Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary Program (EFDA)

Positions Available

2-minute ADA career video

Description of Occupation - A dental hygienist is a licensed member of the dental team responsible for the preventive aspects of oral health. There are currently six interconnected roles of the dental hygienist positioning the role of public health as an integral component of the other roles of clinician, educator, researcher, administrator/manager, and advocate.One of the top 25 projected fastest growing occupations (2008-2018) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Assessment of conditions, radiographs, dental hygiene care planning, dental hygiene treatment planning, preventive therapies, various treatment modalities, ultrasonic and hand instrumentation, polishing, application of fluoride, home care instructions, application of sealants, finishing and polishing of filling materials, and record keeping. Many procedures performed may expose dental hygienists to bloodborne pathogens, potentially hazardous materials and ionizing radiation.

Candidates should be “people-orientated” and able to interact well with others as dentistry requires a team approach to patient care. Individuals should possess excellent communication and organizational skills. Adequate hand-eye coordination is needed to be able to perform the required fine motor skills inherent in the tasks.