Aspiring dental hygienists in Georgia must complete a two-year associate degree program in this field at colleges such as Athens Technical College in Athens and Darton College in Albany. Students who are interested in advancing to the role of a dental hygiene educator/health promoter, researcher or administrator/manager also can complete a bachelor's degree program in dental hygiene at a school such as Clayton State University in Morrow.
To get into an official dental hygiene program in Georgia, students must have completed prerequisite courses such as college algebra, human anatomy/physiology, microbiology and chemistry and earned grades of at least a C. Some programs also require students to complete an observation of a registered dental hygienist. In addition, students usually must submit high school or previous college transcripts. Programs typically only accept students who have at least a 2.0 or 2.5 GPA on previous coursework. In addition, students might have to submit standardized test scores or complete a college or health program placement exam.
When looking for a Georgia dental hygiene program, students should make sure the program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. Completing this type of program ensures that a student is eligible to take a national written exam as well as a state or regional clinical examination, which is required for licensure by the Georgia Board of Dentistry, according to the Georgia Dental Hygienists' Association. After passing these tests, dental hygienists in Georgia can find work at private dental offices, local or state health departments, military dental clinics or even hospitals.
Classes in a dental hygiene program in Georgia cover topics such as orofacial anatomy and histology, pharmacology, oral pathology, nutrition and psychology. Students also study radiology, periodontics, community dental health and even dental specialties and materials. They learn techniques such as root planing, gingival curettage, care of dental implants, oral irrigation and dental polishing. Bachelor's degree students also learn about management and marketing in the dental environment.
While in a Georgia dental hygiene program, students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience by working in a program's dental clinic and at externship sites such as the Georgia Regional Hospital Dental Clinic in Savannah. They get practice taking dental radiographs and developing treatment plans for patients after examining patients' oral cavities and detecting potential problems. They also learn how to complete thorough oral cleanings and assist in the administration of anesthesia.