24
New Mexico Dental Journal, Summer 2015
Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary (EFDA)
,
continued
by the Western Regional Dental Board
(WREB). The curriculum for this EFDA
program has been approved by the New
Mexico Board of Oral Health.
The Program
The EFDA Program at SFCC is rigorous
and challenging. The cur riculum
includes general anatomy and physi-
ology, dental anatomy, histology and
morphology, nomenclature, occlusion,
matrix and wedge techniques, impres-
sions, SSCs, orthodontic bands, dental
sealants, dental cements and supple-
mentary materials, caries classification,
cavity preparation, pulp protection,
temporization, ergonomics, instrumen-
tation, dental amalgams and composites
and New Mexico laws and regulations
pertaining to EFDA and WREB exams.
SFCC’s EFDA students attend didactic
courses online, and are able to choose
on-site labs on the weekends or evenings.
Clinics can be scheduled at affiliated
dental clinical sites and/or a sponsor
dentist’s office. Hands-on learning
takes place in our state-of-the-art on-site
training dental lab. Each student has
their own workstation, materials, study
material, overhead lamp, and a mount
to learn the clinical skills necessary to
perform NM State approved EFDA
functions. Students purchase their own
typodonts and restorative instruments
and materials. Students begin learning
tooth anatomy, contour, and contact
by practicing dental morphology by
drawing on graph papers and then
carving on soap. Then students gradu-
ally advance through two surface restora-
tions of amalgam and composite on the
typodont. Mock board exams are given
in the on-site lab sessions, simulating the
testing atmosphere of the actual state
examination.
Requirements
Employed auxiliaries are given priority
consideration. At least two years chair-
side four-handed dentistry experience in
general dentistry is required (within the
past five years). Proof of current status
as a Certified Dental Assistant from
the DANB or State of New Mexico
license -OR- Proof of current status as
a Registered Dental Hygienist. Applica-
tions are accepted beginning April 15
for fall and beginning November 15 for
spring semester. The program accepts
12 qualified students in the online
lecture course; 6–8 in the on-site lab
and maximum 6 students in the clinical
practicum course which is designed for
those who passed the WREB RE exam.
Current tuition rates can be found at
EFDA program faculty has higher or
same level of licensure or certification
in respective courses they are teaching
as required by NM Dental Board
[NMAC 16.5.42.8 (5)]. For more infor-
mation, please contact
Aamna Nayyar
,
Director, Department of Dental Health,
505-428-1258.
About the author: Aamna Nayyar has a B.Sc.
degree is biological sciences from the U. of
Karachi, Pakistan and a doctor degree in dentistry
from Liaquat U. of Medical and Health Sciences,
Jamshoro, Pakistan. She received a silver medal
for scoring top second in her final year of dental
degree. She completed two years general prac-
tice residency from Liaquat National Hospital,
Karachi, Pakistan. She has her dental practice
license in good standing with Dental Board of
California (Via WREB) and Pakistan Medical
and Dental Council. She is a member of Amer-
ican Dental Association (ADA) and American
Dental Education Association (ADEA) and a
volunteer with NM Health Reserves Corp. She
has been teaching at SFCC since 2002 and previ-
ously ran a private dental practice.
