Please allow me to explain my use of Expanded Function Dental Assistants (EFDAs) and how it evolved in our group practice of five dentists. As a 1968 graduate of dental school, I was anxious to start my own practice and, for the first three or four years, I was only interested in honing my own skills and just needed a good dental assistant. Regardless of our education, on-the-job training is part of a normal learning curve in any profession, and even more so in EFDA training.

Practicing in the early ‘70s in a rural area, a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) was rare, and the term EFDA was non-existent. Our local vo-tech school taught an introductory course in nursing and dental assisting.  Hiring several of these highly-motivated students resulted in some dedicated employees who have been with our practice for more than 20 years.