New research sheds light on EFDA workforce
As dentistry grapples with workforce shortages and considers further expanding dental assistants’ scope of practice, new research points to strategies that can lead to success.
Published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, the study examined expanded function dental assistant (EFDA) workforce utilization through dentist perspectives, state regulations, and workforce data, providing a unique comprehensive view.
Among the key findings were that building a stronger EFDA workforce takes time, training, and collaboration across dentistry. Additionally, dentists in states with more regulations were more likely to fully utilize EFDAs than dentists in states with minimal regulations.
The findings arrive as states consider expanding dental assistant duties to address staffing shortages. The insights from this research can help legislators, regulators, and employers develop effective workforce solutions.
“The EFDA model has been around for more than 50 years and yet EFDA workforce rates vary considerably from state to state,” said Hanna Aronovich, lead author of the research and Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer of the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). “States that have successfully built a robust EFDA workforce have done so over many years — developing training and education for both dentists and assistants and facilitating widespread awareness and support.”
Among the other key findings:
Dentists’ support of EFDAs was nearly universal, with 92% expressing support for their dental assistants to become EFDAs. Three in four (75.2%) surveyed said they would provide on-the-job training, while two in three (67.7%) said they’d offer a pay raise.
Restorative functions are not widely delegated, despite being shown to increase productivity and profitability. Dentists who considered time savings were more likely to delegate direct restorations, as were dentists in public health settings.
Confusion around EFDA criteria exists, with about 1 in 4 dentists reporting being unsure of their state’s requirements. Standardizing EFDA requirements and practice nationally could strengthen EFDA utilization and mitigate confusion. The recently published Dental Assisting Professional Model can be referenced as a guide toward uniformity.
“Because each state takes its own approach to regulating dental assistants, there is no national consensus of what an EFDA does or even what an EFDA is called,” said Michelle Lee, DANB Vice President of External Relations and Policy. “As states explore the Oral Preventive Assistant model and supragingival scaling for dental assistants, we’re already seeing different approaches emerge — and we’ll likely see a wide range of outcomes, as well.”
The study’s implications encourage states seeking to create, refine or expand an EFDA level to develop legislation and regulations that support dental assistant career ladders, ensure education and training availability, increase awareness among dentists and assistants, and foster broad support across the dental community. Workforce development can take years to realize, which is why early collaboration and coordinated efforts are critical for long-term success.