Justin Hillock's Schools

• University of Iowa College of Dentistry , Class of 2006 MA in Health

Justin Hillock's Affiliations

• American Dental Association, Iowa Dental Assoc. Rotary Club, Knights of Columbus, Lions Club, Level 3 USA Hockey Coach (working on Level 4), Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Delta Sigma Delta Dental Fraternity (oldest in country)

Justin Hillock's Publications

• Knights of Columbus, Dr. Justin Hillock February, 2011 Dr. Justin Hillock currently works as a Dentist at Guthrie Center Family Dentistry and Coon Rapids Family Dentistry in Iowa. In addition to his work as a Dentist, Dr. Justin Hillock is an active member of the Knights of Columbus. Founded in the United States in 1882 and named after the explorer Christopher Columbus, the Knights of Columbus is the largest Catholic fraternal service organization in the world. The Knights of Columbus maintains a membership of more than 1.8 million people in 15,000 councils across the United States. Founded by Irish-American Catholic priest The Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut, the Knights of Columbus initially existed as a mutual benefit society. After witnessing the devastating effect that the death of a breadwinner could have on a family, McGivney began to offer insurance to care for widows and orphans in immigrant communities. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus as a fraternal organization open to Catholics who could not participate in Freemasonry, labor unions, and many other social groups. During the civil rights movement of the mid-20th century, the Knights of Columbus underwent significant internal and external pressure to accept black candidates. After a meeting with President John F. Kennedy in 1963, Supreme Knight Luke E. Hart declared that membership criteria would soon undergo discussion. Subsequently, the organization changed its new membership process to require a majority vote to reject a candidate. The Knights of Columbus operates under the guidance of the Supreme Council, the organization’s governing body composed of elected officials from each jurisdiction. The Supreme Council elects seven members to the Supreme Board of Directors annually for three-year terms, for a total 21-person officiating body. The Supreme Board of Directors then chooses the senior operating staff from within the Order. The Supreme Knight and the Supreme Chaplain represent the operational and spiritual leaders of the organization, respectively. Today, the Knights of Columbus maintains its long-standing commitment to charitable giving and insurance programs. Some of the activities undertaken by the Knights of Columbus include support of those with physical and developmental disabilities, promotion of peace in the Middle East, and disaster relief for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

• What is a Root Canal Procedure and How is it Done?, Part 2, by Justin K. Hillock, D.D.S. March, 2011 What is a Root Canal Procedure and How is it Done?, Part 1 here Now that you understand why root canals are necessary, I will describe how the procedure is done. In many cases, root canals are relatively pain-free and may even be performed without anesthesia. Even for more complex cases, the discomfort caused by the root canal pales in comparison to the pain caused by the pulp infection. The first step in a root canal procedure involves drilling a hole in the tooth, in the approximate location above the root. For teeth in the front of the mouth, the dentist drills the hole on the tongue side, so that it is not visible when the patient speaks. Once the dentist gets to the roots of the teeth, he or she switches instruments, putting aside the general dental drills in exchange for very fine endodontic files. These look like thin, flexible wires with grooves along the side. The dentist starts with a very thin file that reaches the very tip of the tooth’s root. He or she drills with this file at a very low speed, removing material. After the dentist has removed the pulp from the tip of the root, he or she uses water to flush out the tooth and sterilizes it with a dilute bleach solution. Subsequently, the dentist repeats the procedure with gradually thicker files until the entire pulp has been removed. Following the removal of the pulp, the dentist dries the inside of the roots with very small points of paper. It is then filled with a special material called gutta percha. A sticky form of rubber, it bonds well to the surface of the tooth, filling all spaces thoroughly. In addition, the dentist inserts a small amount of dental cement to fill any remaining areas. Subsequently, additional pieces of gutta percha are inserted until the tooth is completely filled. In over 95 percent of cases, this procedure stops the tooth infection and allows the dentist to save the tooth. The patient retains all normal function and sensation in the tooth, despite the loss of the pulp, because the nerves that we use to feel our teeth are actually located in the jaw. If you have serious tooth pain, don’t put it off. Go to a dentist to make sure you do not develop complications such as an abscess. Justin K. Hillock, D.D.S., maintains two dental practices in Guthrie Center, Iowa. He treats both children and adults, providing a full range of general dentistry services.

Justin Hillock's Links