The Importance of Continuing Education for Dental Assistants
Once you settle into your new career as a dental assistant, you may find yourself craving more of a challenge. Also, searching for a way to command a higher salary. This is the ideal time to consider continuing education with Expanded Duties Dental Assistant (EDDA) training. Let’s dive in and explore what EDDA is and how it impacts your career.
What Is Expanded Duties Dental Assisting?
EDDA training is something you can consider once you’ve completed your initial training as a dental assistant. This could be directly after your initial training, or at any point thereafter. This continuing education allows you to perform a wider range of job duties. It also provides you with a positive professional challenge, while further lightening the load of your dentist and dental hygienist.
EDDA training delivers:
- A competitive advantage—as a new dental assistant, you’ll stand out from applicants who aren’t continuing education. If you’re already employed, it will make you more valuable to your current dental practice.
- Career satisfaction—continuing education imparts a few new skills, empowering you to provide more hands-on care to the patients in your dental clinic.
- A higher salary—in Colorado, the starting salary for new DAs is around $16.80 per hour. The median salary is between $21 and $22 per hour. With EDDA training, the median salary rises to around $23 per hour, and with tenure maxes out at around $29 per hour.
Just be mindful that even with EDDA training, new dental assistants typically start at an entry-level salary.
What Does EDDA Training Entail?
Although the Colorado State Board of Dentistry doesn’t recognize EDDA designation, they allow you to perform your new job duties with direct or indirect supervision. In addition to your existing skill set and job duties, Expanded Duties Dental Assistant Training allows you to:
- Apply multiple techniques of Pit and Fissure Sealants.
- Apply fluoride.
- Place multiple methods of isolation techniques for restorative dentistry of Matrix Systems.
- Place, condense, carve, finish, and polish Amalgam and Composite Restorations.
- Trim and polish intermediate crowns and bridges.
- Place temporary crowns and bridges.
Is There Continuing Education Beyond EDDA?
Still craving more of a challenge? For many, dental assisting is a gateway to becoming a dental hygienist. It takes between 2 to 3 years of continuing education to become a dental hygienist. Your experience as a dental assistant doesn’t accelerate your education, but having worked in a dental practice you’ll have an advantage. You’re already familiar with terminology, equipment, job duties, and workflow. In addition to the entirely new skill set, your salary will drastically increase.
As of September 2023, the salary for dental hygienists is between $41 and $63 per hour, averaging $51 per hour.
Can I Take EDDA Training Before I Begin Working?
Yes! Many of American Institute of Dental Assisting students complete the 7 Week EDDA Training directly after their 13 Week Dental Assistant Training. We also have many tenured dental assistants continue their education when they are ready for more. With this in mind, we have evening classes, so you don’t have to take time off of work.
Ready to Continue Your Education With EDDA Training?
AIDA is accredited by The Colorado Department of Higher Education. We take great pride in the fact that both our DA and EDDA curriculums take a deeper dive than most programs. This includes providing you with hands-on experience and personalized feedback in a licensed dental office.
We want you to succeed and provide you with the foundation required to thrive in your new career. Reach out today to learn more about continuing your education with EDDA training.