The Advanced Education Program in Periodontics at The Dental College of Georgia is a 36-month course of study leading to a Certificate in Periodontics.
Accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), the program provides
comprehensive didactic instruction and rigorous clinical training designed to satisfy
the educational requirements for board certification by the American Board of Periodontology.
Residents develop advanced proficiency in evidence-based examination, diagnosis, prognosis
determination, and all accepted modes of surgical and non-surgical periodontal therapy,
including dental implantology and IV sedation.
Training takes place in state-of-the-art clinical facilities at the Dental College
of Georgia, complemented by clinical rotations through the Augusta University Medical
Center and the affiliated Veterans Administration Medical Center Outpatient Dental
Clinic. In addition to clinical mastery, residents engage deeply with scientific literature
and research. Qualified candidates also have the opportunity to pursue a concurrent
Master of Science or PhD in Oral Biology through the College of Graduate Studies,
combining advanced specialty training with original thesis research and preparation
for careers in clinical practice, academics, or leadership in organized dentistry.
Jump to: Program OverviewAdmission Requirements The Certificate Program Tuition, Stipends, Equipment and BenefitsThe CurriculumThe Master's Program
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 Periodontics.
We only consider candidates who are U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents.
All applicants must apply through the PASS program. Qualified applicants will be contacted for interviews following the deadline, and candidates are encouraged to submit application materials prior to the deadline as the review process of completed applications will begin at that time. 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, personal and career goals, experiences beyond the dental student program 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). Minimum scores are 100, and 26 in the speaking component. 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.
See the Augusta University Catalog for more information.
TOEFL Waiver
A TOEFL waiver may be available for applicants who have graduated from a U.S.-accredited institution with a doctoral degree.
Applicants who meet this requirement and wish to request a TOEFL waiver must contact the Office of Advanced Education for consideration.
Applicants who have not graduated from a U.S.-accredited institution with a doctoral degree are required to submit TOEFL scores that meet the program’s stated requirements. Minimum overall scores need to be at least a 5.
Please contact the Office of Advanced Education if you have questions regarding TOEFL waiver eligibility.
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 Augusta University Medical Center and an affiliation with the Veterans Administration Medical Center Outpatient Dental Clinic.
Program Fees:
Program fees may be assessed for the cost of specialty related certifications in IV Sedation, Head and Neck Anatomy, AAP In-Service Exam, and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS). These courses are offered exclusively to Augusta University residents at a reduced cost. Residents wishing to enroll in the Master of Science in Oral Biology degree program 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 stipend is approximately $9,400-$13,300 per year for each resident dependent on
the PGY level. 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, loupes for magnification, illumination and to purchase
reference books.. 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 15 days
annual leave, up to 14 days of professional leave, up to 5 days of education 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 periodontic residents treat patients in the Periodontics Surgery Clinic located
in the Dental College of Georgia. 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.
The Periodontic Postdoctoral Program curriculum has four components: (1) Periodontics Specialty Courses, (2) Basic Science Core Courses (Oral Biology courses), (3) Clinical Core Courses, and (4) Interdisciplinary Courses. The curriculum is listed in the Augusta University Course Catalog.
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. 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.
A PhD. in Oral Biology may also be pursued concurrently with specialty training.