The Dugoni School of Dentistry launched its Registered Dental Assistant in Extended Functions (RDAEF) program in June 2011. The next session of the nine-month program will begin in September 23, 2023, directed by Dr. Brian Kenyon, Leann Miller, RDAEF and Maggie Rodriguez, RDAEF. This program will satisfy the California Dental Board's requirements for new and existing RDAEFs who wish to expand their licensure in preparation for earning certification in the new extended functions.

The Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry Difference

1. A comprehensive program with 410/342 hours of instruction, combining virtual and in-person lectures, group discussions, hands-on laboratory and live patient clinical experiences.
2. Certification programs for both RDAs and existing RDAEFs at a fully accredited dental school.
3. Personalized instruction led by dental faculty members from the Dugoni School of Dentistry.
4. The only Dental Board of California-approved provider of the RDAEF program at a dental school in Northern California.
5. Interest-free payment plans are available to qualified candidates.
6. NEW: Funding available to qualified individual through the Sallie Mae Smart Option Student Loan program. Please visit the Sallie Mae website for more information.
7. Convenient online lectures and weekend schedule at our state-of-the-art campus in downtown San Francisco.

RDAEF Curriculum

Program for RDAs

This 410-hour program trains and prepares currently licensed RDAs for the California State Board exam for extended functions. RDAs successfully completing this program will be able to perform all the new procedures in extended functions which include:

• Performing patient oral health evaluations, charting and evaluating of soft tissue, classifying occlusion and myofunctional evaluation
• Performing oral health assessments in community and school-based settings under the direction of a dentist, RDH or RDHAP
• Sizing and fitting endodontic master points and accessory points
• Making final impressions for tooth-borne removable prostheses
• Polishing and contouring existing amalgam restorations
• Placing, contouring, finishing and adjusting all direct restorations
• Adjusting and cementing permanent indirect restorations

Additionally, participants will be trained to perform:

• Cord retraction of a gingiva for impressions procedures for indirect restorations
• Fitting and cementing endodontic master points and accessory points
• All other procedures authorized and adopted by the dental board
  • Please see section 1753.5 of the California Business and Professionals Code

Program for Existing RDAEFs

This 342-hour program updates existing RDAEFs, licensed prior to January 1, 2010, in the new, allowable procedures for RDAEFs described above. Participants who successfully complete the program will be eligible to take the new RDAEF exam and, upon successful completion, will be able to perform all the expanded duties of currently licensed California RDAEFs.

Module 1: 6 weekends

September 23, 24, 30

October 1, 14, 15, 21, 22

November 4, 5, 18, 19

• Learning Objectives
  • Beginning of bases and liners for amalgams, composites and glass ionomers
  • Dental anatomy
  • Occlusion principles, TMJ and head and neck anatomy
  • Oral health assessment, gingival structures
  • Oral isolation
  • Placement, polishing and anatomy for amalgams, composites and glass ionomers
  • Primary and secondary dentition

Module 2: 5 weekends

December 2, 3, 9, 10

January 6, 7, 13, 14, 27, 28

• Learning Objectives
  • Continuation of bases and liners
  • Continuation of placement, carving and polishing of amalgams, composites and glass ionomers
  • Dental materials and techniques for making impressions for removable partial dentures

Module 3: 10 weekends; 8 weekends for current RDAEFs

February 3, 4, 17, 18

March 2, 3, 16, 17, 23, 24

April 6, 7, 20, 21

May 4, 5, 18, 19 (virtual day)

June 1

• Learning Objectives
  
  • Dental ergonomics
  • Dental materials for interocclusal registration, vasoconstrictors, fixed partial dentures, dental cements
  • Endodontics
  • Fitting, adjusting and cementing of ceramic, all meta and ceramo-metal fixed partial dentures (crowns)
  • Hemorrhage control, cord packing, vasoconstrictor use and final impressions
  • Indirect restoration techniques
  • Oral health assessment exercise with the dental school
  • Pulp vitality testing, cone fitting and cementation
  • Restorations in your supervising dentist's office
    
  • Digital scanning and clinical photography
  • Review of all three modules prior to the state dental board exam

Requirements

1. Reliable access to a computer with the most recent version of one of the following web browsers: Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.
2. A signed agreement with your supervising dentist agreeing to administer local anesthetic to your patient during the clinical portions of the program
3. Certification in coronal polishing
4. Certification in pit and fissure sealant
5. Certification in radiation safety
6. Current CPR certification from the American Red Cross or American Heart Association affiliate
7. Current RDA or RDAEF license
8. Proof of liability insurance coverage
   • RDAs are required to provide liability insurance for the duration of the program since they will be working on patients and fellow classmates. A copy of the liability insurance certificate must be submitted by the start of the program.

University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry is one of the nation's premier dental schools and has served the Bay Area community for more than 100 years. The dental school is committed to excellence and innovation in education, research, community service and patient care. The Division of Continuing Dental Education is dedicated to educating dental professionals by providing the highest quality CE programs available in dentistry today.