---
title: "What Is Expanded function dental assistant? Dental Practice Glossary"
description: "A dental assistant who has extra training and may perform additional clinical tasks that state rules allow, under a dentist's supervision."
url: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/expanded-function-dental-assistant
publisher: Copeland Consulting Services
email: drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com
contact: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact
---

Team and HR

# Expanded function dental assistant

A dental assistant who has extra training and may perform additional clinical tasks that state rules allow, under a dentist's supervision.

An expanded function dental assistant, or EFDA, is a dental assistant with added training who may do more clinical tasks. A recent JADA study notes that the scope and regulation of EFDAs vary according to state, so the title and duties differ across the country.

The ADA's workforce paper lists variations of the role, such as restorative or orthodontic assistant titles in some states. Missouri has used the term in a pilot project that created the [oral preventive assistant](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/oral-preventive-assistant) role.

The short form is [EFDA](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/efda). The role builds on the base duties of a [dental assistant](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-assistant) and follows state scope of practice rules. Check the state dental board for what applies. This entry gives a general definition.

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## Related terms

-   [EFDA](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/efda)
-   [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)