As Tennessee’s demand for oral healthcare continues to grow, the University of Tennessee Health Sciences College of Dentistry’s Office of Continuing Education has grown its Expanded Functions for Dental Auxiliaries (EFDA) Certification Program to strengthen the state’s dental workforce and improve access to care.
With new training sites in Kingsport and Chattanooga, the expansion brings advanced clinical education closer to dental assistants and dental hygienists while helping practices increase efficiency and serve more patients across Tennessee.
To commemorate the expansion, the College of Dentistry recently held ceremonial “floss-cuttings” in Kingsport and Chattanooga, celebrating new partnerships and the college’s growing statewide presence.
What is the EFDA Certification Program?
The EFDA certification program equips licensed dental assistants and dental hygienists with advanced restorative and prosthetic skills that expand the services they can legally perform under the supervision of a licensed dentist. By expanding the capabilities of the dental team, practices can improve efficiency, increase patient access, and help address the oral care need throughout Tennessee.
Since launching on the Memphis campus in 2006, the EFDA program has certified more than 2,000 dental assistants and dental hygienists. Building on the success of the program’s Knoxville expansion in 2022, where courses have consistently reached capacity, the addition of Kingsport and Chattanooga reflects increasing demand for advanced continuing education opportunities throughout the state.
“We are grateful for the success of our EFDA classes in Knoxville over the past four years and the requests from dentists and auxiliaries across the state that prompted this expansion to Chattanooga and Kingsport,” said Jerry McKinney, DDS, co-director of the EFDA program. “Bringing this course closer to the areas in need has proven to be a tremendous benefit to students, dental offices, and ultimately our communities across Tennessee.”
More Hands, More Care
McKinney compared the role of an EFDA to that of nurse practitioners and physician assistants in medicine, noting these highly trained dental professionals can perform procedures once reserved exclusively for dentists. As a result, practices employing EFDAs may increase the number of patients they serve by an estimated 15% to 40%, improving both efficiency and access to care.
“We are excited about the opportunity to serve more dental healthcare professionals throughout Tennessee and support them through our program,” said Lynne Moore, MPA, director of the Office of Continuing Dental Education. “Our goal is to provide continuing education opportunities that support the growth of dental professionals and address the oral health needs of the state by enhancing participant competence and ultimately improving patient care.”
The expansion reflects the College of Dentistry’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Tennessee’s dental workforce by making high-quality continuing education more accessible. Made possible through the collaboration of the Office of Continuing Dental Education, EFDA faculty and staff, and community partners in Kingsport and Chattanooga, the program continues to address access to care challenges while supporting dental professionals around the state.
For information about the EFDA certification program, including eligibility requirements and upcoming courses, connect with the College of Dentistry’s Office of Continuing Dental Education.