Middle Georgia Technical College

Associate Degrees

Dental Hygiene

The Dental Hygiene Associate degree program is a sequence of courses which prepares students for positions in the dental profession. Learning opportunities develop academic, technical, and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. Registered dental hygienists work in a variety of professional settings. The public is most familiar with dental hygienists in the private dental office, where they perform numerous critical services designed to detect and prevent diseases of the mouth. These include oral prophylaxis; examining the head, neck, and oral areas for signs of disease; educating patients about oral hygiene; taking or developing radiographs; and applying fluoride or sealants. In this setting, registered dental hygienists play a vital role in protecting the oral health of the American public. Program graduates receive a Dental Hygiene Associate of Applied Science degree.

Admissions Checklist

Applicants must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or its equivalent.

To be admitted, applicants must complete the following steps:

1. Submit an Application for Admission as soon as possible, along with a $15 non-refundable application fee.
2. Refer to the Dental Hygiene File Checklist in the Admission Packet.  The checklist identifies the mandatory items to be furnished prior to acceptance into the program.
3. Schedule to take the PSB Health Occupations Aptitude Exam - $20; Call the C.A.R.E. Center at (478) 988-6800 x5021 or x5017 to schedule.  (This test is given numerous times at Middle Georgia Tech during the year).  A PSB score of 225 or higher is required for admission.  An applicant may choose to retake the PSB exam only once.  The highest PSB score will be considered for admission.

4. Schedule to take the COMPASS/Asset assessment and placement exam.  There is no charge for this exam.

   OR

   Request transfer credit for courses completed at accredited college(s) or other educational institutes, if applicable.  Submit an official transcript to Student Services and complete a Request for Transfer Credit form.

Additional Requirements

To begin the program, students must first complete six specific core courses at an accredited college or university:  ENG 191; ENG 193; MAT 191; CHEM 191; BIOL 193 and BIOL 194 (Anatomy & Physiology I & II).   Middle Georgia Tech accepts new students into the Dental Hygiene Program every quarter to begin the required essential core courses (ENG 191; ENG 193; MAT 191).   At this time, CHEM 191; BIOL 193 and BIOL 194 (Anatomy & Physiology I & II) are not currently offered at Middle Georgia Technical College.  All core coursework must be successfully completed and final transcripts submitted to Middle Georgia Technical College prior to final acceptance into the program.

Admission Criteria

Entrance into the Dental Hygiene program is competitive and applicants will be ranked and the top candidates selected using the following factors.  A maximum of 100 points is possible. 

1. College mathematics and science GPA – 30 points maximum
2. Cumulative GPA of core courses –25  points maximum
3. Successful completion of the PSB-Health Occupations Aptitude Exam - 25 points maximum (score of 225 or higher is required)
4. Interview– 20 points maximum

Slots are filled from the highest point score downward.  Final selections will be made by mid-August; however, applicants may be notified of acceptance earlier than mid-August  if  they have a score of  85 points or higher using criteria 1-4 listed above.   At least two letters of recommendation should be submitted at the interview, as well as verification of any previous dental experience. 
                                                    
In the event that there are two or more applicants with identical scores, the college math and science GPA will be used as a tiebreaker.  In the event that the math and science scores are identical, the date of application for admission will then be used as the tiebreaker.

Laboratory science courses taken three years or more prior to application will not be considered.

Appropriate transfer credit will be given only for courses which correspond to courses in the dental hygiene curriculum and which have been taken at a fully accredited college or university.

Middle Georgia Technical College will accept fourteen (14) new students into the program each year based on space availability.  Students who are not selected are welcome to apply for the program the following year.

A student who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor may be admitted into the dental hygiene program, but such a conviction may prohibit one from obtaining a state license to practice dental hygiene.

Course #	Course Title	Credit Hours
Essential General Core Courses		35
CHM 191	Survey of Chemistry I	5
ENG 191	Composition and Rhetoric 1	5
ENG 193	Composition and Rhetoric II	5
or
HUM 191	Introduction to Humanities	(5)
ENG 195	Technical Communications	5
or
SPC 191	Fundamentals of Speech	(5)
MAT 190	Math Modeling	5
or
MAT 191	College Algebra	(5)
PSY 191	Introduction to Psychology	5
SOC 191	Introduction to Sociology	5
Essential Fundamental Occupational Courses		37
AHS 104	Introduction to Health Care	3
BIO 193	Anatomy and Physiology I	5
BIO 194	Anatomy and Physiology II	5
DHY 100	Tooth Anatomy and Root Morphology	3
DHY 101	Oral Embryology and Histology	2
DHY 102	Anatomy of Oral Facial Structure	3
DHY 103	Dental Materials	3
DHY 104	Preclinical Dental Hygiene Lecture	2
DHY 105	Preclinical Dental Hygiene Lab	2
DHY 106	Introduction to Dental Hygiene	1
DHY 113	Microbiology and Infection Control in the Dental Pro.	5
SCT 100	Introduction to Microcomputers	3
Essential Specific Occupational Courses		52
DHY 107	Radiology Lecture	3
DHY 109	Radiology Lab	1
DHY 110	Clinical Dental Hygiene I Lecture	2
DHY 111	Clinical Dental Hygiene I Lab	3
DHY 200	Periodontology	4
DHY 201	Clinical Dental Hygiene II Lecture	2
DHY 202	Clinical Dental Hygiene II Lab	4
DHY 205	Oral Pathology	4
DHY 206	Pharmacology and Pain Control	4
DHY 207	Community Dental Health	4
DHY 208	Clinical Dental Hygiene III Lecture	2
DHY 209	Clinical Dental Hygiene III Lab	4
DHY 211	Biochemistry and Nutrition	3
DHY 213	Clinical Dental Hygiene IV Lecture	2
DHY 214	Clinical Dental Hygiene IV Lab	4
DHY 220	Clinical Dental Hygiene V Lecture	2
DHY 221	Clinical Dental Hygiene V Lab	4
Dental Hygiene National Board Review		6
DHY 250	Board Review I	2
DHY 251	Board Review II	2
DHY 252	Board Review III	2
Total Hours required for Graduation		130

Program Costs

The following is an estimate of Dental Hygiene Program Costs. Fee estimates are unique to the Middle Georgia Technical College Dental Hygiene Program and are in addition to Middle Georgia Technical College tuition and fees.

Junior
Fall Quarter:
Books*	$324.00
SADHA dues	$0.00 (Paid by student council)
Immunizations	$65.00 (Health Dept.)(Hep B, TB, Tetanus, Varicella)
Dosimeter Fee	$15.00
TOTAL:	$404.00**
Winter Quarter:
Books*	$368.00
Instruments	$200.00
Scrubs (one set)	$25.00
Dosimeter fee	$15.00
Lab Coat	$17.00
Shoes	$45.00-65.00
Supplies for clinic	$150.00
Supplies for radiology	$110.00
TOTAL:	$940.00+**
Spring Quarter:
Books*	$270.00
Dosimeter fee	$15.00
Supplies	$50.00
TOTAL:	$335.00**
Summer Quarter:
Books*	$166.00
Instruments	$230.00
Scrubs (1 additional set)	$25.00
Dosimeter Fee	$15.00
Ultrasonic inserts	$200.00
Gloves and Mask	$50.00
TOTAL:	$686.00**
Senior
Fall Quarter:
SADHA dues	$0.00 (Paid by Student council)
Dosimeter Fee	$15.00
Gloves and Mask	$50.00
TOTAL:	$65.00
Winter Quarter:
Books*	$43.00
Online Board Review Course	$25.00
Gloves and Mask	$50.00
Dosimeter Fee	$15.00
TOTAL:	$133.00**
Spring Quarter:
Books*	$40.00
Gloves and Mask	$50.00
National Boards	$165.00
Clinical Examination	$860.00
Supplies/site fee for clinical boards	$260.00
Ga. License Fee	$50.00
Dosimeter Fee	$15.00
TOTAL:	$1,440.00**
TOTAL FOR PROGRAM:	$ 4,003.00**

*Estimated book expenses reflect Dental Hygiene books only.

Fee estimates are unique to the Middle Georgia Technical College Dental Hygiene Program and are in addition to Middle Georgia Technical College tuition and fees.

Note: There will also be transportation expenses during the senior winter/spring quarter rotations.

**ALL PRICES ARE ESTIMATES AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Dental Hygiene Program Clinic Manual

Students enrolled in the Dental Hygiene program should download and read the Dental Hygiene Program Clinic Manual

MGTC Patient's Rights Policy

Middle Georgia Technical College assures all patients the following standard of care when seeking services at our facility: compliance to strict standard precautions in dealing with blood and airborne pathogens and infectious diseases; an assessment of your needs, explanation of recommended treatment, treatment alternatives, the option to refuse treatment at anytime, the risk of not undergoing treatment, and the expected outcome of various treatments, advanced knowledge of the cost of treatment, considerate and respectful treatment, treatment that meets the standard of care in the profession, reasonable continuity and completion of care, access to complete and current information about your condition, appropriate and timely referrals for other needed services, informed consent, and confidentiality of all information pertinent to your care.  Upon request, information will be forwarded to your dentist of record outlining the treatment received at MGTC.

This is a teaching clinic and our primary responsibility rests with supplying appropriate learning experiences for the dental hygiene students.  You can expect your treatment to take longer in the MGTC Dental Hygiene Clinic than it would in a private practice.  A single appointment averages three hours, and multiple appointments may be required to complete your dental care.  The students are learning and education takes time.  Your promptness is important.  The dental hygiene students have set aside a certain amount of time to complete their clinical requirements.  Their time like yours is very valuable.  Failure to keep appointments without a 24 hour advance notice, too many cancellations, or being more than 15 minutes late to appointments, for whatever reason, may lead to your dismissal as a clinic patient.  Fees will be charged for services provided.  They are based on covering the expenses of supplies needed to provide services.  You are responsible for payment of services at the first appointment.  It is your responsibility to select a personal dentist for annual exams, continuing care (preventive and restorative), and emergencies.  Services provided in the MGTC Dental Hygiene Clinic are limited to preventive treatments.  All records and x-rays are property of MGTC Dental Hygiene Clinic.  X-rays, study casts, the results of oral examinations and treatment, etc, may be sent to your private dentist upon request.  All or portions of records and/or x-rays may be used for teaching, research, publications, and other educational purposes by the dental hygiene students, faculty, or other representatives of MGTC.  MGTC and the Dept. of Dental Hygiene reserve the right to refuse treatment if the client does not, or will not; accept recommended treatment and procedures, including x-rays.  X-rays will be taken based on guidelines developed by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and adopted by the American Dental Association.  These guidelines are subject to clinical judgment and may not apply to every patient.  All people cannot be accepted as patients in the MGTC Dental Hygiene Clinic.  People with complicated medical conditions, rigid time requirements, and extremely difficult dental care needs may not be accepted.

Note:  This policy is included with Health History Form

Diploma Programs

Dental Assisting

The Dental Assisting program prepares students for employment in a variety of positions in today's dental offices. The dental Assisting program provides learning opportunities which introduce, develop, and reinforce academic and occupational knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. Additionally, the program provides opportunities to upgrade present knowledge and skills or retain in the area of dental assisting. Graduates of the program receive a Dental Assisting diploma.

Course #	Course Title	Credit Hours
Essential General Core Courses		15
ENG 101	English	5
MAT 101	General Mathematics	5
PSY 100	Basic Psychology	5
Essential Fundamental Occupational Courses		29
AHS 104	Introduction to Health Care	3
DEN 101	Basic Human Biology	3
DEN 102	Head and Neck Anatomy	2
DEN 103	Preventative Dentistry	4
DEN 105	Microbiology and Infection Control	3
DEN 106	Oral Anatomy	5
DEN 107	Oral Pathology and Therapeutics	4
DEN 138	Scopes of Professional Practice	2
SCT 100	Introduction to Microcomputers	3
Essential Specific Occupational Courses		47
DEN 109	Dental Assisting National Board Examination Prep	3
DEN 137	Dental Assisting - Expanded Function	4
DEN 140	Dental Practice Management	5
DEN 139	Dental Radiology	5
DEN 134	Dental Assisting I	7
DEN 135	Dental Assisting II	7
DEN 136	Dental Assisting III	4
DEN 146	Dental Practicum I	2
DEN 147	Dental Practicum II	2
DEN 148	Dental Practicum III	8
Total Hours required for Graduation		91