moefda

Before you register for a course and begin your coursework, please read over this entire page to ensure your understanding of the process and various components. 

Overview

The EFDA Restorative I Course includes:

• Clinical Prework
  
• Online Anatomy & Morphology Exam (Passage is prerequisite to Clinical Course)
  
• Online Modules comprised of presentation, text, photos, illustrations and videos
  
• Online practice quizzes
  
• Skills Standards (grade sheets)
  
• Clinical Course and Competency Testing
  

Anatomy & Morphology Exam

Successful completion of this 76-question exam (with an 80% passing grade) is a prerequisite to attend the hands-on, clinical course for Restorative I. The exam may be taken at any time during your review period, as long as it is successfully completed 1 week prior to the clinical course.

Online Modules

You are required to progress through each Module as least once before the clinical course. However, you may review each Module as many times as you wish so that you are confident about performing the skills in the clinical course, where you will be graded for competency. Think of these Modules as your guidebook for the course. Additionally, Modern Dental Assisting is the official textbook recommended by the MDA EFDA Program for all Courses offered.

There are two pre-clinical modules:

• Course Overview (Supervision & Delegation)
  
• Infection Control & Patient Positioning
  

There are four clinical modules:

• Module 1: Stainless Steel Crowns: Sizing, Fitting and Cementing
  
• Module 2: Amalgam Restorations Placing, Condensing and Carving: Class I, V, VI (including rubber dam)
  
• Module 3: Composite Restorations Placing: Class I, V, VI
  
• Module 4: Finishing & Polishing Final Restoration
• Module 5: Placing Sedative Fillings

Prework with Restorative I Preparations

Upon course registration, students will be sent three restorative preparations via mail:

• One preparation to perform placement of amalgams and composites.
  
• One preparation to complete sedative filling procedures.
  
• One preparation to trim, crimp and cement a stainless steel crown (provided by MDA).
  

If mentoring of the student by the employing/supervising dentist has not started already with the online modules, we encourage the dentists to make preparations and oversee the placement, shaping and carving of amalgams and composites prior to EFDA candidates attending the clinical portion of the Restorative I module. Although there are many ways to achieve quality restorations, please follow the online module demonstrations in performing placement of amalgams and composites. Preparations are different in the real world, and therefore vary in size and complexity of the anatomy to be reproduced.

Indirect Vision & Mouth Mirror

During both the clinical session and competency exam, procedures will be performed on the typodont that has been mounted on a dental chair.

• You will be required to use a mouth mirror to perform maxillary restorations with indirect vision.
  
• You will want to practice the prework restorations in the same manner. You will not be able to work on the typodont that is opened up on a flat surface.
  
• Most practices will have some type of mounting system that can be utilized in the same way.
  
• If you would like to purchase a mount for your practice, you may do so at this link. (We have compared other product sites and have found this mount to be the most affordable.)

Dental Loupes

Visual sharpness is imperative to accomplish acceptable restorations for assistants being delegated Expanded Functions. Dental loupes—preferably with a light—are highly recommended for accomplishing the small, detailed work of restoring, finishing and polishing restorations.

• Loupes are available from 2.0X to 6.0X magnification. Many operators are comfortable with 2.5X; others prefer greater, such as 3.5X. A magnification greater than 3.5X is less likely to be as adaptable as your first pair of loupes.
  
• Online prices of loupes, including an LED light and battery pack, can range from $55 to more than $1,500.
  
• Consult with your dentist about a loupe purchase, and for additional information, you may read one of these recent MDA Focus magazine articles on the topic of loupes: Selecting Dental Loupes and Are Loupes Loopy?