Convenient Access from Chicago Heights
Lincoln Highway and Torrence Avenue lead from Chicago Heights to Smiles For Miles in Lansing, a 19-minute drive with no expressway and no tolls. That makes our office a practical choice for families who might otherwise look only for a dentist in Chicago Heights, IL. Our three dentists handle checkups, clear aligners, crowns and urgent visits under one roof, and Wednesday and Thursday appointments run until 7 PM.
Start at Chicago Heights City Hall on Chicago Road, right beside the Pace Chicago Heights Terminal and a block from the public library. Follow Oak Street and East 16th Street to Halsted Street, go north a short way, then turn east onto Lincoln Highway (US 30) for about 4 miles. Along that stretch you pass the Ford Chicago Heights Stamping Plant before turning north on Torrence Avenue for roughly 2.5 miles.
At Glenwood-Lansing Road, head east about a mile, then turn north on Burnham Avenue to 18610 Burnham Ave Ste D, Lansing, IL 60438. Door to door, the trip covers 9.1 miles. The office sits between 186th Street and Otto Street, about half a mile south of Ridge Road and less than a mile from the Indiana line. We also welcome patients from nearby Glenwood and Sauk Village.
Why Chicago Heights Households Make the Short Trip East
Long-time residents may remember our office as Pallotto Dental Care, a practice that has served the area since 1946 across three generations. The name is new, but the commitment to local families is not. Plenty of households here include school-age kids, and an office that is simple to reach makes routine visits easier to keep.
Smiles For Miles uses digital x-rays and sensors, plus intraoral cameras that put a close-up of each tooth on a screen you can see. Parents get a clear picture of what is happening in a child's mouth, and adults can follow along with their own treatment. Our team also speaks Spanish, so families can talk through choices in the language they prefer.
Residents keeping up with city news can find ward and service updates on the City of Chicago Heights website. Like Lansing, the city sits in Cook County, and both communities share the same south suburban roads, from Torrence Avenue to Lincoln Highway. Neighbors in Ford Heights and Homewood travel many of the same corridors.
The community's story goes back to 1833, when Absalom Wells built a cabin on the ridge above Thorn Creek. By the 1840s the settlement was called Thorn Grove. In the 1890s, developers led by Charles Wacker turned it into an industrial suburb, drawing Inland Steel, Owens-Illinois Glass and Ludowici Roofing Tile. That working heritage still shapes the city, and plenty of residents put in long days that leave little room for a midday appointment.
Dental Care Notes for Chicago Heights Families
Local children attend District 170 neighborhood schools and Chicago Heights Middle School, then move on to Bloom High School or Bloom Trail. Those years bring sports, braces conversations and plenty of snacks between classes. Regular cleanings and exams catch small problems, like early cavities, while they are still simple to fix.
Teens and parents curious about straighter teeth can start with our free Invisalign consultation for new patients. It is a relaxed way to see what clear aligners involve, how often check-ins happen, and what the next step would be. Nobody needs to commit to treatment at that first visit.
Students and staff at Prairie State College, which began in 1957 as Bloom Township Junior College, often fit appointments around classes and jobs. Our Wednesday and Thursday hours run from noon until 7 PM, which gives an evening option after a day on Halsted Street. Monday and Tuesday run 9 AM to 4 PM, and Friday and Saturday alternate with 8 AM to 2 PM hours.
What Our Office Offers Anyone Who Needs a Dentist in Chicago Heights, IL
Invisalign
Dr. Jee Sun Kim is certified in Invisalign and guides patients through each set of clear aligners. The trays come out for meals and brushing, which suits busy students and working parents alike. New patients can begin with a free Invisalign consultation.
Preventative & General Dentistry
Checkups, cleanings and digital x-rays form the base of every family's care plan. For working parents, an evening slot on Wednesday or Thursday can mean no missed school or work. Fillings and other everyday repairs are handled here too.
TMJ Treatment
Clenching, grinding and jaw tension can wear on teeth and make chewing uncomfortable. Our office treats TMJ problems by looking at how your bite, muscles and joints work together. Soreness after a long shift or a stressful week is worth bringing up at a checkup.
Emergency Dentistry
A cracked tooth or sudden swelling rarely waits for a convenient day. Call the office and the team will work to see you and explain your options. When decay reaches the nerve, root canal therapy can often save the natural tooth.
Dental Crowns & Bridges
Crowns protect teeth weakened by large fillings or fractures, while bridges fill the gap left by a missing tooth. Dr. Shin, a board-certified prosthodontist, plans these restorations with close attention to bite and fit. Patients can have this work done close to home instead of heading into Chicago.
Meet Your Lansing Dental Team
Professional memberships say a lot about where a dentist keeps learning, and Dr. Jun Soo Shin belongs to the ADA, the American College of Prosthodontists, the Chicago Dental Society and the Illinois State Dental Society. His interests center on complex treatment planning, digital dentistry and implants. Dr. Jee Sun Kim, an Invisalign-certified dentist, and Dr. Eric (Jee Hwan) Kim, DDS, share the schedule with him.
Insurance, Membership & Financing
If your employer offers Delta Dental, both the Premier and DPPO networks include our office, and most other private plans work here too. Bigger treatment plans, like a crown or a full course of aligners, can be paid over time through CareCredit or Cherry. Medicaid and HMO dental plans are the exceptions we cannot accept.
Smiles For Miles is great! The team is so friendly and made me feel super comfortable. The doctor was awesome and the hygienist cleaned my teeth beautifully. 10/10 experience!
Olivia T.
My family has been using Smiles For Miles for almost 12 years now and we love them. The doctors are the best. The team is excellent and helpful. Try them out, you won’t be disappointed.
Christine A.
I had a great experience at Smiles For Miles! The doctor and dental assistant were very kind and professional. The office team is also very friendly and the office is always decorated for different holidays. I would highly recommend this practice to anyone looking for a new dentist in Lansing, IL.
Gabe B.
Yelp
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Smiles For Miles from Chicago Heights, and how do I get there?
Smiles For Miles is 9.1 miles from Chicago Heights City Hall, about a 19-minute drive. The route follows Lincoln Highway (US 30) east, Torrence Avenue north, Glenwood-Lansing Road east and Burnham Avenue north. Anyone choosing a dentist in Chicago Heights, IL can make the trip without an expressway. Rush hour on Torrence Avenue can add a few minutes.
What should a Chicago Heights resident do if a toothache starts on a weekend?
Call the office first, because Fridays and Saturdays alternate and one of them may be open from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM that week. Until you are seen, rinse with warm salt water, take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed and avoid chewing on that side. Facial swelling with fever needs urgent medical care right away.
Can college students get an evening appointment?
Yes, Wednesday and Thursday appointments run from noon until 7:00 PM. Students with morning classes can come in afterward without missing anything. Uninsured students may also want to look at the Smiles For Miles VIP membership, an annual plan that covers exams and necessary x-rays with discounts on other care.
Can a teenager start with a free Invisalign consultation?
Yes, as long as the teen is a new patient at our office. The free consultation lets Dr. Jee Sun Kim, who is certified in Invisalign, review whether aligners suit the teen's teeth. Clear trays come out for meals, sports and brushing, which many teens find easier to live with during busy school years.
Who treats jaw pain and TMJ problems for Chicago Heights patients?
Dr. Jee Sun Kim handles these cases at our Lansing office. She is certified in facial rejuvenation for TMJ and orofacial pain therapy, which focuses on the muscles and joints that move your jaw. Clicking, tight facial muscles and morning headaches are all worth mentioning, along with any habit of grinding at night.
Schedule Your Visit from Chicago Heights
If you have been searching for a dentist in Chicago Heights, IL, call 708-991-3981 to set up a visit at our Burnham Avenue office. You can browse every community we serve on our areas we serve page, or learn more about the practice on our Dentist Lansing, IL homepage.
