The dental hygiene program at Georgia Highlands College (GHC) is celebrating its 25th anniversary and has grown exponentially from its humble roots to one of the institution’s most popular degree programs.
The Associate of Dental Hygiene program started in 1990 as a satellite program for the Medical College of Georgia. The program officially moved to Floyd College (now GHC) in the summer of 1998. During the history of the program, only four students have not passed the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam on the first attempt, with a 100% pass rate overall.
The clinical board exam has a similar first-time pass rate of over 98% for the history of the program and an overall pass rate of 100%.
Since its inception, the program has demonstrated consistent success, graduating over 400 dental hygienists whose work has contributed to improved oral health in Georgia communities and an estimated economic impact in personal earnings of over $400 million — conservatively based on an average earning of $50,000 a year for a work span of 20 years.
The program has completed four successful accreditations by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), with the last visit in the fall of 2018 ending with no recommendations and resounding praise from the site visitors.
In addition, the program has a long history of community service.
“We partner with numerous health organizations and other service organizations in the area, including the Georgia Department of Health, Atrium Health Floyd, Harbin Clinic, The Free Clinic of Rome and The Georgia Special Olympics,” Director of Dental Hygiene Regina Gupta said. “Students and faculty regularly participate in oral health screenings and oral health education in community events such as health fairs, community events and through visiting classrooms and locations such as assisted living and long-term care facilities.”
The groundwork for the program’s success comes from a collective source: the faculty, staff, and students of Georgia Highlands College and the patients they serve.
“First, I believe it is because of the investments made by the previous director, all the faculty and staff who have worked in this program, and the continuing investment made by the college,” Gupta said. “Of course, we could not provide a meaningful learning opportunity without our patients.”
She said a greater emphasis on dental health coming from the media we all consume has also helped drive enrollment and interest in the program.
“More people are understanding the important role that dental hygienists play in improving oral health both through prevention and treatment of oral disease,” Gupta said.
She said the first requirement for someone considering pursuing dental hygiene is a having a passion for helping others.
“One should understand the requirements of the career as much as possible before diving into the process of becoming a registered dental hygienist. This program has a long history of excellence, and dentists in North Georgia know that they are hiring a qualified dental hygienist when they hire a graduate of the GHC Dental Hygiene Program,” Gupta said. “At GHC, students can expect faculty who are dedicated to the profession, dedicated to excellent patient care and dedicated to creating a positive learning environment.”
Georgia Highlands College is dedicated to expanding the dental hygiene program to help meet the growing workforce need and is honored to be a part of the oral healthcare system in North Georgia. For more information, visit our dental hygiene page.
Click here to see more photos from the 25 Years of Dental celebration, held Nov. 14 at Heritage Hall.
