Becoming a Patient 

Thank you for your interest in the Medical College of Georgia, School of Dentistry. We would like to accept you for treatment if your needs can be resolved in a student teaching program and if your schedule will allow you to be here for extended appointments. Our goal will be to provide you with high quality treatment at a reduced fee. The dental treatment is provided by students and residents under the close supervision of our expert teaching staff of the Dental School.

First, we need to evaluate your dental needs to assure that you may benefit from our student services. To do this we will need to see you for about two hours to find out what your needs are. You can help us speed up this screening process by filling out an application (call 706-721-2371 to have an application mailed to you) and mailing it back to us.

The application is for a "screening" exam and does not guarantee acceptance as a patient. Dental x-rays and a more detailed examination may be necessary before being accepted as a patient. Priority is given to applicants with dental problems which fit our teaching programs.

Our time requirements are extensive; therefore, the cooperation and understanding of the patient is necessary. You may be asked to be available for appointments one morning or afternoon each week (Monday-Friday), 1-4 hours for 6-12 months. You should be seen at least once a month. The fees charged for care reflect a ($) saving to compensate you for your time. However, if you cannot devote the required amount of time, we suggest you arrange for private dental care.

After you are accepted, you may be assigned to a student. This student will contact you and schedule your appointments. Because of the rigid requirements on the student's time, we require that patients must notify the student at least two school days in advance when it is necessary to reschedule an appointment. To serve everyone better, repeated tardiness or two broken appointments may result in termination of treatment.

If you think you have a dental emergency, this not the appropriate application. Please call 706-721-2371 for information about our Emergency Dental Service. If you are not contacted within four months of submitting your application, please assume our waiting list for your particular problem(s) is too long. In this case we urge you to seek care elsewhere before your problems become more complex.