An Expanded Functions-certified Dental Assistant (EFDA) is a dental assistant who has undergone further formal training and education to achieve the skills and accreditation that permit them to undertake various operations one might associate with those performed by a dentist.
EFDAs can undertake the following extra responsibilities as a result of their specific training:
One of the key responsibilities of an EFDA is to put and contour fillings. After the dentists prepare the teeth, an EFDA inserts, sculpts, polishes the filling, checks the bite occlusion, and ensures that the area is well-flossed. Finally, the dentist inspects the filling after it has been completed.
Coronal polishing is also something that an EFDA is trained to do. Dentists want EFDAs to polish their patients’ teeth after having their teeth scaled.
In a dental clinic, EFDAs are also taught to do fluoride treatments. In addition, they understand how to use sealants, which are a preventative treatment for sealing cavities in the back that become particularly prone to deterioration.
Dental Assisting Schools provide in-depth instruction and in-person lectures and labs during this course. EFDA training also prepares students to take the Dental Radiology certification exam.
How To Pursue Becoming An Expanded Functions Dental Assistant?
To perform the additional functions, dental assistants in Florida must receive professional training. In addition, to be eligible to execute extended functions, one must meet the following requirements:
- Complete an enhanced function program of the study conducted by or designed as a part of the regular curriculum at a CODA-accredited dental, dental hygiene, or dental assisting academic program.
- Complete a formal expanded duties training course approved by the Florida Board of Education.
Interested candidates can join the AAA School of Dental Assisting’s 90-Day EFDA Program to study Dental Assisting with Expanded Functions. The curriculum is designed to equip potential EFDAs with extensive hands-on training and guidance, allowing them to enhance their dental assisting skills.
Students gain proficiency in the following areas as a result of the program:
- Administrative Procedures in Dental Anatomy
- Radiography and Dental Psychology
- Physiology of the Mouth
- Pharmacology in Dentistry
- Preventative Dental Care
The program is approved and acknowledged by the American Dental Association and the US Department of Education, which will provide you with a professional dental network and job opportunities. The training is structured so that students can work and earn money while studying and furthering their dentistry expertise.
Building experience and becoming more specialized in the field of dental assisting has become more effortless and more seamless – thanks to the flexibility of the classes. Even the busiest schedules can accommodate these classes, resulting in increased efficiency and efficacy of students.
By obtaining an EFDA certification, individuals can jumpstart and expand their careers while also providing value to the current dental assisting position. With its numerous advantages, the course is sure to assist one in advancing their profession and helping them grow in a short period. Furthermore, the outside information will assist one to become an even more valuable asset in an already successful dental assisting job.
One can start walking on the accelerated road toward growth and success by enrolling in AAA SoDA’s 90-Day rapid EFDA Course.
Summarizing The Role
An Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA) performs a significant role in a dental clinic, preparing duties such as patient care, procedure preparation, and general administration. Each EFDA must have state and radiology certifications and meet the other requirements for working in this profession.
Setting up treatment rooms before dental treatments, reviewing patient information, ensuring each patient’s comfort, and producing x-rays are some of their responsibilities. An EFDA may also assist a pediatric dentist with technical tasks, such as administering sedation or pain medications during a cavity treatment.
