Expanded Function Dental Auxillary

The Santa Fe EFDA (Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary) Program is designed to train Certified Dental Assistants (CDA), NM Licensed Dental Assistants, Registered Dental Hygienists (RDH) and other NM Dental Board approved dental auxiliaries, in the art of Restorative Dentistry and other NM Dental Board approved EFDA duties. Upon successful completion of this program, an auxiliary is eligible to sit for the state certifying examination approved by the NM Board of Dental Healthcare. The curriculum for this course has been approved by the NM Board of Dental Healthcare.

The EFDA Program is a rigorous and challenging program. Students are expected to attend all lecture, laboratory, and clinical sessions. Students must be very familiar with restorative procedures, be able to use both direct vision and indirect mirror vision to complete and evaluate restorations, and will have to perfect fine motor skills to enable the accurate and safe application of dental handpieces and instruments.

Here is the link to the Acadental website. Please be advised that the typodont to be used for the Restorative Board Exam is the Acadental ModuPRO model MP_R320®. Please contact Acadental Representative, Jeff Scott, directly at 913-599-3192 regarding typodont and prep availability and purchasing information. SFCC’s EFDA program has added fee for purchasing the Typodont (at student discount prices), Cheeks and extra prepped teeth in the EFDA Lab fee. These are delivered to the students in the dental lab.

EFDA Students will attend didactic course online and, on-site labs on once in a month weekends. Clinics will be scheduled at affiliated dental sites and/or sponsor dentist’s office. Hands-on learning takes place in our state-of-the-art onsite training dental lab. Each student has their own workstation, materials, study material, an overhead lamp, and life-like simulator/ mounts to learn the clinical skills necessary to restore teeth with amalgam and composite fillings and perform NM State approved EFDA functions.

For NM Dental Board regulations on EFDA, please visit their website.

For information on the Central Regional Dental Testing Services (CRDTS) Board Restorative Functions exam, please visit the website.

For information on the Western Regional Examination Board Restorative Functions (WREB) exam, please visit the website.

Eligibility

Employed auxiliaries will be given priority consideration. At least 2 years of chair-side four-handed dentistry experience in general dentistry is required (within the past 5 years).

Students must submit the following documents along with the completed and signed EFDA application:

• Proof of current status as a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) from the DANB AND a copy of NM Dental Assistant license for Radiography, Fluoride, Coronal polishing and Sealants –OR– Proof of current status as a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH license)- OR– a dentist license- OR– any other NM Dental Board approved dental auxiliary license
• The applicant (EXCEPT Registered Dental Hygienists) must be certified in all four expanded functions (Radiography, Fluoride, Coronal Polishing, and Sealants) as defined in Section 16.5.33 NMAC – NM Board of Dental Health Care regulation
• Proof of current CPR/BLS certification
• Proof of Hepatitis B vaccination
• Proof of TB testing
• Proof of current employment
• Proof of current COVID vaccinations

APPLICATION SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

• For Spring: November 15 (or until the class is full)
• APPLICATION FORM
• SFCC COVID Declination form [https://www.sfcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/sfcc_employee_religious-exemption-from-vaccination.pdf] completed and emailed to: VaxExemption@sfcc.edu Copy aamna.nayyar@sfcc.edu in that email.

COURSE CAPACITY:

Only one cohort will be accepted in the EFDA program that will start in spring every year.

• Online Lecture: 12 students (Spring semester)
• Weekends Lab: 6 students (Spring semester)
• Clinics: 6 students (Summer/ Fall/ Spring)

HOW TO REGISTER?

1. If you have never been an SFCC student, then register for FREE with SFCC (Select “Course Credit” as student type.)
2. Complete the attached EFDA application with SFCC student ID number and submit to the dental program director by email at aamna.nayyar@sfcc.edu or by fax at 505-428-1327, attention: Aamna.

WHAT ARE TUITION RATES?

View current tuition rates.

The federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds eligible, in-demand programs that are designed for adults over the age of 18. Depending on eligibility, individuals can receive tuition assistance to help pay for their education. Assistance can cover tuition fees, books, and supplies. If you would like to see if you qualify for the WIOA Tuition Assistance Program, please contact the Workforce Connection Center at;

301 W. De Vargas St
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Phone: 505-827-7434
Fax: 505-827-7346.

(https://www.dws.state.nm.us/Office-Locations)

EFDA COURSES:

NM Board of Dental Healthcare Approved Regional Board Exams for EFDA applicants:

After passing the EFDA lecture and Lab courses, a student will be eligible to attempt any of the following NM Dental Board approved exams. Students register directly with them and pay the required examination fees to them. These are external exams and not related to the SFCC Dental Department:

• Central Regional Testing Agency (CRDTS) – Restorative Auxiliary Exam
• Western Regional Examination Board (WREB) – EFDA Restorative Examination

NM Board of Dental Healthcare Information for Apprenticeship and Full EFDA License:

After passing the NM Dental Board approved state/ regional board exam, the candidate applies for an apprenticeship license by submitting a completed application. Once the candidate receives the EFDA apprenticeship license, he/she can register for EFDA 293 course to complete 180 days of required apprenticeship.

After completing the 180 days of apprenticeship, the candidate contacts the NM Dental Board again for a full EFDA license.

The full EFDA license is good for 3 years and can be renewed tri-annually.

There are 36 CE Units required for each EFDA license renewal cycle. SFCC’s Dental Department offers EFDA CE courses. For details, please contact aamna.nayyar@sfcc.edu or (505) -428-1258

Graduation:

Upon successful completion of an EFDA course, you will receive an SFCC’s Dental Department Certificate of Completion with appropriate CE units. Upon satisfactory completion all 3 SFCC’s EFDA courses, a student will receive SFCC Certificate of Completion in Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary and he/she will be invited to walk with Cap and Gown in the SFCC commencement and also will be invited to the Dental Department’s Pinning Ceremony to receive a program completion, EFDA Pin.

Want to learn about other Dental offerings at SFCC? Please click on this LINK.