If you are thinking about a formal assistant education program, make sure to research the available options. Look closely into each program, its coursework and certifications/diplomas, and as well, ask questions of the educators.


This is especially important as it relates to expanded functions because through some Missouri dental assisting programs (CODA-accredited), assistants may earn their Expanded Functions certifications as a part of the curriculum, in that they both receive the curriculum and pass the Basic Skills Exam as a part of their formal assistant education program.

The Missouri Dental Board authorizes EFDA curriculum to be taught as stand-alone
courses by the MDA and two of the CODA-accredited programs – OTC and Nichols
(usually given on weekends or combined with other CE meetings).

Aside from these stand-alone courses, only CODA-accredited programs are eligible to
teach expanded functions as a part of the dental assisting curriculum. That said, while
all CODA-accredited programs are eligible to teach expanded functions, not all do. For
those that do as a part of their curriculum, if an assistant graduates from their program
that teaches expanded functions, the assistant also has passed the Basic Skills Exam. Therefore, upon graduation, this combination allows the assistant to be delegated
expanded functions for which they received instruction.

  • Non-CODA programs do not offer Expanded Functions as a part of their curriculum, nor
    do they state that assistants graduating from their programs are ‘CDA Exam Eligible’
    (as does a CODA-accredited program). Upon completion in these programs, assistants
    receive (or are eligible for) various diplomas, certifications and registrations.


    For example, some Missouri programs state that graduating assistants are eligible to
    sit for a ‘Registered Dental Assistant’ examination; however, an RDA is not recognized
    by the Missouri Dental Board in that they cannot automatically enroll in expanded
    functions courses—a CDA certificate or Basic Skills Certificate is required.

Over the past few years, the Missouri Dental Board has reported receiving complaints from dental assistants who completed, and dentists who have hired assistants from, non-CODA accredited programs.

 

Usually the complaint is that a dental assistant enrolled in a non-CODA accredited program with the belief that upon completion, additional duties (expanded functions) could be delegated. The reality is that a dental assistant who has completed a non-CODA accredited program cannot perform any other duties than can be performed by a dental assistant who has had no formal training (on the
job only).

One advantage of graduating from a CODA-accredited program is that, should a
graduating student desire to become a Certified Dental Assistant, they automatically are eligible to sit for this examination through the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). Otherwise, a minimum of 3,500 hours work experience over 2 to 4 years as a dental
assistant is required for exam eligibility. While no Missouri assistant programs require the CDA exam be taken for graduation, passage of the CDA exam is another pathway to take Expanded Functions courses.





 

 

 


The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) operates within the American Dental Association and is responsible for recognizing dental and dental-related educational programs that meet nationally accepted standards for performance, integrity and quality. The accreditation process ultimately provides evidence that graduates of that particular program are competent to provide quality patient care.
The CODA accreditation process is not simple, and as such, only a handful of Missouri dental assisting programs are CODA accredited. These include:

 

 

*Denotes programs that provide EFDA courses as a part of their curriculum and as weekend courses