Dr. Angelo is a graduate of Loyola University in Chicago, where he earned his Bachelor's of Science in 1974. He earned his Master's Degree in Oral Biology in 1976, and his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1980 from the prestigious Loyola University College of Dental Surgery. He served as president of his class all four years of dental school.

He then earned his surgical specialty degree in Periodontics in 1982. While attending graduate school in the specialty of Periodontics, Dr. Angelo was an associate professor in the diagnostic and periodontal treatment clinic at Loyola University College of Dental Surgery. He has a national reputation as a pioneer in dental laser surgery, as well as periodontal and implant instruction to both general dentists and surgical specialists.

During his career, he was responsible for introducing the dental implant curriculum for graduate level surgical specialty residents at Loyola University College of Dental Surgery. Due to his efforts, the periodontal department received accreditation for implant studies. Dr. Angelo has also been involved in the research and development of implant systems and dental laser applications. He was one of three U.S. specialty offices for the beta testing sites and FDA approval for surface enhanced dental implants.

Dr. Angelo became an active member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry in 1988; the third Periodontist to achieve this honor in the United States. He is currently a member of the American Dental Association, American Academy of Perodontics, Chicago Dental Association and the Illinois Society of Periodontists.

He served as the lead surgical instructor at the Midwest Implant Institute in Worthington, Ohio, where he was awarded a fellowship. His duties included development of classroom lectures, as well as analyzing surgical methods of placing implants. Dr. Angelo was also a member of the board of advisors at the Midwest Implant Institute, an institution that has trained more than 1,200 implant dentists worldwide.

Dr. Angelo has lectured at the Mid-winter Dental Meeting in Chicago and the greater New York Dental Meeting, as well as on national and international stages on the subjects of implant, periodontal and laser therapies. Many local dental societies and study clubs have also engaged Dr. Angelo to speak to their members.

The Chicago Dental Society honored Dr. Angelo by asking him to perform a half-day live surgery course via satellite from Northwestern University to McCormick Place. More than 350 dentists viewed and interacted by audio transmission during the procedures. The course subject was conservative periodontal surgeries, and a video of the surgical session is available by contacting the Chicago Dental Society.

Dr. Higgins attended the University of Illinois College of Dentistry to obtain his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. He then completed his Hospital General Practice Residency at the Catholic Medical Center in New York and his General Anesthesia Residency at the Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago.

He has been a Fellow of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology since 1982, and a Diplomat of the National Board of Anesthesiology since 1995 and the American Dental Board of Anesthesiology since 1996. These honors show his commitment to excellence above and beyond what is required of most dental anesthesiologists.

Dr. Higgins has also served as an Associate Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine & Department of Anesthesiology. Since 1982, he has also been the Attending Anesthesiologist at the University of Illinois Hospital Eye & Ear Division.

Part of his time has been dedicated to working as a consultant for the Anesthesia Review Panel at the Illinois State Board of Dentistry. He still consults for the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation.

The gum line, and the bone just beneath the gum line, can be lowered to change the appearance of your smile. This can create a more even gum line or make the teeth appear longer. Gingival (gum) contouring is the process of recontouring the gum only. Crown lengthening refers to recontouring of both gum and supporting bone.