Trusted Granger, IN Dentist
Get to Know
Joseph E. Hickey, DDS
Dr. Hickey, a native of South Bend, has been serving patients at Granger Dental Group for over a decade now, and he truly enjoys coming to work every day. His favorite part of being a dentist is interacting with not only his team members but the patients as well, helping them work through their dental needs in a transparent, honest fashion so they can achieve the results they want and deserve. He also likes that you can hear lots of laughter throughout the dental office on a daily basis! Interested in learning more about him? Just keep reading below.
Why Did You Decide to Become a Dentist?
Dr. Hickey took a liking to the healthcare field early on, as well as its vital element of face-to-face interactions. While growing up, he worked at his dad’s steel factory and also enjoyed the idea of having his own business, but healthcare ownership in the medical field seemed extremely limited. Eventually, he worked for a local oral surgeon who owned his own practice and helped provide him with a wonderful vision of what being in the dental field was like. Today, he can’t imagine doing anything else!
Where Did You Study?
Dr. Hickey attended all of his primary years of education right in South Bend, from kindergarten all they way through to St. Matthew and Marian High School. His college career started at the University of Notre Dame where he majored in pre-professional studies and Economics. He then pursued his dental doctorate at the Indiana University School of Dentistry in 2007 and worked for Heartland Dental following graduation in the Kokomo and Indianapolis area. He also completed Heartland’s Aesthetic Continuum, which is the company’s premier cosmetic and hands-on program for general dentists who’d like to focus on porcelain veneers.
Today, continuing education is still a big priority for Dr. Hickey. He completed a year-long residency with the Academy of Straight Wire and Functional Orthodontics in 2016 to further his knowledge in the orthodontic field. Today, he focuses on clear aligner therapy as an image-friendly way for his patients to achieve straighter teeth. He’s also pursued state-of-the-art training with Dr. Garg and the Implant Dentistry Continuum, which offers a comprehensive approach to implant training that includes a live patient program in the Dominican Republic.
Outside of the Dental Office, What Do You Like to Do?
While at Notre Dame, Dr. Hickey met his wife Melissa, during a study abroad program in London. Melissa is a pediatrician at South Bend Clinic in Granger. Together they have three children named Lauren, Kaitlyn, and Jojo who stay active, as well as an amazing set of grandparents who help shuttle them throughout the city.
South Bend is Dr. Hickey's hometown and he loves being a part of the community. Outside of working hours, Dr. Hickey’s family enjoys partaking in various Notre Dame sporting events, and can even be found hosting large gatherings of friends and family at football tailgates in the fall. He’s also a die-hard Cubs fan and even attended Game 7 with his parents and brother in 2016 when they won it all! He regularly gets involved in his kids’ activities, specifically coaching Upward Basketball in the winter, and golfs with his buddies at Morris Park. Traveling is a big hobby as well when he has the spare time.