Convenient Access from Des Plaines
Without paying a toll, downtown Des Plaines is about 21 minutes from Skale Dental Professionals. The office has served patients from Meadow Road in Northbrook since 1984, and it remains family-owned. Commuters and retirees comparing a dentist in Des Plaines, IL can find implants, crowns, aligners and sedation here, all planned and completed by one team.
Leave City Hall on Miner Street by way of Park Place, follow Lee Street and Elk Boulevard to Des Plaines River Road, and go north about 0.7 mile. Turn east on Golf Road (IL 58) for roughly 4.6 miles, then north on Waukegan Road (IL 43) for about 5.3 miles. In Northbrook, turn west on Walters Avenue and north on Meadow Road to arrive at 1300 Meadow Rd Ste 200, Northbrook, IL 60062. The toll-free version covers 11.6 miles, while taking the Tri-State Tollway from Golf Road to Willow Road cuts the trip to roughly 17 minutes.
Just south of Golf Road near the start of the drive sits Big Bend Lake, a Forest Preserves of Cook County site with access to the Des Plaines River Trail. Patients from Park Ridge and Niles share the Waukegan Road stretch of the drive. Open the office on Google Maps before you go, and allow extra time on Golf Road at rush hour.
Why Des Plaines Residents Find Us Worth the Drive
French explorers named the river for trees that reminded them of European plane trees, and the town that grew beside it was first platted as Rand. It took the river's name in 1869 and voted to become a city in 1925. Growth sped up after World War II and again once O'Hare opened just to the south.
Today the city of roughly 60,000 sits in Maine Township in Cook County, with Park Ridge across the river and unincorporated Maine Township pockets nearby. Interstate 90, the Tri-State, the Union Pacific Northwest Line and Pace's Dempster Pulse buses all run through town. Many residents spend real time commuting, and they want dental visits that respect that.
That is one reason we stay open until 6 PM on Tuesdays. A late-afternoon appointment lets a commuter leave the office, stop by, and still be home for dinner. The practice also keeps private treatment rooms and two surgical suites, so longer procedures happen in a quiet setting.
Keeping Teeth Strong Through a Busy Des Plaines Life
About one resident in five is 65 or older. Teeth that have chewed for six or seven decades often carry old fillings, worn crowns and bridges near the end of their lifespan. Our job is to keep as many of those teeth working as long as possible.
When a large filling fails, a full crown is not always necessary. Inlays and onlays rebuild just the damaged portion of a back tooth and preserve more natural structure. They are a smart middle ground for teeth that are cracked but still healthy at the root.
For patients who have lost most of their teeth, a removable denture is not the only path. All-On-4® implants support a fixed full arch on four implants, so the teeth stay in place for eating and speaking. We plan these cases with exocad digital smile design, so you can see the proposed shape and spacing before anything is placed.
Working adults face a different set of risks. Long commutes and stressful schedules often lead to clenching, skipped cleanings and coffee stains. Clear aligners, whitening and a regular hygiene schedule help keep that from snowballing into larger repairs.
Students fill out the picture. Maine West High School serves most of the city, and Oakton College has a campus here, so we see plenty of young adults managing their own care for the first time. New patients who need urgent help can book a $69 emergency exam and x-ray.
Free time in town often means Lake Park, a 76-acre park district space with Lake Opeka, a golf course and a marina. The Des Plaines Park District's Lake Park page lists its picnic shelters and boating. The Des Plaines History Center on Pearson Street is another local favorite.
Key Services for Anyone Considering a Dentist in Des Plaines, IL
Restorative Dentistry
Crowns, bridges, onlays and tooth-colored fillings repair worn and broken teeth. We prioritize saving natural tooth structure. Temporaries and models are often 3D-printed in our office for a precise fit.
Dental Implants
Implants replace one tooth, several teeth or an entire arch. Planning, surgery and the final crown all take place in one building. That keeps the process simpler for patients making the trip up Waukegan Road.
Invisalign®
Adults who never had braces, and those whose teeth have shifted since, can straighten their smile discreetly. Aligners come out for meals and meetings. Checkups fit easily into a Tuesday afternoon.
Sedation Dentistry
Oral conscious sedation helps anxious patients relax through longer visits. It is especially useful for implant surgery or several fillings at once. Arrange for someone to drive you home afterward.
Meet Your Northbrook Dental Team
Implant and full-arch cases are a particular strength of Dr. Ryan Skale, whose AEGD residency at the Bay Pines VA in Florida covered implants, oral surgery, cosmetic work and full-mouth rehabilitation. Everyday restorative and esthetic care draws on a colleague with a quarter century in practice: Dr. Sharon Goodzey, a graduate of the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine.
Insurance & Financing
Most PPO plans work with our hybrid out-of-network approach, including MetLife and Guardian. We verify your coverage and take care of the claim forms. Bigger treatment plans can be split into in-house payments or financed through Cherry, often with a low down payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Skale Dental Professionals from Des Plaines, and how do I get there?
It is 11.6 miles from City Hall, about 21 minutes on a toll-free route. Head north on Des Plaines River Road, east on Golf Road and north on Waukegan Road, then finish on Walters Avenue and Meadow Road. Adults looking for a dentist in Des Plaines, IL often find that drive easier than expected.
Is the Tri-State Tollway quicker from Des Plaines?
Yes, by a few minutes. Taking I-294 north from Golf Road to Willow Road, then Willow Road east and Shermer Road north, brings the drive down to about 17 minutes. That stretch is tolled, so drivers who would rather skip the toll can stay on Golf Road and Waukegan Road instead.
How long does the dental implant process take?
Most cases take a few months from placement to the final crown, because the implant needs time to bond with the jawbone. Planning with 3D CBCT imaging and a 3D-printed surgical guide comes first. Dr. Wei Ting Ho places many implants in-house, and the final crown is made in the same office.
Are fixed full-arch implants an option after years of wearing a denture?
Often they are. Bone tends to shrink after teeth are lost, so the first step is imaging to measure what remains. If there is enough support, All-On-4® implants can hold a fixed arch that does not come out at night, giving longtime denture wearers in Des Plaines teeth that stay put for eating and speaking.
Can Des Plaines patients who avoid dentists get sedation?
Yes. Oral conscious sedation is available for patients who feel anxious or who need a long appointment. You take a prescribed medication before the visit and stay relaxed but responsive throughout. A companion drives you home, and we review every step beforehand so nothing comes as a surprise.
Schedule Your Visit from Des Plaines
If you are weighing a dentist in Des Plaines, IL against a toll-free 21-minute drive, call 847-393-0163 and we will find a time. Our areas we serve page lists every nearby community, and the Dentist Northbrook, IL homepage covers the rest of what we offer.