EFDA History

The "Dental Nurse" Concept

Did you know that the idea of an Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary was started over 100 years ago in New Zealand? Britain and Canada also have used dental nurses over the years.

In the early 1960's several studies were conducted to allow dental auxiliary to perform functions previously reserved for dentists. Educational institutions began to include these functions into their training programs. Throughout the 70's and 80's there has been considerable debate within the states as to what can legally be delegated to auxiliaries.

The Federal Government has encouraged the ADA and state governments to pass state laws to increase the use of expanded duties. This would benefit the dental consumers and taxpayers while helping to contain the cost of dentistry.

There are very few states where expanded duties are legal but they all require either formal education and or testing. In addition, some state practice acts have a special category such as Qualified or Registered Dental Assistant or Expanded Duty Dental Hygienist.

Dr. Ronald Occhionero and other colleagues that worked with him in public health dentistry, wrote a grant to obtain the funding to train dentists on how to use EFDA's. Since there were no EFDA's in existence at the time, the first training program in Ohio was started at Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry. The program was modeled after the one in Kentucky, which was the first state in the nation to have an EFDA program.

In Ohio, EFDA legislation passed in 1976. Several formal educational institutions have developed expanded duty programs. The Commission on Dental Testing in Ohio was formed. This commission administers the official state board test twice a year. The Ohio Dental Expanded Functions Association was formed in 1978 and has organized local components in major cities in Ohio.

EFDA's can help the dentist live a longer, healthier and more productive life!

  • Dentistry can be a very stressful occupation.
  • EFDA's help to reduce stress within the dental office.
  • EFDA's help the schedule to be more flexible in order to accommodate. emergencies and new patients without great interruption in the practice schedule.
  • EFDA's enable the dentist have more time to do other things such as:
    • Complete more procedures per patient.
    • Begin with other procedures.
    • Attend to hygiene patients in a timely fashion.o Communicate with the front desk staff.
    • Communicate with the patients:
      • Diagnosis and Treatment Planning - Case Presentation
      • Build patient rapport -Patient Education
    • Make phone calls- read mail and journals
    • Start another business-Take a Post Graduate Course.
    • Work less hours.
    • Attend professional meetings.
    • Spend more time on difficult and new procedures.
  • Dentists can practice longer into their retirement years with an EFDA.
  • It is always easier for a team to do a job rather than one person.