Expanded Functions in Dental Care

Description of Program
Expanded Functions Dental Assisting allows dental professionals to place, finish, and polish various restorative materials. Restoration placement is not regulated by the Indiana Board of Dentistry. This program provides didactic (online) and laboratory instruction to acquire competency of these skills.  

Who Should Enroll in this Program?
This program is designed for English-speaking graduates of a dental assisting or a dental hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association or a dental assistant with one or more years of experience in dental assisting.

Dental assistants: Proof of graduation from a dental assisting program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) OR proof of one or more years of dental assisting experience is required. To verify experience, the employer dentist must submit a signed letter (on company letterhead with a daytime phone number) verifying one or more years of dental assisting experience.

Dental hygienists: Proof of graduation from a dental hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

Delivery of Content
This program is organized into distinct parts: online instruction followed by on-site laboratory instruction.  Finally, participants must complete clinical experience requirements in a dental office under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist.

Part I: Online Instruction

Didactic course content is delivered asynchronously via Blackboard, the University of Southern Indiana online learning management system.  Participants will be granted access to the course Blackboard site six weeks prior to the laboratory day. This online learning management system provides an opportunity for interaction with program faculty while learning in the comfort of your own home or office.  Program staff are available during business hours by phone or email to assist participants with technical issues or concerns. 

Note: Many businesses, especially government agencies or health institutions, utilize security firewalls.  Access to web links within the course and communication from the instructor or other students may be blocked. We recommend not using a work email address for this course.

The online content is divided into three modules, which include recorded presentations, demonstration videos, and corresponding quizzes. The presentations cover an overview of the dental dam, matrix systems, and composite and amalgam restorative materials.  All modular quizzes must be completed with a minimum cumulative average of 75% prior to the scheduled laboratory date.

Part II: Laboratory Instruction

The onsite laboratory session will occur on a Saturday. The laboratory session will include nine (9) hours of practice on a mannequin. Participants will receive hands-on instruction in hand dexterity and use of a dental dam, matrix systems, bases and liners, amalgam, and flowable and condensable composite. Participants will also receive hands-on instruction in finishing and polishing procedures, including finishing strips, points/cups, and burs.   

Laboratory sessions will be held at the University of Southern Indiana, Health Professions Center, Room 1044; 8600 University Boulevard, Evansville, IN 47712. USI is located on Highway 62, two miles west of Evansville

Part III: In-office Requirement Completion

Upon completion of the didactic and laboratory requirements, each participant must demonstrate clinical competency on a minimum of three (3) patient experiences placing a Class II restoration under the direct observation of a licensed dentist.  A form will be provided to each participant on which the observing licensed dentist will document certification of competency and completion of required clinical cases.  The form must be signed by the certifier and submitted to the University of Southern Indiana’s Expanded Functions in Dental Care Certificate Program.  Upon receipt of the signed form, USI will issue a certificate of completion that may be publicly displayed in the dental office where the dental assistant or dental hygienist practices. 

A textbook is not required for this program. 

Program Schedule
This activity is offered once a year. Online instruction (access for six weeks) must be completed prior to the scheduled laboratory date. The laboratory session will include nine (9) hours of practice on a mannequin. Completion of three (3) additional live patient experiences in a dental office is required before certification is complete.

2022 dates posted but subject to change due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Learning Outcome

The learning outcome of this program is to enable the learner to incorporate best practices related to dental restorative procedures.

 Program Objectives

At the conclusion of this program, the participant will be able to:

1.  Select appropriate dental dam clamps, and demonstrate proper placement and removal of dental dam
2. Select and demonstrate proper placement of matrix system
3. Select and demonstrate proper placement of base and liners
4. Place and carve amalgam restorations
5. Place and finish composite restoration
6. Place and sculpt anterior and posterior composite restorations.
7. Obtain proper tooth contacts during application of various restorative materials

Contact Hours
24 contact hours (15 hours for the online instruction and 9 hours for laboratory session)

Successful completion of this program does not guarantee expertise in the content. Clinical experience and judgment, coupled with an understanding of the content, are necessary to attain competency.

Upon completion of the didactic and laboratory requirements, each participant must demonstrate clinical competency on a minimum of three (3) patients under the direct observation of a licensed dentist.  A form will be provided to each participant on which the observing licensed dentist will document certification of competency and completion of required clinical cases.  The form must be signed by the certifier and submitted to the University of Southern Indiana’s Expanded Functions in Dental Care Certificate Program. 

Upon receipt of the signed form, USI will issue a certificate of completion that may be publicly displayed in the dental office where the dental assistant or dental hygienist practices.  

Criteria for successful completion
Proof of graduation from a dental assisting program accredited by the Commission of Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association OR proof of one or more years of experience is required. To verify experience, the employer dentist must submit a signed letter (on company letterhead with a daytime phone number) verifying experience of one or more years of dental assisting experience. 

• Submit registration and payment.
• Complete online course content with a minimum cumulative average of 75%.
• Complete the laboratory session, including nine (9) hours of practice on a mannequin.
• Demonstrate clinical competency on a minimum of three (3) Class II restorations on patients in a dental office under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist and submit a signed form verifying completion.

Faculty Name and Credentials

Amanda Reddington, LDH, MHA, CDA, EFDA
Kimberly Hille, EdD, CDA, EFDA, RDH, Chair, Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene Programs

Conflict of Interest Statement
No individual in a position to control content has any relevant financial relationships.

Accreditation
The University of Southern Indiana is an approved provider for continuing education by the Indiana Health Professions Bureau and the Illinois Board of Dentistry.

The Dental Assisting Program at the University of Southern Indiana is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education.