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    Apr 18, 2024  
2018-2019 Augusta University Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Augusta University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Dental College of Georgia


Click on any of the following links for information:  

About the College

The Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University offers a four-year program leading to a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. The dental curriculum consist of courses in oral biology, clinical sciences, behavioral sciences and management.

An Augusta University dental education emphasizes early exposure to patients. Students begin treating patients as early as sophomore year, enjoying a seamless transition from lecture halls and laboratories to clinics. As they master new skills they practice them in the clinic, closely supervised by caring, committed faculty. The fourth year of education is devoted almost solely to patient care. Senior students also practice their skills in clinics and facilities throughout the state.

Dental school requires intense focus, hard work and long hours, but Augusta University’s dedicated faculty and staff are on hand to assist. Most students approach dental school as a full-time pursuit, but students with jobs and/or families, including those who pursue dentistry as a second career, have excelled at Augusta University. Balance and commitment are key.

Augusta University’s numerous student organizations, as well as dental organizations for students, provide fun, service, camaraderie and inspiration. Some of these organizations emphasize fun or philanthropy; others provide provide an early start on networking and the opportunity to help shape the dental profession.

Administration

Dean: Carol A. Lefebvre

Vice Dean: Kevin Frazier

Associate Dean: Frank Caughman

Associate Dean: Joseph Vitolo

Associate Dean: Carole M. Hanes

Associate Dean: Philip Hanes

Associate Dean: Darrell E. Gentry

Assistant Dean: Alan Furness

The Dental College of Georgia Mission

In supporting the Augusta University Mission, The Dental College of Georgia will provide leadership and excellence in oral health education, research, clinical care and service.

The Dental College of Georgia Vision

To be a globally recognized leader in the prevention of oral disease and the preservation of oral and systemic health.

Accreditation

The program in Doctor of Dental Medicine is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of Approval without Reporting Requirements. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. The Commission’s web address is: http://www.ada.org/en/coda.

Degrees and Coursework

A Doctor of Dental Medicine  (DMD) degree is awarded upon completion of the 4-year dental program, including successful testing of the National Boards I & II. Graduates of The Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University are eligible for examination by all U.S. dental licensing boards. The 11-semester curriculum consists of:

  • Oral Biology Courses: anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, pharmacology and physiology
  • Clinical Sciences: dental materials, endodontics, occlusion, oral medicine, oral pathology, oral surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, prosthodontics, radiology and restorative dentistry
  • Behavioral Sciences/Management Courses

M.S. or Ph.D degrees: Oral Biology Dual Degrees are offered through the College of Graduate Studies in conjunction with the Department of Oral Biology.

DMD with Distinction in Research

DMD/MBA Program  

Doctor of Dental Medicine

General Career Information

A career in dentistry can provide many exciting and rewarding opportunities. Some of the advantages of a career in dentistry include:

  • Independence of owning and operating your own business
  • Challenge as a healthcare provider
  • Opportunity to serve others
  • Flexibility of living anywhere you’d like
  • Options to teach and/or conduct research
  • Satisfaction of knowing you play a vital role in your community

If these advantages are attractive to you, a career in dentistry may be right for you.

Career Opportunities

Most dentists are self-employed and establish a private practice alone or in partnership with other dentists. Other career options include employment in corporate dental practice or public health, academia, research, and the military. Some dentists complete advanced training after earning their dental degrees to specialize in areas such as orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontology or other areas.

After completing the DMD program, the new dentist is expected to:

  • Recognize and provide for the oral health needs of the people of Georgia, the region and the nation.
  • Deliver contemporary and efficient high quality oral healthcare.
  • Conduct themselves in an ethical manner and appreciate the need for life long learning.

Doctor of Dental Medicine with Distinction in Research

The university applauds individual dental students who, in addition to completing their didactic and clinical dental program, have acquired research skills and engaged in significant research activity.  The goals of student research are to foster scholarship and critical thinking skills, to add to the body of scientific information and to facilitate recruitment of students into dental research careers.  Dental student who distinguish themselves by research achievements during their dental training should receive formal recognition, indicated on their transcript and diploma, denoting the Doctor of Dental Medicine was awarded with Distinction in Research.

To be considered to receive the Doctor of Dental Medicine with Distinction in Research upon graduation, the dental student must:

  • Be ranked in the top third of their class (~3.5 GPA), according to the Office of Academic Affairs.
  • Submit a letter of intent and brief documentation, as listed below, to the Office of Research by the end of January of the third year of the Doctor of Dental Medicine program.
  • Have been a member in good standing of the Student Research Group, of the American Association of Dental Research, as confirmed by the Student Research Group President.
  • Have participated in the Summer Research Fellowship program (pre-D1 or D1) or other documentable research experience while in dental school.
  • Have presented at an annual Table Clinic/Student Research Day.
  • Be an author on an abstract accepted to a state, national, or international research meeting while in dental school.
  • Provide a letter from the research mentor confirming continuity of research experience while in dental school.
  • Special consideration and priority will be given to students who have participated in national meetings, research fellowships or awards, such as ADA/Dentsply, IADR Student Research Fellowship, NIH/Fogarty International Clinic Research Scholars Program, Hinman Student Research Symposium, NIH summer research fellowship, HHMI-NIH Research Scholars Program or other forms of extramural recognition and/or funding (provide documentation).

Upon review and approval of the credentials by the associate dean for research, a letter shall be provided to the candidate in time for residency applications, documenting the award.

To allow time for proper documentation on the diploma and transcript, final paperwork will need to be submitted by the candidate to the Registrar’s Office by mid-term of the semester before they will be graduating.

Admissions Information

Admission Standards

The Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University is a state-assisted institution with the primary goal of educating dental healthcare providers for the citizens of Georgia and beyond. The ethical practice of dentistry requires intellectual ability. Each applicant must successfully complete all requirements for admission. In addition to demonstrating personal characteristics appropriate for a career in a healthcare profession, qualification for admission and graduation requires satisfying the following essential functions:

  • Sufficient intellectual capacity to fulfill the curricular requirements of required basic sciences and clinical courses;
  • Ability to communicate with patients, colleagues, faculty, staff and other members of the healthcare community;
  • Ability to learn and safely perform the technical skills required to complete the dental curriculum; and
  • Sufficient emotional stability and responsibility to withstand the stresses, uncertainties and changing circumstances that characterize the practice of dentistry
General Admissions Information

The Admissions Committee recommends applicants on an annual competitive basis. Applicants who are considered in the judgment of the committee, to be the most well-qualified for admission are recommended to the Dean. The committee considers the following:

Overall Grade Point Average

Ranging from 2.87 to 4.0 with an average Overall GPA of 3.59 and an average Science GPA of 3.50

Dental Admissions Test

Ranging from 16 to maximum score of 30 in the Academic Average or Perceptual Ability components. The average Academic Average score is 20.0; average Perceptual Ability score is 21.0.

Academic Coursework

Minimum of 90 semester hours (135 quarter hours) at an American accredited college or university. Although a bachelor’s degree is not required, prospective students who earn a 4-year degree by enrollment are given more consideration.

Healthcare Experiences

Observing in the office of a general dentist is the best way to learn about dentistry. The Committee requires that applicants make arrangements to observe and/or receive hands-on experience in the office of one or more dentists or in an appropriate dental setting.

Other Responsibilities

The Committee acknowledges the roles of prospective students who had other responsibilities prior to enrollment. Examples include working while in college or caretaker/provider of other family members.

Community Involvement

The Committee takes into consideration a prospective student’s involvement in extracurricular and community activities. Also acknowledged are leadership roles, national recognition, summer enrichment programs, and research experience.

Backgrounds

When reviewing each pool of applicants, the Committee considers ethnicity, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds. Educational background, residency in respect to applicants residing in dental professional underserved areas are also acknowledged.

Commitment

Among applicants, the Committee seeks a commitment to practice in Georgia or elsewhere in the United States, commitment to practice in underserved areas, and motivation to becoming a dentist.

Recommendations

When applying through AADSAS there are two options in submitting letters of recommendation. Option 1 requires two letters. One entry will be a packet or composite/committee letters to be submitted. The applicant will indicate this on the application. The second letter will be a personal reference which must be a dentist if applying to DCG. Option 2 requires four letters. One of the letters must be written and submitted by an academic advocate (instructor, advisor, department chair, etc). The second letter must be from a dentist. The third and fourth letters can be submitted as personal letters and can be another academic spokesperson, another dentist, a supervisor, or someone who knows the applicant well enough to speak positively on the applicant’s behalf. Once an applicant has begun an AADSAS application (not finished or submitted) and has listed those who will be submitting letters of recommendation and their contact information, then the referees will received a link via email with instructions on how to submit their letters on behalf of the applicant.

Interviews 

Interviews are granted by invitation of the Committee only. All accepted students must be interviewed. Interviews are normally held from late August through mid-December. These interviews are with members of The Dental College of Georgia Admissions Committee who help assess the applicant’s personality, motivation and ability deemed pertinent to the successful study of dentistry.

Admission Requirements

Course Requirements

A minimum of 90 semester hours (135 quarter hours) at an accredited American College or university is required. Preference is given to students who earn a baccalaureate degree. Required prerequisites are listed as follows:

General Biology One academic year with labs (8hrs)

General Chemistry One academic year with labs (8hrs)

Advanced Chemistry One semester of organic chemistry with lab followed by one semester of biochemistry (lab not required, 3hrs or more).

Physics One semester with labs

English One academic year or the portion of an academic year required for the baccalaureate degree at an accredited American college or university. (8hrs)

Recommended Science Courses Human Anatomy, Microbiology, Genetics, Histology

All required courses must be taken on a graduated grading scale (A,B,C, D, F); required courses may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. Applicants must earn a grade of “C” or better in all required courses. An academic year equals two semesters or three quarters or one semester and two quarters.

Other Requirements

Application

Those applying to the DMD program at The Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University, can only apply through the ADEA Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS). The ADEA AADSAS 2018 application becomes available online at https://portal.aadsasweb.org on June 1, 2017. The timeline for applying to Augusta University through AADSAS is June 1 – September 30, 2017. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, official DAT scores, and letters of recommendation are to be submitted to AADSAS. All these components will be compiled and distributed to the DCG within 4-6 weeks. A final set of official transcripts may need to be requested to be sent to the admission office at DCG.

Supplemental Application: Although the AADSAS application is thorough for general admissions information, there is additional information needed by the admissions committee. Therefore, after completing the AADSAS application, all applicants must immediately complete the section of the application created specifically for the DCG. The supplemental application fee is $30. It is non-refundable and will be paid electronically in order for the admission office to receive an applicant’s additional information. A candidate’s packet is not considered complete until all application sections been submitted and received by the DCG admission office.

Dental Admission Test

Dental Admission Test: All applicants for admission must have taken the Dental Admission Test (DAT) within three years of applying. The DAT must be taken by the Sept 30, deadline, 11 months before those accepted are due to enroll. The DAT can be taken every 90 days. However examinees will be limited to three opportunities to take the test. When registering to take the DAT, make sure to indicate that scores be sent to AADSAS and also Augusta University. This will allow authorized admission personnel to view scores when necessary. Although ADEA will update DAT scores within a few weeks, please feel free to email your unofficial scores to osaas@augusta.edu. For information and registration for the DAT visit the American Dental Association website at www.ada.org/dat.aspx or call 1-800-232-2162.

Supplemental Information

Other Supplemental Information: Within the admission process, an applicant who is granted an interview will be asked to send documentation that proves lawful presence verification. For this purpose, most Georgia residents can submit a copy of their Georgia driver’s license issued no earlier than January 2008. List of other documents for proof of lawful presence can be found at http://www.augusta.edu/admissions/lawful-presence.php.

Special English Language Requirements

Applicants not born in the United States whose native language is not English are REQUIRED to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Although there have been several versions previously, the Internet-based version of TOEFL (iBT TOEFL) is solely available for current testers. The exam will test all four language skills for effective communication: speaking, listening, reading and writing. Applicants must achieve a minimum score of 100, with 26 in the speaking component. Test must be taken before the Sept 30 deadline, 11 months before those accepted are due to enroll. For information and registration materials for the iBT TOEFL visit www.ets.org or call 1-609-771-7100. To have your scores sent directly to the Dental College of Georgia, you must enter 5425, our TOEFL Institution Code, on the back of the admission ticket.

Residency Eligibility

The Dental College of Georgia accepts primarily Georgia residents, and has begun accepting up to 10% out-of-state applicants. International students may be eligible for admissions if they hold permanent residency or other elgible visas. All applicants claiming to be a resident of the state of Georgia must show proof of residing in Georgia for at least one year before enrollment. All eligible applicants are required to have a minimum of 90 semester hours of college coursework at an American Accredited College or University.

Re-applicants

Applicants who have applied three times, will not be considered on an immediate fourth application. In order to be considered further, those applicants must take at least one academic year to become a more competitive applicant before their applications will be reconsidered for admissions.

Acceptance Deposit

The Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University requires a $500 (in-state) or $1000 (out-of-state), non-refundable acceptance deposit which will be credited toward first semester matriculation fees.

Additional Admission Information for Special Groups

Transfer Students

The Dental College of Georgia does not accept transfer students. For a list of U.S. dental program that offer transfer programs contact the American Dental Education Association, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036, 202-667-9433 or visit the website at www.adea.org.

Foreign Trained Dentist

The Dental College of Georgia does not have a program in which foreign trained dentists can participate in order to become licensed in Georgia. A number of U.S. dental schools have programs for dentistry for those who have earned dental degrees outside of the United States and who desire to earn a dental degree or become qualified to take either national or state licensure examinations for the practice of dentistry in the United States. A list of the schools which accept graduates of foreign dental schools is available from the Department of Educational Surveys, American Dental Association, 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, 312-440-2689 or the American Dental Education Association, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036, 202-667-9433. Also, if you are a licensed dentist looking to possibly practice in Georgia you can contact the Georgia Board of Dentistry at 478-207-1680 or find more information at http://gbd.georgia.gov/.

For information concerning the DMD admission requirement or application process, please contact the Office of Students, Admissions, and Alumni, Dental College of Georgia at 706-721-3587 or write to:

Office of Students, Admissions, and Alumni
Dental College of Georgia
Augusta University, GC 5024
Augusta, GA 30912-1020
Fax: 706-723-0233
Email: osaas@augusta.edu

Academic Progress Policies

For a review of Academic Progress Policies for The Dental College of Georgia please select the following link:

Dental College of Georgia APP 
http://www.augusta.edu/dentalmedicine/policies/

Advanced Dental Education

http://www.augusta.edu/dentalmedicine/adved/aegd.php

Admissions Information

For information concerning the application process, please contact the Office of Advanced Education at (706) 721-2251 or write to:                                      

Augusta University
Dental College of Georgia
Office of Advanced Education

1120 15th Street, GC 5110
Augusta, GA 30912-1000
Fax: (706) 723-0234
Email: COMD_ADVANCEDEDUCATION@augusta.edu

Most of the Augusta University Advanced Education Programs use the Postdoctoral Application Support Services (PASS) and the National Matching Services (MATCH) in the selection process. Further information about these programs can be found at the following:

Postdoctoral Application Support Service
American Dental Education Association
1400 K Street, NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005
Customer Service: 1-800-353-2237
Or: 202-667-1887
Fax: 202-667-4983
Website: http://www.adea.org/PASSapp/

National Matching Services Inc.
20 Holly Street, Suite 301
Toronto, Ontario
Canada, M4S 3B1
Telephone: (416) 977-3431
Fax: (416) 977-5020

Toll Free Phone: (800) 461-6322


or  

National Matching Services Inc.
P.O. Box 1208
Lewiston, NY 14092-8208
Telephone: (716) 282-4013
Fax: (716) 282-0611

E-mail: dentres@natmatch.com

Advanced Certificates


Certificate in Advanced Education in General Dentistry

About the Program

The Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program at the Augusta University is a one year program fulfilling the requirements for advanced training in general dentistry as outlined by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association leading to a certificate.  The program is designed to provide clinical and didactic experience at the postdoctoral level in all areas of dentistry with an emphasis on treatment planning complex cases, treating medically complex patients, and training in advanced techniques such as rotary endodontics, implants, and IV sedation.

Residents receive an advanced program of didactic and clinical training in implant, fixed, and removable prosthodontics with the support of highly trained laboratory technicians; instruction in the management of medically compromised patients, geriatric patients, phobic patients, and didactic and clinical experience in the implementation of IV sedation techniques.

The majority of time is spent providing comprehensive patient care in state of the art operatories staffed by dental assistants and clerks simulating a small group dental practice. 

The year of training includes clinical rotations in emergency medicine, pedodontics and anesthesiology.

Goals and Objectives

To support the mission of the Dental College of Georgia: To educate skilled professionals who make a positive difference in the oral health of the widely dispersed and highly diverse population of Georgia.

  1. Identify each student’s individual needs and structure the residency program to address those needs to produce a clinician with the diagnostic acumen, treatment planning skills, and clinical experience and skills to provide the highest level of comprehensive dentistry.
  2. Teach the evidence and techniques that will graduate a clinician with competence and proficiency in the clinical disciplines of general dentistry.
  3. Develop residents with the skills required to treat patients with complex comprehensive care needs and to function as the primary dental care provider for patients, including patients with special needs.
  4. Graduate residents with the ability to manage a dental practice and staff to create a financially viable and positive work environment.
  5. Prepare residents to assume leadership roles in education and in their communities by giving them experience in presentations and public speaking, and by providing them with opportunities to experience actual community service during their residencies in which they may learn to apply their professional ethics, adaptability, and acceptance of cultural diversity to better understand the oral health needs of communities.
  6. Develop lifelong learners in dentistry who can critically review the dental and medical literature and use it both to research topics of interest and to provide up-to-date clinical care.

Admission Requirements

Please see the Dental College of Georgia website for specific admissions information:

http://www.augusta.edu/dentalmedicine/adved/aegd.php

We only accept candidates who are U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents.

Program Fees, Stipends, and Benefits

There is no tuition associated with the AEGD program. If the resident is enrolled in the Master of Science in Oral Biology degree program, he/she must pay tuition for courses taken through the College of Graduate Studies.  Total Estimated Cost for books and supplies for the entire program: $1500.00.  Room and board: Not applicable.  Median Debt: $0.00

Stipends: Last year’s residents received an annual stipend of approximately $47,500.

Equipment: All supplies and equipment associated with the clinical program are provided by the institution. Residents must provide their own high-quality digital camera for intra-oral photography, approximately $1,500-$2,000.

Benefits: The Dental College of Georgia provides malpractice insurance coverage for residents while providing patient care at. This insurance does not cover any outside dental practice. Residents are eligible for healthcare insurance if they pay a monthly co-premium.

Leave: Residents are entitled to employee holidays, though assignments for emergency coverage must be maintained. Residents may be entitled to up to 12 days annual leave, and 5 days of professional leave, at the discretion of the Program Director. 12 Days of medical leave are also granted to residents as outlined in the Dental College of Georgia Leave Policy for Dental Residents.

The Facilities

The AEGD clinic is located in the brand new state-of-the-art Dental College of Georgia. There are resident offices and clinics dedicated to the program with access to laboratory facilities on site. Full time dental assistants work with the residents in the clinic.

Department Information

Program Director: Andrew Hamilton, DMD

Department Phone: 706-721-7752

Accreditation: The Advanced Education program in General Dentistry is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and have been granted the accreditation status of approved. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. The Commission’s web address is http://www.ada.org/en/coda.  The Commission on Dental Accreditation has accredited the postdoctoral program in (–education area–). However, this education area is not one of the American Dental Association’s recognized dental specialty areas. Therefore, dentists graduating from this program cannot announce that they are specialists, as recognized by the American Dental Association. Revised: 8/14; 7/09; Reaffirmed: 8/10, 7/04, 7/00, 1/95; Adopted: 12/83

Gainful Employment Link

Gainful Employment Disclosure

Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency Program

ONET Code: 29-1029.00 Dentists, All other Specialists

CIP Code: 60.0199

OPEID: 01579

CIP Program Description: Any dental residency specialty program not listed above (Excluding Orthodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Endodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontology, and Prosthodontics).

Certificate in Clinical Fellowship in Esthetic and Implant Dentistry

This is a one-year, clinical fellowship in advanced prosthodontics that focuses on esthetics and implant dentistry.  The Fellowship provides clinical experiences in the diagnosis, treatment planning and treatment of patients presenting with advanced and complex esthetic and dental implant treatment needs. Experience includes adhesive cementation of porcelain veneers and CAD-CAM fabricated all-ceramic crowns.  The program accepts one to two Fellows each year. Qualified applicants must have completed 30-36 months of specialty training in Prosthodontics before beginning the program. 

Objectives of the fellowship program:

  • Develop expertise in evaluation, treatment planning and management of advanced Esthetic and Implant patient treatment, including interdisciplinary care with the Departments of Orthodontics, Periodontics, and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
  • Increase expertise in advanced esthetic techniques for complex all -ceramic crown and porcelain veneer procedures.
  • Achieve clinical expertise with dental adhesive materials and techniques, in managing all phases of porcelain veneer, all-ceramic crown and single-unit implant treatment in the Esthetic Zone.
  • Increase exposure to interdisciplinary treatment planning using Procera Implant Bridges (PIB) and dental implants.
  • Increase exposure to management of occlusal treatment in extensive and complex rehabilitations.

Program Fee, Stipends, Equipment and Benefits

Program Fee: There is no program fee associated with the certificate program in esthetics and implant dentistry 

Stipends: Stipends are approximately $44,000.00 per year.

Equipment:  All supplies and equipment associated with clinical treatment are provided by the institution.  There may be certain laboratory equipment (i.e. semi-adjustable articulator with facebow, laboratory handpiece, hand waxing and porcelain addition and metal working instruments) needed to be supplied by the fellow.

Benefits:  The Dental College of Georgia provides malpractice insurance coverage for residents while providing patient care at Augusta University.  This insurance does not cover any outside dental practice. Fellows are eligible for health care insurance if they pay a monthly co-premium. Fellows may be eligible for other Augusta University benefits if they so elect.

Leave: Fellows are entitled to Augusta University employee holidays, though assignments for emergency coverage must be maintained. Fellows may be entitled to up to 12 days annual leave and 10 days of professional leave, and 5 days of educational leave at the discretion of the Program Director. 12 days of medical leave are also granted to residents as outlined in the Dental College of Georgia Leave Policy for Dental Residents.

The Facilities 
The Esthetics and Implant Dentistry Program is housed at Augusta University, Dental College of Georgia, in a shared clinic.    In this environment, each fellow has his/her own operatory, laboratory space and shares a private office with the other fellows.  Full time dental assistants are assigned to assist the fellows in the clinic.  We use both in-house laboratory support and selected commercial laboratory support. 

Certificate in Endodontics

http://www.augusta.edu/dentalmedicine/adved/endo.php

About the Program

The Augusta University, Dental College of Georgia offers an advanced education program leading to a Certificate in Endodontics. The philosophy of this program is to educate dentists to become competent endodontists who will serve the public and the profession at a high level of excellence.  It stresses the importance of knowledge and skills in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases associated with the dental pulp and related periapical tissues.  The correlation of basic sciences and clinical sciences is an integral part of the program.  Individuals who successfully complete this advanced education program will be awarded a Certificate in Endodontics.

Successful completion of the postdoctoral curriculum fulfills all the educational requirements for eligibility for examination by the American Board of Endodontics.  Candidates with clinical experience are preferred.

Admission Requirements

Please see the Dental College of Georgia website for specific admissions information:

http://www.augusta.edu/dentalmedicine/adved/endo.php

We only accept candidates who are U.S citizens or permanent residents.

Dentists graduated from accredited United States and Canadian or other international dental schools that possess equivalent educational background and standing are eligible for admission to the Advanced Education Program in Endodontics. Equivalent dental degrees from foreign Dental Schools may also be acceptable. An official transcript evaluation is required for candidates who graduated from foreign Dental Schools.

Application materials are reviewed and candidates with the highest qualifications are selected for an interview based on the following criteria: dental education transcripts, class standing, National Dental Board Examination results, personal and career goals, experiences beyond pre-doctoral education, evidence of scholarly activity, and letters of recommendation. Applicants born outside the United States and whose native language is not English must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (iBT TOEFL). No candidates are admitted to the program without a personal interview. Non-discriminatory policies are followed in selecting applicants.

Program Fee, Stipends, Equipment, and Benefits

Program Fee: There is no program fee associated with the certificate program in endodontics for dentists who have graduated from accredited United States or Canadian dental schools. If the resident wishes to enroll in the Master of Science in Oral Biology degree program, he must pay tuition for courses taken through the College of Graduate Studies. References should be made to the current Augusta University Catalog for specific information regarding Graduate School tuition and fees. 

Stipends:  No stipend funds are available for the certificate program in endodontics.  Augusta, Georgia is a beautiful city with a low cost of living.  This makes it ideal for residency training from a financial standpoint.

Equipment:  All expendable supplies associated with the clinical program are provided by the institution.  A dental operating microscope is provided for each resident.

Benefits:  The Dental College of Georgia provides malpractice insurance coverage for residents while providing patient care at the Augusta University.  This insurance does not cover any outside dental practice. Endodontic residents are eligible to participate in the Student Health Care Program at Georgia Regents University.

Leave: Residents are entitled to Augusta University employee holidays, though assignments for emergency coverage must be maintained. Residents may be entitled to up to 12 days annual leave, 10 days of professional leave, and 5 days of educational leave at the discretion of the Program Director. 12 days of medical leave are also granted to residents as outlined in the Dental College of Georgia Leave Policy for Dental Residents.

The Facilities

The Endodontic Program is located in the Georgia Regents University, Dental College of Georgia, in a separate clinic devoted exclusively to endodontic patient care.  Each resident has their own fully-equipped operatory and shares a private office with fellow residents.  Three full-time dental assistants are assigned to assist the residents in the clinic on a rotating basis.

Department Information

Program Director: Brian Bergeron, DMD

Department Phone: 706-721-8210

Accreditation: The Advanced Education program in Endodontics is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and have been granted the accreditation status of approved. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. The Commission’s web address is http://www.ada.org/en/coda.

Gainful Employment Link

Endodontics Residency Program

ONET Code: 29-1029.00 Dentists, All other Specialists

CIP Code: 60.0103

OPEID: 01579

CIP Program Description: A residency training program that prepares dentists in the etiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of conditions that affect the dental and other periodontal tissues, including pulp canal therapy and root canal therapy.

The Masters Degree Program The Graduate School offers a Master of Science in Oral Biology degree which may be taken in conjunction with the certificate curriculum.  This joint program gives the student more extensive experience in research and basic science education and requires an in-depth original research project leading to a defended thesis.  If the applicant desires to concurrently pursue a Master of Science in Oral Biology degree with the specialty program, the program length could be approximately 6-12 months longer.  Tuition is charged on a per hour basis for the graduate courses taken.  The applicant must be accepted by The Graduate School and the Department of Oral Biology.  Application to the graduate program is made after acceptance to the certificate program.

Certificate in General Practice Residency

http://www.augusta.edu/dentalmedicine/adved/gp.php

About the Program

The Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program at the Augusta University is a one year program fulfilling the requirements for advanced training in general dentistry as outlined by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association leading to a certificate.  The program is designed to provide clinical and didactic experience at the postdoctoral level in all areas of dentistry with an emphasis on treatment planning complex cases, treating medically complex patients, and training in advanced techniques such as rotary endodontics, implants, and IV sedation.

Residents receive an advanced program of didactic and clinical training in implant, fixed, and removable prosthodontics with the support of highly trained laboratory technicians; instruction in the management of medically compromised patients, geriatric patients, phobic patients, and didactic and clinical experience in the implementation of IV sedation techniques.

The majority of time is spent providing comprehensive patient care in state of the art operatories staffed by dental assistants and clerks simulating a small group dental practice. 

The year of training includes clinical rotations in emergency medicine, pedodontics and anesthesiology.

Admission Requirements

Please see the Dental College of Georgia website for specific admissions information:

http://www.augusta.edu/dentalmedicine/adved/gp.php

We only accept candidates who are U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents.

Tuition, Stipends, Equipment and Benefits

Tuition:  There is no tuition associated with the Certificate Program in general practice.  If the resident is enrolled in the Master of Science in Oral Biology degree program, he/she must pay tuition for courses taken through the Graduate School.  References should be made to the current Augusta University Catalog  for specific information regarding Graduate School tuition and fees. 

Stipends:  Last year the general practice residents received an annual stipend of approximately $48,000.  This stipend is provided by the Augusta University Medical Center, and is subject to change each year based on availability of funds.  Augusta, Georgia is a beautiful city with a low cost of living.  This makes it ideal for residency training from a financial standpoint.

Equipment:  Supplies and equipment associated with the clinical program are provided by the institution. Residents must provide their own high quality digital camera for intra-oral photography.

Benefits:  The Dental College of Georgia provides malpractice insurance coverage for residents while providing patient care at the Augusta University Hospital. This insurance does not cover any outside dental practice.  Residents are eligible for health care insurance if they pay a monthly co-premium. Residents may be eligible for other Augusta University benefits if they so elect.

Leave: Residents are entitled to Augusta University employee holidays, though assignments for emergency coverage must be maintained. Residents may be entitled to up to 12 days annual leave, 10 days of professional leave, and 5 days of educational leave at the discretion of the Program Director. 12 days of medical leave are also granted to residents as outlined in the Dental College of Georgia Leave Policy for Dental Residents.

The Facilities

The General Practice Program has its residents’ offices, clinics dedicated to the program, and laboratory facilities in the Dental College of Georgia.  Clinical training also occurs in the Augusta University Medical Center. Augusta University Medical Center is a tertiary care hospital that serves the needs of patients throughout the state.  The hospital has an inpatient operating room and a modern Ambulatory Procedure Center for general anesthesia cases.  The Emergency Department of the hospital has a fully equipped treatment room for dental procedures. Five full time dental assistants are assigned to assist the residents in the clinic.

The Curriculum
The General Practice Residency Program includes didactic training and advanced clinical experience in diagnostic sciences, endodontics, implant dentistry, oral surgery, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, preventive dentistry, prosthodontics (fixed and removable), restorative dentistry and special needs dentistry. The majority of the resident’s time is devoted to advance clinical training in ambulatory care settings. Patient care is also provided under general anesthesia in the Operating Room and Ambulatory Procedure Center. Additional hospital experience is gained through rotations in Anesthesia, Emergency Medicine, and Pediatric Dentistry and by participation in rounds and consultative services with various medical disciplines. Major emphasis is given to training related to the care of medically compromised patients.

Selection and Admissions Policies 
Following submission of a completed application and the required supporting materials, candidates files are reviewed by the Resident Selection Committee.  This committee consists of the Program Director and at least two other faculty members who provide clinical support for the GPR.  Only graduates of a dental school which is accredited by the American Dental Association are considered.  The following guidelines are used to select those individuals to be invited for an interview. 

  1. Applicants should rank in the top half of their dental school class.
  2. Applicants should have a GPA of 3.0 or higher in dental school.
  3. Applicants should have an average score of 85 or higher on National Boards.
  4. Letters of recommendation should be strongly supportive of the individual’s scholastic potential, clinical abilities and personal characteristics.
  5. An applicant who does not meet the first three guidelines may be considered if their academic record reflects a notable, consistent improvement and they are supported by exceptional letters of recommendation.

Candidates who are ultimately considered for the GPR are required to participate in a personal interview.  Following the interview process, members of the GPR Resident Selection Committee independently rank the applicants.  Should there be gross discrepancies in the rankings, the committee further discusses the applicants.  The rankings and deliberations provide the basis for a consensus opinion of the committee. The Program Director will make the selections and the selected candidates will be notified by the posted decision date listed in the chart at the top of this page.

Department Information

Program Director: Michael Pruett, DMD

Phone (Work): 706-721-6038

Accreditation: The Advanced Education program in General Practice Residency is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and have been granted the accreditation status of approved. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. The Commission’s web address is http://www.ada.org/en/coda. The Commission on Dental Accreditation has accredited the postdoctoral program in (–education area–). However, this education area is not one of the American Dental Association’s recognized dental specialty areas. Therefore, dentists graduating from this program cannot announce that they are specialists, as recognized by the American Dental Association. Revised: 8/14; 7/09; Reaffirmed: 8/10, 7/04, 7/00, 1/95; Adopted: 12/83

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General Practice Residency Program

ONET Code: 29-1029.00 Dentists, All other Specialists

CIP Code: 60.0199

OPEID: 01579

CIP Program Description: Any dental residency specialty program not listed above (Excluding Orthodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Endodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontology, and Prosthodontics).

Certificate in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

http://www.augusta.edu/dentalmedicine/adved/oralmax.php

About the Program

The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Advanced Education Program at Augusta University is a four-year program fulfilling the requirements for advanced training in oral and maxillofacial surgery as outlined by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.  The residency program consists of didactic education in basic and clinical sciences, clinical rotations, and research.

The first year of training includes clinical rotations in oral and maxillofacial surgery, medicine, and anesthesiology.  The second year includes clinical rotations in general surgery, and oral and maxillofacial surgery.  The third year resident rotations are on the shock trauma service and in oral and maxillofacial surgery.  Also included in the third year are two elective rotations which are arranged according to specific interests of the resident.  The fourth year of training, or chief resident year, is spent entirely in oral and maxillofacial surgery along with a rotation at Ft. Gordon OMS.

The program focuses on the advanced study of the diagnosis and intrusive and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects of the oral and maxillofacial regions, including functional,and aesthetic aspects. It includes instruction in pharmacology, analgesia, anesthesia, anxiety control, surgical procedures and techniques, surgical instrumentation, exodontia, oral diseases and malfunctions, soft and hard tissue pathology, dentoalveolar surgery, infection management, and prosthetic implantation.

Objectives of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Internship Program:

  • Develop expertise in evaluating, treatment planning and managing complex surgical cases.
  • Increased working knowledge of advanced surgical techniques.
  • Enhanced working knowledge of and experience in managing surgical complications.
  • Develop a high level of surgical competence in managing compromised patients.
  • Increase in exposure to interdisciplinary treatment planning associated with dental implants.
  • Increased exposure to interdisciplinary treatment planning. 

Admission Requirements

Please see the Dental College of Georgia website for specific admissions information:

augusta.edu/dentalmedicine/adved/oralmax.php

We only accept candidates who are U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents.

Dentists graduated from a United States or Canadian school accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation by the program start date are eligible for admission to the Advanced Education Program in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery.

Admission to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Program is competitive, with initial screening of candidates based upon previous academic performance, letters of recommendation and professional experience.  Applicants with professional experience following graduation from dental school, such as a general practice residency, are preferred.  The list of candidates submitted by the program to the MATCH program is based upon the factors described above, together with the results of a personal interview.

The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Comprehensive Basic Science Examination (CBSE) is required for all OMS applicants who have received only a pass/fail on Part I of the National Dental Boards in order to apply to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Program. The AAOMS will offer the NBME CBSE.   The CBSE is an opportunity to measure the applicants understanding of the basic sciences and provide an enhanced mechanism for OMS programs to evaluate applicants.

Applicants with a numeric score on Part I of the National Dental Boards are not required to take the CBSE, however they may wish to take the opportunity to participate in the examination to strengthen their application.

Tuition, Stipends, Equipments,  and Benefits

Tuition / Program Fee:  There is no tuition associated with the Certificate Program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. If the resident is enrolled in the Master of Science in Oral Biology degree program, he/she must pay tuition for courses taken through the Graduate School. References should be made to the current Augusta University Catalog for specific information regarding the Graduate School tuition and fees.

Stipends:  Residents in oral and maxillofacial surgery receive a stipend during each of the four years of training subject to availability of funds.  The amount of the stipend has recently ranged from approximately $49,000 to $55,000 per year.  Augusta, Georgia is a beautiful city with a low cost of living. This makes it ideal for residency training from a financial standpoint.

Equipment:  All supplies and equipment associated with the clinical program are provided by the institution.

Benefits:  The Dental College of Georgia provides malpractice insurance coverage for residents while enrolled in the program and providing patient care. This insurance does not cover any outside dental practice. Residents are eligible for health care insurance if they pay a monthly co-premium. Additional benefits for Oral Surgery residents include meal tickets for use on-call. Residents are encouraged to attend courses, conferences, professional meetings as time permits, and the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery will fund these activities on an individual basis as permitted by its budget.

Leave: Residents are entitled to Augusta University employee holidays, though assignments for emergency coverage must be maintained. Residents may be entitled to up to 12 days annual leave, 10 days of professional leave, and 5 days of educational leave at the discretion of the Program Director. 12 days of medical leave are also granted to residents as outlined in the Dental College of Georgia Leave Policy for Dental Residents.

The Facilities

Augusta University Health system is the Level 1 Trauma Center for the state of Georgia’s second largest city.  The Oral Surgery clinic located in the Dental College of Georgia contains an eight operatory outpatient oral surgery facility, equipped for the full scope of clinical practice, including general anesthesia.

The training program is also affiliated with the Augusta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, which is located on the same urban campus as the Augusta University and The Dental College of Georgia.

Department Information

Program Director: Henry Ferguson, DMD

Department Phone: 706-721-2411

Accreditation: The Advanced Education program in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and have been granted the accreditation status of approved. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. The Commission’s web address is http://www.ada.org/en/coda.

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Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program

ONET Code: 29-1022.00 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

CIP Code: 60.0101

OPEID: 01579

CIP Program Description: A residency training program that prepares dentists in the diagnosis, and surgical and related treatment, of diseases, injuries, and defects involving both the functional and esthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the head, mouth, teeth, gums, jaws, and neck. Includes treatment of problem wisdom teeth, facial pain, misaligned jaws, and reconstructive and dental implant surgery.

Certificate in Orthodontics

http://www.augusta.edu/dentalmedicine/adved/ortho.php

About the Program

The Advanced Education Program in Orthodontics provides a comprehensive course of study in clinical and didactic orthodontics.  In addition, a publishable paper on an approved orthodontic subject must be completed.  Successful completion of the curriculum fulfills all the educational requirements for eligibility for the examination by the American Board of Orthodontics.

Admission Requirements

Please see the Dental College of Georgia website for specific admissions information:

http://www.augusta.edu/dentalmedicine/adved/ortho.php

We only accept candidates who are U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents.

Tuition, Stipends, Equipment, and Benefits

Tuition:  There is no tuition associated with the certificate program in orthodontics.  If the resident is enrolled in the Master of Science in Oral Biology degree program, he must pay tuition for courses taken through the College of Graduate Studies.  References should be made to the current Augusta University Catalog for specific information regarding Graduate School tuition and fees.

Stipends:  The residents in orthodontics share a small amount of stipend funds provided by the Georgia Regents Medical Center.  The stipend support ranges from zero to approximately $3,900 depending on the year in the program. Augusta, Georgia is a beautiful city with a low cost of living.  This makes it ideal for residency training from a financial standpoint.

Equipment:  All supplies and equipment associated with the clinical program are provided by the institution.

Benefits:  The Dental College of Georgia provides malpractice insurance coverage for residents while providing patient care at Augusta University.  This insurance does not cover any outside dental practice. Orthodontic residents are eligible to participate in the Student Health Care Program at Augusta University.

Leave: Residents are entitled to Augusta University employee holidays, though assignments for emergency coverage must be maintained. Residents may be entitled to up to 12 days annual leave, 10 days of professional leave, and 5 days of educational leave at the discretion of the Program Director. 12 days of medical leave are also granted to residents as outlined in the Dental College of Georgia Leave Policy for Dental Residents.

The Facilities

The orthodontic residents treat patients in a 10-chair clinic housed in the Dental College of Georgia and devoted exclusively to providing orthodontic patient care.  Immediately adjacent to the clinic are laboratories, a seminar room and shared office space for residents.

Department Information

Program Director: Eladio DeLeon, Jr., DMD, MS

Department Phone: 706-721-8942

Accreditation: The Advanced Education program in Orthodontics is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and have been granted the accreditation status of approved. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. The Commission’s web address is http://www.ada.org/en/coda.

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Orthodontics Residency Program

ONET Code: 29-1023.00 Orthodontists

CIP Code: 60.0105

OPEID: 01579

CIP Program Description: A residency training program that prepares dentists in the principles and techniques involved in the prevention and correction of dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies.

Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry

http://www.augusta.edu/dentalmedicine/adved/peds.php

About the Program

The Advanced Education Program in Pediatric Dentistry will provide dentists the guidance, experience, and models necessary to begin delivery of proficient primary and specialty oral health care to infants, children, and adolescents, including those with special needs.  Residents will learn current scientifically‑supported techniques and philosophies, and teaching will be conducted in a collegial atmosphere conducive to resident‑faculty interaction.  Graduates will be defined by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry as educationally qualified.  The program strives to instill in each resident the desire to become lifelong learners in the specialty.

Program goals include enabling residents to: 

  1. provide evidence-based, comprehensive oral health care to infants, children, adolescents, and older individuals with special care needs;
  2. provide dental services to patients under general anesthesia in an operating room setting;
  3. provide dental services to patients under conscious sedation, and
  4. qualify for the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry certification examination.

Admission Requirements

Please see the Dental College of Georgia website for specific admissions information:

http://www.augusta.edu/dentalmedicine/adved/peds.php

The Graduate School offers a Master of Science in Oral Biology degree which may be taken in conjunction with the certificate curriculum. This joint program gives the student more extensive experience in research and basic science education and requires and in-depth original research project leading to a defended thesis. Tuition is charged on a per credit hour bases for the graduate courses taken. The applicant must be accepted by the College of Graduate Studies and the Department of Oral Biology.  Application to the graduate program is made after acceptance to the certificate program.

A Ph.D. in Oral Biology may also be pursued concurrently with specialty training.

We only accept candidates who are U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents.

Tuition, Stipends, Equipment and Benefits

Tuition:  There is no tuition associated with the certificate program in pediatric dentistry.  If the resident is enrolled in the Master of Science in Oral Biology degree program, they must pay tuition for courses taken through the Graduate School Interested candidates are referred to the current Augusta University Catalog for specific information regarding Graduate School tuition and fees. No texts are required, though we encourage residents to consider purchasing a standard text in pediatric dentistry.  Residents may also wish to invest in texts on sedation, emergency management, pediatrics, or other topics.

Stipends:  The current stipend for first-year residents is approximately $27,000, and for second-year residents approximately $32,000. Stipends are provided by the Augusta Health System and other sources and are not controlled by the department budget. Thus, no guarantee of stipends or stipend level can be made by the department. Augusta, Georgia, is a beautiful city with a low cost of living. This makes it ideal for residency training from a financial standpoint.

Equipment: All supplies and equipment associated with the clinical program are provided by the institution. A clinic camera is provided for resident use. The program, however, encourages residents to consider purchasing their own camera for clinical photography. The department provides film and processing for clinically-relevant photographs.

Benefits:  The Dental College of Georgia provides malpractice insurance coverage for residents while providing patient care at Augusta University. This insurance does not cover any outside dental practice. Residents are eligible for health care insurance if they pay a monthly co-premium. Residents may be eligible for other Augusta University benefits if they so elect.

Leave: Residents are entitled to Augusta University employee holidays, though assignments for emergency coverage must be maintained. Residents may be entitled to up to 12 days annual leave, 10 days of professional leave, and 5 days of educational leave at the discretion of the Program Director. 12 days of medical leave are also granted to residents as outlined in the Dental College of Georgia Leave Policy for Dental Residents.

The Facilities

Pediatric dental patients of the Dental College of Georgia, Georgia Regents Health System, and Children’s Hospital of Georgia, are treated in the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic on the second floor of the Dental College of Georgia. The clinic houses 16 operatories, of which 6 are assigned for resident use. Intraoral radiographic equipment is located in two of the resident operatories and in a third room dedicated to radiography. All radiographs are digital and the Dental College of Georgia uses a paperless record system (AxiUm). Panoramic and cephalometric equipment is located in the dental radiology area on the first floor.

Residents have shared office space within the department. Computers are available in each office, as well as in the faculty office as well as in the faculty office area. Residents are given e-mail accounts with fax capability, and access to the Internet. Departmental printers are networked.

The clinic employs two full-time dental assistants and a clinic receptionist.  Residents are assigned a dental assistant for all clinic sessions.

Operating room facilities are located in the Children’s Hospital of Georgia. We schedule cases every Friday. Most of the OR cases are ambulatory, but inpatient procedures are scheduled as necessary. We also “piggyback” cases with other services throughout the year.

Department Information

Program Director: Tara Schafer, DMD

Department Phone: 706-721-9073

Accreditation: The Advanced Education program in Pediatric Dentistry is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and have been granted the accreditation status of approved. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. The Commission’s web address is http://www.ada.org/en/coda.

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Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program

ONET Code: 29-1021.00 Dentists, General

CIP Code: 60.0106

OPEID: 01579

CIP Program Description: A residency training program that prepares dentists to provide primary oral health care to infants, children, and adolescents, including patients with medical, physical or mental disabilities, and to treat a wide variety of dental problems for these patients.

Certificate in Periodontics

http://www.augusta.edu/dentalmedicine/adved/perio.php

About the Program

The Advanced Education Program in Periodontics is a course of study leading to the award of a Certificate in Periodontics.  The program provides a comprehensive course of study in clinical and didactic periodontics, satisfying the requirements for eligibility for the American Board of Periodontology.

The program provides the residents with evidence based biological, scientific and clinical information and experiences to diagnose and treat all forms of periodontal disease at a proficient level.  The resident becomes thoroughly familiar with the periodontal literature and receives broad clinical experiences in examination, prognosis determination, and all accepted modes of periodontal therapy.  Residents are encouraged to continue learning experiences after completion of the program by means of the critical review of the literature, active participation in continuing education, leadership in organized dentistry and clinical research.  Hospital dentistry and a varied patient population are achieved through the Georgia Regents Medical Center and an affiliation with the Veterans Administration Medical Center Outpatient Dental Clinic.

Admission Requirements

Candidates for admission should possess academic credentials placing them in the upper 1/3 of their class and should demonstrate a definite interest in periodontics. Additional experience beyond dental school including internships, residencies, private practice, military service, or graduate studies will strengthen the applicant’s credentials. A personal site visit and interview is usually required for acceptance into the program.

Please see the Dental College of Georgia website for specific admissions information:

http://www.augusta.edu/dentalmedicine/adved/perio.php

The Graduate School offers a Master of Science in Oral Biology  degree which may be taken in conjunction with the certificate curriculum. This joint program gives the student more extensive experience in research and basic science education and requires and in-depth original research project leading to a defended thesis. Tuition is charged on a per credit hour bases for the graduate courses taken. The applicant must be accepted by the College of Graduate Studies and the Department of Oral Biology.

Application to the graduate program is made after acceptance to the certificate program. A Doctor of Philosophy with a major in Oral Biology and Maxillofacial Pathology  may also be pursued concurrently with specialty training.

Program Fee, Stipends, Equipment and Benefits

Program Fees: There is currently no annual program fee associated with the certificate program in periodontics for dentists who have graduated from accredited United States or Canadian dental schools.  Internationally trained candidates must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents. Residents wishing to enroll in the Master of Science in Oral Biology degree program must pay tuition for courses taken through the Graduate School. References should be made to the current Augusta University Catalog for specific information regarding Graduate School tuition and fees.  

Stipends:  Stipends are available only for residents who are U.S Citizens or Permanent Residents and have a DDS/DMD degree from an ADA/CODA accredited dental school.  The residents in periodontics share a stipend funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Augusta V.A. Medical Center.  Associated with this stipend is a clinical rotation of one to two half-days per week through the Outpatient Dental Clinic for the VAMC.  The stipend is approximately $9,000-$13,000 per year for each resident.  Augusta, Georgia is a beautiful city with a low cost of living, making Augusta University an ideal location for residency training from a financial standpoint. Residents are encouraged to attend the national AAP meetings and the department will support the resident for some of the expenses incurred from attending.

Equipment:  Periodontic residents are required to furnish their own digital camera and accessories for intra-oral photography, and purchase reference books. Photographic equipment costs are approximately $2,000.00, and books for under $500.00. The clinic has up-to-date equipment for periodontic and dental implant surgical procedures and monitoring equipment for IV sedation.  All other supplies and equipment associated with the clinical program are provided by the institution.

Benefits: The Dental College of Georgia provides malpractice insurance coverage for residents while providing patient care at Augusta University. This insurance does not cover any outside dental practice. Periodontic residents are eligible to participate in the Student Health Insurance Plan program at Augusta University.

Leave: Residents are entitled to Augusta University employee holidays, though assignments for emergency coverage must be maintained. Residents may be entitled to up to 12 days annual leave, 10 days of professional leave, and 5 days of educational leave at the discretion of the Program Director. 12 days of medical leave are also granted to residents as outlined in the College of Dental Medicine Leave Policy for Dental Residents

The Facilities

The periodontic residents treat patients in the Periodontics Surgery Clinic located in the Dental College of Georgia and in the Outpatient Dental Clinic of the Augusta Uptown VA Medical Center.  In the Periodontics Surgery Clinic each resident is assigned an operatory equipped with handpieces and an ultrasonic scaler. The clinic is equipped with state of the art digital periapical and bitewing radiographic capture and has access to panographic and Cone-beam CT Scanning technologies for implant surgery. All radiographic images are captured and stored electronically using MiPACS software. Clinical records, scheduling and billing are all managed electronically with AxiUm dental management software. Residents share office space in the clinic with each study carousel equipped with a computer that is connected to the institutional network for e-mail, library services and internet access.

Policy for the Advanced Standing Student

Addendum I Advanced Standing Student

The following policy is designed to permit students with specialty training in Periodontics from foreign or non-accredited institutions to obtain specialty training in Periodontics in the Dental College of Georgia with advanced-standing status. This policy is aligned with Standard 5 of the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation Standards for Advanced Education in Periodontics.

1. The advanced-standing student must complete the application for admission to the Advanced Education Program in Periodontics (found at http://www.gru.edu/dentalmedicine/adved/advedappinfo.php) and must comply with established interview and selection criteria following the existing protocol. National Boards (Part 1 and Part 2) are encouraged but not required.

Didactic Training:

The advanced-standing student’s previous periodontal-specialty-level course work and grades will be assessed with the aid of appropriate agencies to assure a similar curriculum and an acceptable level of performance (for information see http://www.gru.edu/dentalmedicine/adved/perio.php). Course deficiencies will be addressed by the student’s successful completion of appropriate courses and/or by examination. The advanced-standing student must take any required courses in sequence with the established program curriculum during the credentialing process.

2. The advanced-standing student must take and pass the American Academy of Periodontology In-Service Examination with an overall percentile ranking (all residents-all years of training) score of 70 %.

Clinical Training:

The advanced-standing student will be assigned a variety of patients/procedures and must demonstrate the appropriate levels of skill in periodontal diagnosis and treatment planning, and in the performance of clinical procedures pertinent to the specialty of periodontics. The advanced-standing student’s clinical skills will be evaluated by periodontics faculty by means of clinical supervision and in case presentation format.

Clinical rotations will be modified according to availability, needs and establishment of competency and proficiency. Teaching expectations will be modified according to availability and needs, but will not exceed 10% of the resident’s time.

3. The advanced-standing student must perform clinical procedures pertinent to the specialty of periodontics at levels of skill described in the accreditation standards (i.e. exposed, competent and proficient).

4. The advanced-standing student must prepare fully documented case presentations on patients that have been treated in the Periodontics Clinic. These cases must be treated through completion of periodontal therapy.

5. The advanced-standing student must pass a mock board examination.

Research Training:

6. The advanced-standing student must conduct a research project and prepare a publishable manuscript for submission to an acceptable, peer-reviewed, professional journal.

The certificate for Advanced Education in Periodontics will be awarded following satisfactory completion of items 1 through 6. The length of training will be determined by the level of knowledge and skill demonstrated by the advanced-standing student, with a minimum expectation of 18 months of full time effort. For the advanced standing resident with a PhD, the resident may have extra focus on research, but will comply with a minimum of 30 months in the program.

Students with dental degrees from foreign institutions, not accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association will be assessed an annual Program Fee ($18,500) to cover the educational costs of the program based on the criteria below:

  1. All residents in advanced dental education programs who do NOT have a dental degree (DMD or DDS) from a dental school that is accredited by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation, must pay an annual program fee for the entirety of their training program.
  2. The program fee applies to all residents who do NOT have a dental degree from a CODA-accredited dental school regardless of their citizenship or state of residence status.
  3. Conversely, residents who are not U.S. Citizens but who have a dental degree from a CODA-Accredited dental school are not required to pay this fee.
  4. Applicable residents should be charged an annual program fee of no less than $18,500. Programs that wish to charge higher program fees must provide written justification of the need for the higher program fee and obtain approval from the Office of the Dean.

Department Information

Program Director: Mark Brunner

Department Phone: 706-721-2442

Accreditation: The Advanced Education program in Periodontics is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and have been granted the accreditation status of approved. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. The Commission’s web address is http://www.ada.org/en/coda.

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Periodontic Residency Program

ONET Code: 29-1029.00 Dentists, All other Specialists

CIP Code: 60.0107

OPEID: 01579

CIP Program Description: A residency training program that prepares dentists in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth, and in the placement and maintenance of dental implants.

Certificate in Prosthodontics

http://www.augusta.edu/dentalmedicine/adved/prostho.php

About the Program

The Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics at the Augusta University is a 35-month program leading to a certificate in prosthodontics.  It consists of didactic work in the basic sciences, related clinical disciplines and all aspects of prosthodontics, to include fixed prosthodontics, removable prosthodontics, implant prosthodontics, and maxillofacial prosthetics.  Graduates are qualified to take the examination of the American Board of Prosthodontics.

The Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics at the Augusta University is fortunate that the program director is committed full time to the program.  The program draws upon the talents of both board-certified and trained prosthodontists, as well as other specialist who actively teach our residents through lectures, laboratories and daily clinical assignments.  We also have an excellent working relationship with the U.S. Army’s Prosthodontics Residency Program, housed at Fort Gordon, Georgia, only seven miles from the Dental College of Georgia.  The related basic sciences and clinical disciplines, such as restorative dentistry, periodontics and endodontics are taught to our residents by equally qualified faculty.

Admission Requirements

Please see the Dental College of Georgia website for specific admissions information:

http://www.augusta.edu/dentalmedicine/adved/prostho.php

Admission Requirements: Dentists graduated from accredited United States and Canadian or other international dental schools that possess equivalent educational background and standing are eligible for admission to the Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics.

We only accept candidates who are U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents.

Application materials are reviewed and candidates with the highest qualifications are selected for an interview based on the following criteria: dental and pre-professional education transcripts, class standing, National Dental Board Examination results (American and Canadian-trained only), personal and career goals, experiences beyond predoctoral education, evidence of scholarly activity, and letters of recommendation. Applicants born outside the United States and whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language, the Internet-based version of TOEFL (iBT TOEFL).

Program Fee, Stipends, Equipment and Benefits

Program Fee: There is no program fee associated with the certificate program in prosthodontics for dentists who have graduated from accredited United States or Canadian dental schools. Internationally trained candidates must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents. If the candidate wishes to enroll in the Master of Science in Oral Biology degree program, the candidate must pay tuition for courses taken through the Graduate School. References should be made to the current Augusta University Catalog for specific information regarding the Graduate School tuition and fees.

The foreign trained resident will complete all requirements of the Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics, thus meeting all ADA accreditation requirements. 

In addition, the foreign trained dentist’s experience as a resident will include:

  1. Participation in the Augusta University Maxi-Course in IV sedation.
  2. Clinical IV sedation training and surgical experience in placing implants. These are valuable adjuncts to the certificate program, and will enable the graduate to address advanced prosthodontics in either academics or private practice from both a restorative and surgical perspective.
  3. Enhanced exposure to Esthetic Prosthodontic procedures through off site visitations, or rotations, involving both observation and active participation treating patients.

Stipends: Stipends are determined annually depending upon availability of funds (if available, only graduates of U.S. and Canadian dental schools qualify).

Equipment:  All supplies and equipment associated with clinical treatment are provided by the institution.  The resident must supply certain laboratory equipment (i.e. semi-adjustable articulator with facebow, laboratory handpiece, hand waxing and porcelain addition and metal working instruments.).

Benefits:  The Dental College of Georgia provides malpractice insurance coverage for residents while providing patient care at Augusta University.  This insurance does not cover any outside dental practice. Prosthodontic residents are eligible to participate in the Student Health Insurance program at Augusta University. Augusta, Georgia is a beautiful city with a low cost of living. This makes it ideal for residency training from a financial standpoint.

Leave: Residents are entitled to Augusta University employee holidays, though assignments for emergency coverage must be maintained. Residents may be entitled to up to 12 days annual leave and 10 days of professional leave, and 5 days of educational leave at the discretion of the Program Director. 12 days of medical leave are also granted to residents as outlined in the

 Dental College of Georgia Leave Policy for Dental Residents.

The Facilities

The Prosthodontic Program is housed at Augusta University, Dental College of Georgia, in a separate clinic devoted exclusively to our program.  In this environment, each resident has his/her own operatory, laboratory space and shares a private office with fellow residents.  Full time dental assistants are assigned to assist the residents in the clinic.  We use both in-house laboratory support and selected commercial laboratory support.

Department Information

Program Director: Darshanjit Pannu, DDS, DMD, BDS

Department Phone: 706-721-8232

Accreditation: The Advanced Education program in Prosthodontics is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and have been granted the accreditation status of approved. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. The Commission’s web address is http://www.ada.org/en/coda.

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Prosthodontics Residency Program

ONET Code: 29-1024.00 Prosthodontics

CIP Code: 60.0108

OPEID: 01579

CIP Program Description: A residency training program that prepares dentists in the principles and techniques of constructing oral prostheses, and the restoration and maintenance of oral function by the replacement of missing teeth and other oral structures with such artificial devices.

Programs

Doctor of Dental Medicine

Post-Professional Certificate