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Rhoda Sword

Professor

Rhoda Sword

Professor

Academic Appointment(s)

Dental College of Georgia
Department of Restorative Sciences

Bio

After graduating from dental school, I worked in private practice for over 6 years, while teaching part time at AU DCG. I transitioned into full time teaching in 2008, and am an Associate Professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences. I have taught in many of the pre-clinical occlusion and operative courses and direct the spring sophomore block course as well as Junior Clinic.

  • (706) 721-8297
  • (706) 721-8349
  • GC 4330

Education

  • DMD, Dentistry Medical College of Georgia, 2003

  • BS, Bio, General Baylor University, 1999

Certifications

  • DEN Georgia Board of Dentistry, 2003

  • Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) License United States Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration, 2015

  • Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider American Heart Association (AHA), 2015

  • Basic Life Support (BLS) Instructor Certification American Heart Association, 2015

  • DENTIST Georgia Board of Dentistry, 2003

Awards & Honors

  • DCG Teaching Excellence Award Dental College of Georgia, 2024

  • Mental Health Services Award Student Counseling & Psychological Services, 2022

  • Inducted as a Fellow Academy of General Dentistry, 2021

  • Inducted as a Fellow American College of Dentists, 2017

  • Named Honorable Fellow from the EDDS in the Georgia Dental Association Georgia Dental Association, 2015

Courses Taught Most Recent Academic Year

  • ADBL 5211

    BCLS Training I

  • RSTP 5201

    Diagnosis & Treatment Plan I

  • RSDS 5492

    Introduction to Clinic Dent II

  • RSRC 5692

    Restorative Clinic II

  • CLCR 8011

    Basic Cardiac Life Support

  • RSOC 5111

    Dental Anatomy & Occlusion

  • RSTP 5591

    Diagnosis & Trmt Plan Clinic I

  • RSED 5511

    Esthetic Restorative Dentistry

  • RSDS 5391

    Introduction to Clinical Dent

  • ADNS 5101

    New Student Orientation

  • RSOP 5111

    Operative Dentistry I

  • RSRC 5591

    Restorative Clinic I

Teaching Interests

Currently, I am the course director for the fall and spring Sophomore Block and the D1 Treatment Planning Course and teach in the Pre-clinical Operative Course, and Dental Anatomy and Occlusion Course. I cover D2 and D3 clinics in DXR and Operative.

Scholarship

Selected Recent Publications

  • The initial treatment consideration for tetracycline-stained teeth., 2021
    Journal Article, Professional Journal
  • EFFECT OF OPERATOR EXPERIENCE ON ABILITY TO PLACE SEQUENTIAL, 2-MM THICK COMPOSITE INCREMENTSAND INCREMENTS WITHIN A CLINICALLY RELEVANT RANGE, 2021
    Journal Article, Professional Journal
  • Tray Bleaching status and insights, 2020
    Journal Article, Professional Journal
  • Bleaching Efficacy During Invisalign Orthodontic Treatment, 2020
    Journal Article, Professional Journal
  • Visual Diagnosis of Pit and Fissure Caries Using ICDAS with Three Dimensional Scanned Images, 2018
    Journal Article, Professional Journal

Research Interests

I have completed bleaching studies, and a review journal article over current bleaching techniques as well as composite and curing light research. I have an interest in aiding student research as well though student mentorship programs that help to enhance the pipeline for possible future dental educators.

Department Service

  • Faculty Search Committee 2015 - Present

    Role: Committee Member

College Service

  • DCG Faculty Senate Steering Committee 2024 - Present

    Role: Committee Member

  • Augusta University The Dental College of Georgia Alumni Society 2010 - Present

    Role: Committee Member

  • Student Academic Review Committee 2018 - 2023

    Role: Attendee, Meeting

  • Admissions Committee 2005 - 2017

    Role: Committee Member

  • Pediatric Dentistry Department Chair Search Committee 2016 - 2016

    Role: Committee Member

University Service

  • AU Suicide Response Prevention and Postvention Committee 2022 - Present

    Role: Committee Member

  • AU RFP Bookstore Development Team 2021 - Present

    Role: Committee Member

  • AU Curriculum and Academic Policies Committee 2018 - 2020

    Role: Committee Member

  • Augusta University Alumni Association 2017 - 2019

    Role: Chairperson

  • Augusta University Executive Search for the EVP of Development 2018 - 2018

    Role: Committee Member

Professional Service

  • ADA Faculty Joint Action Taskforce 2023 - Present

    Role: Committee Member

  • ADA CE Review Committee 2020 - Present

    Role: Reviewer

  • AU Alumni Association 2017 - Present

    Role: Committee Member

  • Eastern District Dental Society 2016 - Present

    Role: Officer, Treasurer

  • Georgia Dental Association 2010 - Present

    Role: Other

Public Service

  • AU Foundation Board 2017 - 2019

  • AU Foundation Board 2017 - 2019

    Role: Other

  • Georgia Mission of Mercy 2018 - 2018

    Role: Chairperson