Dental Assistant Training - Expanded Duties/Coronal Polishing

Like many dentists, you may be looking for ways to increase your practice’s efficiency, production and revenue. Achieving those goals may be within reach when you enroll your assistants in the GDA Expanded Duties courses.
According to an ADA survey, dentists who employ assistants with Expanded Duties in their practices report being able to use their time more efficiently and see more patients per day. A dental assistant can perform a variety of routine duties in the dental office and the Expanded Duties program is designed to ensure dental assistants abide by the requirements set by the Georgia Board of Dentistry.

 

To be eligible to attend the GDA Expanded Duties Program the dental assistant must meet one of the following criteria:

1)    Possess current certification that the candidate is a Certified Dental Assistant.
2)    Be a graduate of a one (1) year accredited dental assisting program or a dental assisting program approved by the Board.
3)    Have been employed as a chair side assistant by a licensed dentist for a continuous six (6) month period within the previous three (3) years.  

In Addition, the candidate must have a high school diploma, or the equivalent thereof and proof of current CPR certification. Courses are offered on a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED basis. Registration closes when a course reaches capacity OR one month (30 days prior) to course date – whichever comes first. (This is to allow the assistant to become familiar with the course study guides and gather all required clinical materials.)

If you have questions regarding expanded duties, please contact Sheila Watson.

 

2024 GDA Expanded Duties and Coronal Polishing Skills Assessment Calendar

Saturday, June 8, 2024 – Athens Tech (Course 4-Temp. Bridges) - closed
Saturday, September 7, 2024 -- Dental One in Fayetteville
Saturday, October 26, 2024 - Columbus Tech

 

Classroom Learning via Webinar
The classroom learning for each session is now available online via recorded webinar. Upon registration we will send you a link to the webinar. Watch the webinar then take the exam for each course. After passing the exam for each course, the registrant will then be eligible to register for an appointment to meet with an instructor to take the clinical applications for each course.

Clinical Applications
All registrants must meet with a GDA-approved clinical instructor in-person (not available virtually) and pass the clinical applications in order to receive a certificate of completion. Clinical courses will be available by appointment only. Should we have enough registrants from a specific practice or area we may be able to schedule a course at your location. Please contact Sheila Watson at 404-636-7553 or sheila@gadental.org for more information.

Steps to Earning Expanded Duties and Coronal Polishing Certification
1. Register online for virtual learning webinars. Once you have registered you will receive an email with links to the webinars purchased.
2. View webinar (only registrants that have completed each webinar in its entirety will be eligible to take the exam)
3. Quiz - After completing the online exam, you will receive an email advising you of your exam results.
4. Schedule an appointment to meet in-person with a GDA-approved Expanded Duties instructor. 

Only dental assistants that have passed each step will be eligible for a certificate for expanded duties or coronal polishing. Each certificate will allow a dental assistant to perform only those duties listed on each certificate.

REGISTER HERE

Here is an example of the login screen below.
Please note: you will need to click “Non-dentist: Create a new account.”

Non-dentist: Create New Account Divider

The Expanded Duties Curriculum outline AND the Board Rules and Policies are being updated internally.

Please reach out to our Continuing Education team for more information or with questions. This information will return to the page as soon as possible.

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Enrollment

Assistants may begin the process of enrolling in Expanded Duties training by printing the registration packet. Note: You cannot download any study guides or related course information until you register for courses.

 

Expanded Duties Fee Structure

Fees

Courses

4

5

6

 Coronal
Polishing (CP)

All 4

4,5

4,6

  5,6  6,CP

4,5,6

Member

$275

$185

$195

  $275

$850

$425

$435

  $325  $450

$600

Nonmember

$375

$285

$295

  $375

$950

$525

$535

 $425  $550

$700
For more information on Expanded Duties classes, contact us.