What is expanded function dental assistant

Their responsibilities may include, preparing treatment rooms before procedures, reviewing dental records, ensuring each patient is comfortable and taking and developing x-rays. An EFDA may also provide technical assistance to the pediatric dentist, such as applying anesthesia or pain medication during a cavity filling.

Read more. They walked my 3 year old through what they were going to do and let him see the tools before they even started! Both my kids actually enjoyed going to…" Read More.

The staff is friendly, the place is super kid friendly, very clean and they are very easy to schedule…" Read More. You May Also Like. There are three pathways you can take to be eligible:. At this stage you may have to complete a few additional requirements, like having fingerprints made and passing a criminal background check or a drug test.

Some states also want to see proof that you completed a course in specific areas of dental assisting expanded functions. For instance, many states must see that you completed a radiography course before you can be allowed to take X-rays. Others require that you earn a certificate in using nitrous oxide in order to work with patients monitoring the use of this gas.

You will have to complete an application to submit to the dental board with proof of your education and exam scores, a clean background check and any other information needed. Some states may require you submit letters of recommendation with the application. These can come from former instructors, dentists you have worked with or other employers—anyone who can attest to your good qualities as an employee or student. And, of course, there are fees to apply for licensing, which vary by state.

According to the U. However, these numbers include all dental assistants, those that are not certified as well as EFDAs. The EFDAs are more likely to earn on this higher end. Of course, there are variations in pay by state. The BLS also reports that career growth is strong for all dental assistants. From to , the increase in number of dental assisting jobs is expected to be 19 percent.

This is much faster than average job growth of seven percent for all careers. While there are differences by state and region, this career is growing rapidly in all areas of the country.

You should not find it difficult to land your first job, and you can expect excellent job security as an EFDA. Your state may or may not require that you take your classes through a CODA-accredited program. Most do require this, though, or that the program you complete is comparable to one accredited by CODA. So it makes sense to start your search with these programs. The ADA website includes a search tool you can use to find a program.

You can search by state, program type and even city. As an EFDA, you will enjoy providing more hands-on care to your patients and performing more advanced duties at your job. EFDAs can get certified in specific specialty areas, such as certified preventive functions dental assistant, certified preventive orthodontic assistant or certified restorative functions dental assistant.

EFDAs can perform all the duties of a dental assistant, including providing patient care, taking x-rays, recordkeeping and scheduling appointments.

They also perform certain advanced duties, which will vary by state, place of employment and any special certifications that have been received. EFDAs often usually earn higher salaries than dental assistants due to the additional training they receive.