Convenient Access from Munster
Smiles For Miles sits about 6 minutes west of Munster Town Hall, just over the state line in Lansing, Illinois. For anyone weighing a dentist in Munster, IN against one a short hop away, that drive is shorter than many errands across town. Our doctors handle checkups, crowns, implants and sleep apnea care in one office. Your side of the line shares Central Time with Lansing, so your appointment time reads the same on both sides of the line.
Start at Town Hall, 1005 Ridge Road, and follow Ridge Road west for about 1.9 miles. On the way you pass the Monon Corridor tracks beside the new Munster Ridge station, then the Monon Trail and the Pennsy Greenway, and the road carries you into Illinois. Turn left onto South Burnham Avenue and continue south about half a mile, past 186th Street, to 18610 Burnham Ave Ste D, Lansing, IL 60438. The whole trip covers roughly 2.5 miles, and we welcome plenty of patients from neighboring Lynwood and Highland as well.
Two Towns on the Same Ridge
Munster earned its nickname, the Town on the Ridge, from Ridge Road and the Calumet Shoreline it follows. That ancient Lake Michigan shoreline keeps going west, and Lansing sits on it too. In practical terms, the road you already use for groceries and school runs is the road that brings you to our door. There is no expressway to merge onto and no toll to pay.
Families who spend weekends at Centennial Park already know the Pennsy Greenway, since the park connects to it. That same trail crosses Ridge Road on your way to us, a handy marker that you are almost there.
Our practice has cared for this corner of the region since 1946, a legacy that now spans three generations. Some long-time local families still remember the office as Pallotto Dental Care. The name changed, but the commitment to steady, personal dentistry did not.
Weekday schedules matter here as well. We stay open until 7 PM on Wednesdays and Thursdays, which helps residents who work in Chicago. Riders on the South Shore Line, whose Munster Ridge station opened on March 31, 2026, can step off the train and reach our office a few minutes later.
Mondays and Tuesdays run from 9 AM to 4 PM. Fridays and Saturdays alternate, with 8 AM to 2 PM hours on whichever day is open that week. A quick call tells you which one is on the calendar, so a weekend morning visit is possible on some weeks.
Care Planning for an Established Munster Household
Munster is a settled, largely owner-occupied town in Lake County, Indiana, and a good share of its residents are 65 or older. Many households are married couples who have lived in the same neighborhood for decades. That stability often shows up in the mouth as older fillings, worn crowns and the occasional missing tooth.
Restorative planning is where our practice is strongest. Dr. Shin is a board-certified prosthodontist, a specialist in replacing and rebuilding teeth. For implant cases, the office uses 3-D cone beam imaging to study bone and nerve positions before any surgery is scheduled.
A restorative plan here usually starts with an exam, x-rays and a frank conversation about choices and costs. Some patients finish in a visit or two, while others spread treatment across several months to fit a budget or a travel schedule. If you also see specialists at Community Hospital on MacArthur Boulevard, bring a current medication list to your first visit. Blood thinners and some bone medications can change how dental work is planned.
Prevention still comes first. Routine exams catch small cracks and gum changes while they are simple to treat. If snoring or daytime tiredness is part of the picture, our doctors can also talk through oral appliance options for sleep apnea.
Services for Anyone Comparing a Dentist in Munster, IN
Dental Implants
Implants replace a missing tooth from the root up, so neighboring teeth stay untouched. Patients planning around retirement may prefer a long-term fix over a removable option. New patients can start with a free implant consultation.
Dental Crowns & Bridges
A crown protects a cracked or heavily filled tooth, while a bridge spans a gap. Both suit residents whose dental work dates back several decades and now needs renewal.
Preventative & General Dentistry
Cleanings, exams and digital x-rays form the base of every plan. Regular visits let us spot trouble early, which keeps later treatment smaller and simpler for busy Ridge Road families.
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Some people with sleep apnea do well with a custom oral appliance worn at night. Dr. Shin is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.
Porcelain Veneers
Thin porcelain shells reshape chipped, stained or uneven front teeth. Some patients choose them ahead of a big event such as a graduation or a family wedding.
For patients missing most or all of their teeth, fixed new teeth on a full arch anchor a complete set of teeth to implants. It is a different experience from a loose plate, and it is planned by a prosthodontist from start to finish.
Meet Your Lansing Dental Team
Dr. Jun Soo Shin, DDS, MS, FACP completed a three-year prosthodontics program and an implant-focused master's in oral sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago. He works alongside Dr. Jee Sun Kim, DDS, and Dr. Eric (Jee Hwan) Kim, DDS. Together they offer general and specialty care without a referral across town.
Insurance, Membership & Financing
We are in-network with Delta Dental Premier and DPPO, Cigna Total Plus, Principal, MetLife, Lincoln Financial Group and Kansas City Life. Most other private dental plans are accepted as well. The office does not take Medicaid or HMO plans.
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 Munster, and how do I get there?
From Munster Town Hall the office is about 2.5 miles away, roughly a 6-minute drive. Take Ridge Road west into Illinois, then turn left and head south on South Burnham Avenue for about half a mile. Anyone searching for a dentist in Munster, IN will find the trip shorter than many local drives.
Do Munster patients need to adjust for a time zone change when they drive over?
No, there is no time difference. The town belongs to one of the northwest Indiana counties near Chicago that stay on Central Time. Lansing uses Central Time as well, so a 5 PM booking means 5 PM on your watch whether you leave from home or from work.
Can a South Shore Line rider from Munster Ridge station fit in an evening visit?
Yes, on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Those days run until 7 PM, which gives commuters time after the train. The station sits just off Ridge Road, the same road that leads west toward our office, so the drive from the platform takes only a few minutes.
Which doctor plans implant and full-arch cases for older Munster residents?
Dr. Jun Soo Shin plans those cases. He is a board-certified prosthodontist with an implant-focused master's degree from the University of Illinois Chicago. Some retirees prefer a fixed option to a removable plate, and he walks through each choice using 3-D cone beam images taken right in the office.
Did this Lansing office once go by a different name for Munster families?
Yes, it was formerly Pallotto Dental Care. The practice has served the area since 1946, across three generations of patients. Families who knew the old name will recognize a practice with deep roots on this side of the state line.
Schedule Your Visit from Munster
Whether you need a cleaning or a full restoration plan, our team is a short drive down Ridge Road. If you have been comparing options for a dentist in Munster, IN, call 708-991-3981 to book a visit. You can also browse every community on our areas we serve page or visit our Dentist Lansing, IL homepage.
