ALBANY — Olivia Taylor, who has more than 20 years of experience in dentistry, including dental research, has joined the staff of the Southwest Health District as director of dental services.

“We are delighted to announce Dr. Taylor is our new district dental director,” Southwest Health District Health Director Jacqueline Grant said. “Her wide range of experience and depth of knowledge make her a welcome addition to our team of dedicated healthcare professionals.”

Taylor attended Meharry Medical School of Dentistry in Nashville, Tenn., where she became a doctor of dental surgery. She also performed a residency in hospital dentistry at two medical centers in Tennessee.

“My dental experience is quite diverse,” Taylor said. “It has taken me to various locations and when doing dental research, I covered and have been to all 50 U.S. states.”

Taylor has served as a civilian dentist with the 101 Airborne Division of the U.S. Army in Ft. Campbell, Ky. and also at the San Xavier Indian Reservation in Tucson, Ariz. She also had stints as dental director at a male correctional institute and a female correctional institute and served as a research examining dentist for the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey under the directions of the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Center for Health Statistics. She has also worked within the Veterans Administration healthcare system in Tennessee and Wisconsin.

Prior to joining the Southwest Health District, Taylor oversaw the mobile unit of Northwest Health District’s dental-school program.

“Her mission here will be prevention of dental disease in children throughout our district through education, prevention and early treatment,” Grant said. “The most common dental problems that children have are cavities and gum disease. Early treatment can prevent pain and infection.”

Taylor will oversee school-based dental prevention, including the mobile dental unit, and the school-based fluoride mouth rinse program as well as provide services at the Dougherty County Dental Clinic.

“Dougherty County Dental Clinic is a fully operational, state of the art dental clinic located within the Dougherty County Health Department,” Grant said.

The Dougherty County Dental Clinic participates in such programs as Citizens with Wisdom for older patients, Peach Care for kids, Medicaid patients and the emergency extraction program, Taylor said.

For more information about Southwest Health District dental services, call (229) 430-6332 or go online to www.southwestgeorgiapublichealth.org and, using the pull down menu at the top of the home page, select “Programs and Services,” and when the list drops down, click on “Oral Health Program.”