EFDA Students attend class only one day per week from mid - August until the end of May, and are able to choose Wednesday or Friday as their class day. Class is in session from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Enrollment is limited to 40 students with 20 students per class.
Learning takes place in our state-of-the-art training center. Each student has their own workstation, instruments, materials, textbooks, typodont, overhead lamp, and life-like simulator to learn the clinical skills necessary to restore teeth with amalgam and composite fillings and place sealants.
The EFDA Program is a rigorous and challenging course. 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.
Eligibility
- Employed auxiliaries will be given priority consideration.
- Four-handed dentistry experience is expected.
- At least 2 years chairside assisting experience in general dentistry is required (within the past 5 years).
- Proof of current status as a Certified Dental Assistant from the DANB or State of Ohio Certification . - OR -
- Proof of current status as a Registered Dental Hygienist (license).
Program Performance Requirements
All students admitted to the Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary Program must be able to meet the following requirements:
- Students must be familiar with restorative procedures
- Students must 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.
- Students must be familiar with basic dental terms and nomenclature.
- Students must be able to function effectively under the time constraints of
the program and display flexibility in the event of changing lab and clinical .
situations.
- Students must be able to apply didactic learning (theory) to clinical
situations.
- Students must be able to hear and communicate effectively, follow
directions and act professionally in class and when delivering patient care.
- Students must be able to read the printed words in EFDA textbooks and
supplemental information, observe various dental instrument angulations and
apply the concepts appropriately.
- Students' eyesight must be able to visualize fine detail (either naturally
or corrected),have depth perception and have the ability to visualize
three dimensional objects.
- Students must be physically free of the use of non-prescription drugs,
illegal drugs and alcohol.
- Students must show acceptable progress and pre-clinical competency in the
program by a prescribed time before they are allowed to provide care to
patients
Application Process
- Complete application (click here to download)
- Send in $40.00 application fee
- 2 letters of recommendation
- Official high school or college transcripts
- Letter from employer verifying at least 2 years assisting experience in general dentistry within the past 5 years
- Notarized copy of current CDA credential or RDH license
- Proof of HepBVac immunization
- Proof of current TB test results
Once a complete application is received, the applicant is eligible to sit for the entrance
examination. Incomplete applications will NOT be considered
Entrance Examination
- Basic dental assisting knowledge (instruments, nomenclature, burs, materials, classification of caries, etc.)
- Spatial relations - Perceptual ability
Course Curriculum
- Lecture and lab during the first semester
- All day lab / clinic second semester
- An optional state board review course is offered at the end of the second semester, after completion of the EFDA Program in May for an additional fee
Students begin the program learning tooth anatomy, contour and contact using wax. Then students gradually advance through one, two, three, and complex surface restorations of amalgam and composite on the typodont. Rubber dam placement and sealant placement are also learned.
Clinical / patient experience occurs during the second semester at MetroHealth Hospital / clinics, Case School of Dental Medicine clinic, or St. Elizabeth Hospital Dental Clinic in Youngstown , Ohio .
Mock board exams are given the second semester, simulating the testing atmosphere of the actual state examination.
Lectures and labs
- Nomenclature
- Caries classification
- Cavity preparation
- Oral anatomy
- Dental morphology
- Periodontium
- Histology
- Basics of occlusion
- Ergonomics
- Instrumentation
- Pulp protection
- Dental materials
- Matrix and wedge techniques
- Temporization
- Amalgam placement and carving
- Polishing amalgams
- Composite placement
- Composite finishing and polishing
- Posterior composites
- Pit and fissure sealant placement
- Rubber dam placement
Faculty
- Dr. Ronald Occhionero, DDS
- Shelly H. Feiwell, CDA, EFDA
- Karin Hein, CDA, EFDA
- Kristi Forshey-Graham, CDA, EFDA
- Danielle LiPuma, RDH,
EFDA
- EFDA Program 216-368-3252
Tuition
2009/2010 $4,685.00 A $600 non refundable fee to reserve your seat in the class once accepted into the program (for typodonts, books, uniform top, and prepared teeth) to be paid by 7/6/2009 and will be applied towards the tuition. The remainder of the tuition will be billed to you by the university starting 8/09.
- The School of Dental Medicine has the right to cancel or change classes without notice.
- This is a dental continuing education course therefore does not qualify for financial aid or federal student loans.
- This program is not approved by the Pennsylvania State Dental Board
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