---
title: "What Is EFDA? Dental Practice Glossary | Copeland Consulting Services"
description: "The short form of expanded function dental assistant, a dental assistant who may perform added clinical tasks under state rules."
url: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/efda
publisher: Copeland Consulting Services
email: drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com
contact: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact
---

Team and HR

# EFDA

The short form of expanded function dental assistant, a dental assistant who may perform added clinical tasks under state rules.

EFDA is the short form of expanded function dental assistant. A recent JADA study says the scope and regulation of EFDAs vary according to state. A role called EFDA in one state may differ from the same title in another.

The ADA's workforce paper notes that some states use variations of the title, with extra certification for tasks such as restorative or orthodontic work. In Missouri, a pilot program created a new type of EFDA called the [oral preventive assistant](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/oral-preventive-assistant).

See [expanded function dental assistant](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/expanded-function-dental-assistant) for the full name. The EFDA builds on the role of a [dental assistant](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-assistant). Rules come from each state dental board. This entry is a general definition.

[Next stepIndustry work with Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact?topic=industry)

## Related terms

-   [Expanded function dental assistant](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/expanded-function-dental-assistant)
-   [Dental assistant](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-assistant)
-   [Oral preventive assistant](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/oral-preventive-assistant)
-   [Scope of practice](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/scope-of-practice)

## Sources

1.  [JADA, A national analysis of factors associated with the prevalence and regulation of expanded function dental assistants](https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(26)00406-X/fulltext)
2.  [ADA, Emerging and Current Models to Address Dental Team Workforce Needs](https://www.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/ada-org/files/resources/practice/practice-management/emerging_workforce_models.pdf)

## Talk with Dr. Copeland

[Contact Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact)[Email](mailto:drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com)