy for Sports Dentistry and became the 61st dentist to achieve Fellowship in the Academy since its inception in 1982. Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic the award was presented at the 2020 Virtual Annual Symposium and then re-recognized at the 2022 in-person Symposium in Portland, Oregon. To attain Fellowship, applicants must be members of the Academy for a minimum of 5 consecutive years and have attended at least 3 of the 6 most recent Annual Symposium meetings. Additionally, 400 hours of Sports Dentistry continuing education must be completed that spans 6 potential categories of study. These hours must be acquired within the 10 years prior to application submission. Once inducted, a Fellow in good standing is authorized to use the letters “FASD” after his/her name.

2021 Fellowship in The Pierre Fauchard Academy (FPFA)

In 2021, Dr. Jackson was awarded Fellowship in The Pierre Fauchard Academy (PFA). As of 2021, only 108 dentists in Illinois have ever been awarded Fellowship in the Academy since its inception in 1936. The founders of the Academy selected the name of Pierre Fauchard in memory of the French dentist who is recognized as the “Father of Modern Dentistry.” Fellowship in the Academy is by nomination and is designed to honor past accomplishments in field of dentistry via contributions to dental literature, service to the profession of dentistry, and service to the general community. Once inducted, a Fellow in good standing is authorized to use the letters “FPFA” after his/her name.

Professional Awards & Distinctions

Dr. Jackson has received a multitude of professional awards and distinctions over his career. He has been named one of Chicago Magazine’s “Top Dentists” each year since 2018. He was the 2019 recipient of the Chicago Dental Society Foundation’s Vision Award. The CDSF Vision award is given annually to an individual based on three selection criteria:

  • • Contributions that significantly and consistently impact the advancement and/or
    recognition of the vision of the CDS Foundation and the dental profession through
    volunteer service.
  • • Evidence of philanthropy, including time, expertise, and/or financial resources donated
    to improve access to care and dental education.
  • • A demonstrated ability and willingness to serve as a formal or informal mentor.

Dr. Jackson was the 8th recipient of the CDSF vision award since its inception in 2011. In 2017, he was named runner-up “Best Pediatric Dentist Near West Suburbs of Chicago” by the Kidlist: Activities for Kids website. In 2015 he was 1 of 12 individuals to be presented the annual “Best Under 40” award by Suburban Life Media. This annual award is given to individuals in recognition of outstanding leadership and professional accomplishment within Chicago’s western suburbs. In addition to an awards luncheon & formal awards banquet held at Seven Bridges Golf Club in Woodridge IL, each recipient received a photoshoot and interview for a feature article that ran in 16 different Suburban Life Media publications across Chicagoland. In 2015 Dr. Jackson was 1 of 2 dentists in DuPage County to receive the accolade of “Top Dentist” by West Suburban Living magazine. Recipients of this award are selected by their peers and are recognized as providers of high-quality dental care in their county.

Positions Held Within Dental Organizations

Dr. Jackson served on The Chicago Component of the Illinois Academy of General Dentistry (CAGD) Board of Directors from 2009-2019. This honor allowed Dr. Jackson to further the profession of dentistry on local, statewide, and national levels. During his tenure with the CAGD he served 1-year terms as each Editor, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President, & President of the organization. Additionally, he was named as the 2014-2015 Education Program Course Director for the CAGD and was responsible for the creation, promotion, and implementation of four in-person dental continuing education events in the Chicagoland area over the course of that time. Held at Ditka’s restaurant in Oakbrook Terrace, these courses were attended by dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and dental auxiliary staff from around the Chicagoland area.

Dr. Jackson has held an affiliation with The Academy of General Dentistry for many years. Since 2018 he has been serving as a content contributor to AGD Impact, the official monthly newsmagazine of the Academy. Additionally, he served as a content contributor to The Daily Grind, the official online blog of the Academy from 2017-2020. From 2010-2016, Dr. Jackson served as a dentist manuscript editor for General Dentistry magazine, the national publication of The Academy of General Dentistry. It is the responsibility of manuscript editors to review & critique the many scientific studies submitted to the magazine in hopes of publication. From 2013-2015, Dr. Jackson was an active part of the Membership Committee of The Chicago Dental Society (CDS). Members of this committee recruit and retain members for the organization. This is done by attempting to identify needs and concerns of dentists and offer recommendations to respond to those needs or existing concerns. The committee is responsible for The CDS Mentorship Program, and to review and offer recommendation to the Board regarding appropriate CDS endorsed program opportunities.

Sports Dentistry

Since 2022, Dr. Jackson has served as the Chicago, Illinois representative of The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Volunteer Dental Program. He is honored to provide comprehensive dental care throughout the year to active members of Team USA from his dental practice. From 2017-2020, Dr. Jackson served on the International Board of Directors of The Academy for Sports Dentistry. In the three years that followed, he served as the Academy’s 5 Vice President (2020-2021), President (2021-2022) and Immediate Past President (2022-2023). Founded in 1983, the Academy for Sports Dentistry is one of the world’s premier sports dentistry organizations. From 2013 until the closing of the league and team in 2021, Dr. Jackson served as the official team dentist of The Chicago Bandits women’s professional fastpitch softball team. He is very proud to have been part of the league championship Bandits teams in 2015 & 2016. Through his position with The Bandits, Dr. Jackson was able to increase public awareness about the importance of dental mouthguards within organized sports, especially among young athletes.

Lecture & Speaking Engagements

In 2022, Dr. Jackson was asked to serve as a Featured Lecturer at the 157th annual Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting. As one of the largest dental industry meetings in the nation, The CDS Midwinter Meeting enjoys annual attendance of over 30,000 dental professionals. His lecture, “Modern Sports Dentistry: A 3-hour Overview” was well attended and received excellent reviews. At previous CDS Midwinter Meetings in 2016 and 2018, Dr. Jackson served as an instructor for a sports mouthguard fabrication workshop given to other dentists & dental assistants. Dr. Jackson has delivered an annual lecture to the graduate students studying within North Central College Department of Kinesiology since 2016. Upon graduation, these students will be some of the premier athletic trainers in our national and Dr. Jackson is thrilled to be able to provide a portion of their dental sports medicine training.

Dr. Jackson routinely delivers lectures to other dental professionals as well as non-dental professionals via local community groups. In 2022 Dr. Jackson was invited to speak at The Saving Private Practice Study Club in La Jolla, California. A few of his past local speaking engagements include Metropolitan Family Services of DuPage County, the Christ Church of Oak Brook Mothers Of Preschoolers (MOPS), the Downers Grove North High School and the Downers Grove South High School Physical Education Departments, the Proviso West High School Physical Education Department, as well as multiple elementary school “Career Days” & Health Fairs at local school and businesses He is always interested in new speaking venues and opportunities. If you would like Dr. Jackson to speak for your organization, please feel free to contact him at our dental practice.

Media/Publications

Dr. Jackson has been featured in a variety of different media and publications throughout his career. Between 2019 and 2022, he authored four cover articles of AGD Impact, the official monthly newsmagazine of The Academy for General Dentistry. Between 2017 and 2020, he authored 19 articles for The Daily Grind, the official online blog of the Academy of General Dentistry. With a target audience of other dental professionals, his articles have been distributed and read across the globe. In 2017, Dr. Jackson was interviewed by The Dental Marketer for Episode #88 “If You Have A Comprehensive Modern Dental Practice, Listen to This Now! With Dr. Eric Jackson.” In 2015, Dr. Jackson was featured in an hour-long interview by famed American dentist Dr. Howard Farran for his “Dentistry Uncensored” podcast. The hour- long interview entitled Episode 176 “Why Be Multidisciplined? With Eric Jackson, DDS: Dentistry Uncensored with Howard Farran” was distributed and seen in over 150 countries via multiple online locations.

From 2015-2017, Dr. Jackson was a regular contributor to the Chicagoland parenting website Kidlist: Activities for Kids. Several of his most popular articles have been “When to Take Your Child to the Dentist” and “Oral Hygiene During Orthodontic Treatment”. In 2015, Dr. Jackson was interviewed and featured in sixteen different media sources under the Suburban Life Media umbrella for the “Best Under 40” award he was granted that year. In 2014, Dr. Jackson’s article on the 2014 ISDS Mission of Mercy volunteer event was featured on the cover of Cornerstone (the official publication of the Illinois State Dental Society). In 2013, the CDS Review (the official publication of the Chicago Dental Society) ran their own interview/article with Dr. Jackson about his official team dentist position. From 2012-2014, he published articles monthly to The Downers Grove Patch newspaper on a variety of different dental topics. The newspaper also ran a feature article on Dr. Jackson’s new position as official team dentist of The Chicago Bandits professional softball team in 2013. In 2012, he was interviewed three times by Chicago FM News 101.1 on the topic: “Surprising Conditions Your Dentist Can Discover Through Examination.”

Volunteer & Community work

Dr. Jackson is actively committed to improving access-to-care and providing quality dental care to patients of all income levels and medical conditions. He regularly volunteers his time and dental skills to a variety of local, regional and national organizations. The following is a partial list of the groups he has worked with:

Greater Downers Grove Area FISH Food Pantry
The Mars Wrigley Foundation
The Chicago Dental Society Foundation
Metropolitan Family Services
Operation Support Our Troops – America
The Downers Grove DOLLS softball teams
Wheaton-Warrenville Early Childhood Collaborative
Illinois Head Start Program of DuPage County
The CDS Foundation Clinic
The Illinois State Dental Society Foundation Mission of Mercy
The Downers Grove Park District
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program
Vitalant Blood Donation (formerly LifeSource)
“The Protect & Play Program” hosted by The Chicago Blackhawks & The Chicago Dental Society
“Shamrockin’ For a Cure” & The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Bernie’s Book Bank
Operation Gratitude
The American Dental Association’s Give Kids a Smile Day
The Illinois Dentists Salute Program
America’s ToothFairy: National Children’s Oral Health Foundation
Catholic Charities of Joliet
The DuPage County Health Department Dental Program
CURE Network
Hope’s Front Door (formerly Walk-In Ministry of Hope)
Bonfield Express 5K
The DuPage Community Clinic
Alliance for Smiles
The Village of Downers Grove
The Heartland Center for Oral Health Clinic
The Pedersen-McCormick Boys & Girls Club Pediatric Dental Clinic

Memberships

Dr. Jackson is an active member in multiple professional societies including: