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his special section provides information on the MDA Expanded Function Dental Assistant program, an important component of a strong dental team and workforce in our state that has successfully operated in Missouri for 25 years! It strives to bring awareness to existing courses and processes, but also highlight the OPA EFDA Pilot. Visit MOEFDA.ORG for information.


A SUCCESSFUL HISTORY


The Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) program became a reality with the passage of the Dental Board Rule in September 1994, which allowed dentists to delegate 19 specific expanded functions to dental assistants who have approved train- ing and have successfully passed compe- tency testing.


Over a four-year period prior to 1994, the MDA Council on Professional Affairs and Laboratory Relations worked extensively to develop a master plan to not only bring about a rule change, but also, to provide the educational piece to make the program a reality. The Council spent numerous hours conducting focus groups with dental assistants, dental hygienists, dentists and others to listen to all viewpoints about dental manpower shortages. A master plan was identified to proactively approach the problem before there was a crisis.


With approval and support from the MDA House of Delegates, the rules and the Expanded Function Dental Assisting programs offered by the MDA were born. Program modules developed included orthodontic, restorative, periodontic and prosthodontic. The first MDA EFDA courses were held beginning in 1998.


COURSES & DELEGABLE FUNCTIONS


Functions delegable to a dental assistant possessing a Missouri Dental Board-issued permit to perform expanded functions are divided into five categories: Restorative I, Restorative II, Removable Prosthodontics, Fixed Prosthodontics and Orthodontics.


30 focus | FALL 2023 | ISSUE 3


On September 30, 2022, there were slight changes to some of the categories and functions. The list below shows the cur- rent Missouri Dental Board General Rules (see link at the end of the article).


Restorative I • Sizing and cementing of prefabricated crowns;


• Placing, condensing, carving and finishing amalgam for Class I, V and VI restorations;


• Placing and finishing composite for Class I, V and VI restorations;


• Minor palliative care of dental emer- gencies (place sedative filling)


Restorative II • Sizing and cementing of prefabricated crowns;


• Placing, condensing, carving and fin- ishing amalgam for Class I, II, III, IV, V and VI restorations;


• Placing and finishing composite for Class I, II, III, IV, V and VI restora- tions;


• Minor palliative care of dental emer- gencies (place sedative filling)


Orthodontics • Preliminary bending of archwire; • Removal of orthodontic bands and bonds;


• Final cementation of any permanent orthodontic or prosthesis;


• Making impressions for the fabrica- tion of any orthodontic prosthesis/ appliance;


• Placement and cementation of orth- odontic brackets and/or bands


Prosthodontics (Fixed) • Apply ties retracting material prior to impression of a fixed prosthesis;


• Extra-oral adjustments of fixed pros- thesis;


• Final cementation of any permanent appliance or prosthesis;


• Making impressions for the fabrica- tion of any removable or fixed pros- thesis/appliance;


• Sizing and cementing of prefabricated crowns


Prosthodontics (Removable) • Placement of temporary soft liners in a removable prosthesis;


• Extra-oral adjustments of removable prosthesis during and after insertion;


• Making impressions for the fabrica- tion of any removable or fixed pros- thesis/appliance


Expanded Function courses, whether pro- vided by the MDA or by a CODA-accredit- ed dental assisting program, must provide teaching on the skills listed for each of the five categories. Five total courses are of- fered according to the category.


PREPARATION = SUCCESS


Missouri rule states that to be eligible to take Expanded Function courses, assistants must have proof of certification as a Certi- fied Dental Assistant (CDA) or a Certified Orthodontics Assistant (COA) or proof of passing the Missouri Dental Assisting Skills (MDAS) exam.


The Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) offers testing and certification


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