COURSE DESCRIPTION
The field of Dental Health is growing rapidly. As the need for qualified dental office personnel increases, the need for training also increases. One area of rapid growth and expansion is in the current practice of Dental Assistants. Under new law, the role of Dental Assistants has been expanded to include a variety of added functions which a Dental Assistant is allowed to perform. This program has been designed as an intensive study of the basics of restorative dentistry for the Dental Assistant in the role of an Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary (EFDA). The Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry's rules and regulations will be presented and reviewed as they pertain to Expanded FUnctions. The essential functions taught in this course include, but are not limited to, placing and removing rubber dams, carving and finishing of amalgam restorations; placement and finishing of light-cured composite restorations and crown and bridge temporary restorations. These skills are attained through lecture presentations, demonstrations, and hands-on technical laboratory sessions.

A full-time EFDA certificate program, leading to an associate degree, is now being offered as a partnership between the GACTC and Mount Aloysius College. After completion of the required course work, lab hours, and clinic hours, each student will receive a diploma from the GACTC and be eligible to matriculate to MAC into an Associate of Science degree. Students will then be eligible to sit for the PA State Board of Dentistry's EFDA certification exam. These transferrable credits create a base to continue on to a bachelors degree or gain employment in the dental field.

CURRICULUM
The EFDA Associate Degree Program is full-time, afternoon/evening taught and includes the following instruction: 825 Dental Hours, 555 General Education Hours, 155 Clinical Hours. Total Hours: 1,535 Dental: 980 General Education: 555 Total Credits: 66 

GACTC ACCREDITATION
The Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Veteran's Administration, and Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. It is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education and Middle State Association of Colleges and Schools. THe GACTC is also an ISO 9001: 2008 certified school.

EFDA ACCREDITATIONS
State Board of Dentistry

TUITION
Tuition for full-time programs is set each year by the school's operating committee.