Dental Assistants vs. Expanded Functions Dental Assistants: What’s the Difference?

Efficiently running a dental office requires a complete team of healthcare professionals, including Dental Assistants and Expanded Functions Dental Assistants (EFDAs). Practitioners in both positions take on a wide variety of roles to help maintain seamless day-to-day operations. While Dental Assistants and EFDAs perform many daily tasks, the additional training EFDAs undergo allows them to take on more specialized roles. 

If you’re considering a career in the dental field, you’ll want to understand the nuances of each position to determine which one is right for you. 

What Is an Expanded Functions Dental Assistant?

EFDAs undergo supplemental training that helps prepare them to perform more complex procedures than a general dental assistant, but these specific tasks can vary by state. For example, in Pennsylvania, under direct supervision, EFDAs can polish teeth, apply sealants, take dental impressions for study models, diagnostic casts or athletic appliances, and place fillings. EFDAs in Pennsylvania undergo additional training before applying for state certification through the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry. They must then pass a state Board-approved written exam and complete three hours of training in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

What Is the Difference Between an EFDA and a Dental Assistant?

There are several distinctions between the training and job duties of Dental Assistants and EFDAs.

Responsibilities

Dental assistants handle both administrative and clinical tasks in dentist offices. They are often responsible for greeting and checking in patients, managing the dentist’s schedule, and preparing exam rooms. Within this role, they may also support dentists and dental hygienists with cleanings and procedures, sanitize tools and equipment, and process X-rays after they’ve been taken. 

You can think of EFDAs as the bridge between traditional dental assistants and dental hygienists. Their advanced skills allow them to perform more clinical tasks than general dental assistants, but they are not allowed to write prescriptions, administer anesthesia, or place prosthetic devices. 

While a dental assistant might manage certain administrative duties of an EFDA, a dental assistant may also be qualified to take X-rays and handle composite restorative materials. Standard dental assistants need additional training and certification to perform those tasks. 

Training and Certification

In some places, dental assistants can technically perform most of their duties without formal training. In fact, according to the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), the only requirement in the state of Pennsylvania is that Dental Assistants must be a “competent person” in order to practice. DANB also advises that the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry does not issue licenses for the practice of general dental assisting functions.

However, completing a Dental Assisting program can better prepare you for what’s expected of an entry-level assistant. It also shows potential employers you already have the educational background and applicable experience of an entry-level employee. 

On the other hand, to obtain EFDA certification you must complete one of the following educational pathways:

• Graduate from a Board-approved Expanded Function Dental Assisting program at an accredited institution that offers an associate degree 
• Graduate from a CODA-accredited dental hygiene school which requires the successful completion of at least 75 hours of clinical and didactic instruction in restorative functions
• Complete a Board-approved EFDA program consisting of at least 200 hours of clinical and didactic instruction from an accredited dental assisting program 

Program Length and Curriculum

Most dental assisting programs take about a year to complete, but there are some two-year options available. EFDA programs can take anywhere from three weeks to a few months. However, it’s important to remember that you can only complete EFDA training after completing a general dental assisting program. 

Dental assisting programs prepare you to assist dentists or dental hygienists in clinical settings. They build your general knowledge of dentistry, oral anatomy, ethics, first aid procedures, dental materials, chairside assisting, and more. EFDA programs build upon this foundation while teaching you to perform more specialized tasks such as coronal polishing and taking teeth impressions for study models, diagnostic casts or athletic appliances. 

Berks Technical Institute® (BTI) offers a Dental Assisting program with courses exploring topics such as dental materials, radiography, infection control, and more. This program provides practical learning experiences with equipment and materials you might encounter in the field. Additionally, each class is taught by an industry-experienced instructor. 

BTI’s Expanded Function Dental Assistant program builds upon your previous dental assisting training, and helps develop new skills under the supervision of a qualified Dentist. 

Do Dental Assistants Need to Be Certified in PA?

Pennsylvania does not enforce any specific regulations for general Dental Assistants, however earning certification offers many benefits. According to the DANB, Certified Dental Assistants (CDA) often have higher salaries than their uncertified colleagues and report greater job satisfaction. 

Unlike general Dental Assistants, EFDAs in PA must meet a range of requirements. After completing one of the educational pathways mentioned above, they must apply for their EFDA certification from the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry, pass a written exam, and complete three hours of training in recognizing and reporting signs of child abuse. 

Explore BTI’s Dental Assisting and EFDA Programs

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field of dental assisting is expected to grow nationally by 8% between 2023 and 2033. This rate is higher than the national average for all occupations. 

Both general Dental Assistants and EFDAs are essential to thriving Dentist and Orthodontist offices. These healthcare professionals help operations run efficiently and meet the needs of patients. However, if you are interested in a higher-level position with more responsibility, you may find working as an EFDA would be a better fit. 

To make the best choice, consider your personal interests, the amount of time you are willing to commit to training, and how you envision your future career. You can also weigh the benefits of a higher earning potential as an EFDA or CDA against any additional time you’ll spend in training. When you think about the long-term implications, you may find that a five-month EFDA program doesn’t sound that long, after all. 

No matter which path you choose, BTI’s Dental Assisting and EFDA programs can help you begin your journey to a new career. Explore the advantages of studying at BTI or request more information to start building your future today! 

Disclaimer: Information within this blog is for general information purposes only. BTI does not assume or guarantee certification/licensures, specific job/career positions, income earning potential, or salary expectations based on the programs offered at BTI. Career and program information statements in this blog do not guarantee that programs or other information mentioned are offered at BTI. BTI does not guarantee third-party certification. Certification requirements for taking and passing certification examinations are not controlled by BTI, but by outside agencies and are subject to change by the agencies without notice to BTI. Therefore, BTI cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to take certification examinations, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment.