Dr. Jeff Nickas has been practicing dentistry with Grand Dental - Sycamore for the majority of his professional life, almost 10 years! He feels lucky to have found such a great group of individuals to work with. He describes the diverse Grand Dental - Sycamore team as Quirky, fun, motivated and accomplished.
For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to work in healthcare. My mother was a nurse, and I took an avid interest in her profession. Growing up, I really liked the arts, be it music, painting or drawing. I also had an affinity for science, studying biology and chemistry in college. To me, dentistry was the meeting of these disciplines. Dentistry blends science, art, technical skill, and healthcare all into one profession. I love what I do, and I believe it really shows in the approach we take with our patients.
Dr. Jeff attended undergraduate school at the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign and received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Since becoming a practicing dentist, he has completed several rounds of continuing education, including:
A self-professed animal nut, Dr. Jeff and his fiance, Corey, have a 3,000-gallon koi pond that they maintain year-round. They love to travel to exotic locations and observe local wildlife. In fact, theyve come face-to-face with giant tortoises in the Galpagos Islands, and swam with tropical fish while scuba diving on the Belize barrier reef. He says Our planet if so full of interesting life. Our goal is to see as much as possible while were here.
For Dr. Dan Brady, dentistry is all about making someones life better, whether it involves getting them out of pain, improving how their smile looks, or simply keeping their mouth healthy. He loves the bonds he forms with patients when meeting new patients or catching up with returning ones.
In College Dr. Dans favorite class was chemistry and was initially interested in pursuing a career as a pharmacist. But, after meeting and spending time with a retiring dentist, Dr. Dan eyes were opened to the wonderful world of dentistry and decided that this profession would be a really good fit for him. He says, I made a great choice. I could never imagine doing anything else.
After graduating from Northeastern Illinois University, Dr. Brady earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry. Always striving to improve himself, he is dedicated to continuing education, completing courses such as:
With the exception of his lovely wife, Lorraine, everything else has come in threes for Dr Dan! He has 3 daughters- Brittany, Courtney and Nicole, 3 grandchildren- Dylan, McKenzie and Lily and 3 dogs- Mia, Romeo and Gizmo. He is an avid fisherman and particularly enjoys fishing in nearby Fox River and lakes in the Midwest and Canada. A huge sports fan, he cheers on the Bears, Cubs, and Blackhawks whenever he can. Never one to turn down a challenge, he once walked a 22-mile path around Lake Geneva, WI on a dare.
Grand Dental Sycamore is pleased to have an in-house orthodontist, Dr. Sandler, with over 30 years of experience in creating beautiful, healthy smiles. Transforming his patients appearance, confidence, and oral health through orthodontic treatment is incredibly rewarding to Dr. Sandler.
Dr. Sandler completed both his Doctor of Dental Surgery and his Certificate of Orthodontics at the New York University College of Dentistry. Throughout his career he has consistently pursued continuing education to keep his clinical skills up to date and expand his field of knowledge. He is currently a member of the American Academy of Orthodontists and the International Association of Orthodontics.
Dr. Sandler and his wife, Linda, have two grown children. Katherine lives in Chicago and works for the Associated Press, while Thomas works for ADT and resides in Florida. He enjoys watching professional sports and maintains his loyalty to the New York Mets and the New Jersey Devils. He is also deeply devoted to his English Bulldog, Daisy Duke Sandler, who he admits is quite the Diva.