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Licensing

Expanded Function Dental Auxillary (EFDA)

In 2011, House Bill 187 created an Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary- a dental assistant, hygienist or other dental auxiliary that has received education specific to the duties delineated by the board for an EFDA, and has been certified to work under the direct supervision of a New Mexico dentist to perform the allowable functions.

Allowable expanded functions include:

  • Take final impressions, excluding those for fixed or removable prosthetics involving multiple teeth;
  • Fit and shape stainless steel crowns on primary teeth, to be cemented by a licensed dentist;
  • Place and shape direct restorations;
  • Cement indirect and provisional restorations for temporary use;
  • Place temporary and sedative restorative material in hand excavated carious lesions and unprepared tooth fractures;
  • Remove orthodontic bracket cement
  • Recement temporary or permanent crowns with temporary cement under general supervision in a situation that a licensed dentist deems it to be an emergency;
  • Apply pit and fissure sealants without mechanical alteration of the tooth.

Applicants can be certified via three tracks:

  1. Completed an expanded function dental auxiliary program accredited by the joint commission on dental accreditation;
  2. Independent preparation by auxiliaries that have five years’ experience;
  3. Candidates who possess a current certificate in good standing in expanded functions from another state (credentials).

Education and Examination Requirement:

  • Satisfactory completion of an accepted expanded function dental auxiliary course at an institution accredited by the board or by the joint commission on dental accreditation;
  • For independent preparation, an auxiliary must have five years of continuous employment with a minimum of 1,000 hours per year; completed courses specified in the rules (see 16.5.42.9); and be recommended for EFDA certification by the supervising dentist.
  • Pass a regional board exam or other exam accepted by the board;
  • Completed jurisprudence exam;
  • Complete an apprenticeship.

For information regarding additional requirements, refer to the New Mexico Statute and Rules.

For an application and further information, contact:

New Mexico Board of Dental Health Care and the New Mexico Dental Hygienists Committee
Toney Anaya Building
2550 Cerrillos Rd.
Santa Fe, NM 87504-5101
Phone: 505-476-4680
Fax: 505-476-4545
Website: www.rld.state.nm.us/boards/Dental_Health_Care.aspx
Email: dental.board@state.nm.us