30-Hour New Jersey Board of Dentistry Approved Program
Become Eligible for New Jersey Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Licensure Without Taking the DANB Expanded Functions Examination
Dental Studies Institute is proud to offer this 30-hour Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Program, approved by the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry.
(Course Approval No. 26-138) This comprehensive program is designed for qualified dental assistants seeking eligibility for New Jersey Registered Dental Assistant licensure. You must have an active NJ Radilogy License and a current Certifed Dental Assistant License from the DANB to attend.
Upon successful completion of the program, including attendance at all required sessions and achieving a passing grade, participants become eligible to apply for New Jersey Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) licensure without taking the New Jersey Expanded Functions examination.
Participants must still submit the required application to the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry, meet all state eligibility requirements, and successfully complete the New Jersey Jurisprudence Examination before an RDA license is issued.
The program combines live interactive online instruction with two mandatory in-person laboratory sessions that provide extensive hands-on training in expanded dental assisting procedures. Throughout the course, participants will develop the knowledge, technical skills, and clinical judgment necessary to safely perform expanded functions in accordance with New Jersey regulations.
Topics include:
- New Jersey Board of Dentistry regulations and delegable duties
- RDA application process and Jurisprudence Examination
- Dental anatomy, caries detection, and restorative procedures
- Infection prevention and OSHA compliance
- Matrix systems and wedge placement
- Dental dam isolation techniques
- Amalgam placement and mercury hygiene
- Temporary restorative materials
- Fluoride therapies and Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF)
- Alginate impressions and model pouring
- Athletic mouthguards and bleaching trays
- Orthodontic assisting procedures
- Bite registrations and temporary crown fabrication
- Dental cements and cementation procedures
- Periodontal dressings and suture removal
- Comprehensive laboratory training in expanded dental assisting skills
Attendance at every scheduled class session and both in-person laboratory dates is mandatory. Participants must successfully complete all quizzes, laboratory exercises, and competency evaluations to receive a certificate of completion.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this program, participants will be able to:
- Explain the requirements for New Jersey Registered Dental Assistant licensure, including application procedures and the Jurisprudence Examination.
- Identify the expanded functions that may be legally delegated to a Registered Dental Assistant under New Jersey Board of Dentistry regulations.
- Demonstrate proper infection prevention procedures, instrument handling, and OSHA-compliant safety practices in the dental office.
- Recognize various classifications of dental caries and perform appropriate caries detection techniques.
- Demonstrate proper use of finger rests (fulcrums) to improve clinical precision and patient safety.
- Select, place, and remove matrix bands, wedges, and dental dam systems using appropriate techniques.
- Identify indications, contraindications, manipulation, placement, and safety considerations for dental amalgam and temporary restorative materials.
- Describe mercury hygiene protocols, spill management procedures, and proper disposal requirements.
- Explain the indications, administration techniques, safety considerations, and patient education associated with fluoride therapies and Silver Diamine Fluoride.
- Select appropriate impression trays, manipulate alginate materials, evaluate impression accuracy, and properly pour diagnostic models.
- Fabricate athletic mouthguards, bleaching trays, and other auxiliary appliances while understanding their clinical indications.
- Assist with orthodontic procedures including instrument identification, ligature placement, elastomerics, Kobayashi hooks, band selection, pumice, and acid etching techniques.
- Manipulate dental waxes, obtain accurate bite registrations, fabricate temporary restorations, and understand principles of occlusion.
- Identify the indications, contraindications, mixing techniques, placement procedures, and removal methods for commonly used dental cements.
- Recognize various periodontal dressing materials and suture types and demonstrate proper techniques for placement assistance and suture removal.
- Demonstrate competency in expanded dental assisting procedures through successful completion of laboratory exercises and clinical competency evaluations.
- Apply critical thinking, professionalism, and ethical decision-making while performing expanded dental assisting functions within the legal scope of practice established by the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry.
Requirements to attend a live webinar: You will need a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer to view it. If using a smartphone or tablet, it is best to have the app for the program on your device (i.e. Zoom).
- To verify your continued attendance during the class, you will need a microphone, webcam and the ability to type into the program’s live chat.
- Instructors or school personnel will take attendance periodically throughout the class.
- Instructors may call on participants.
- You will need a camera: instructors must see the students during the class
- You must be in a class room like setting: you can not be working, driving a car, etc.
- You may not receive your Certificate of Completion if we cannot verify your attendance.
Live webinar invitations are emailed to registered students one day prior to the class.
This course earns you continuing education credits for renewal of your CDA or COA.
A copy of your CDA or COA card must accompany your registration form.
A CDA can use this class for 30 CEU Credits. Live webinars are considered live credits, not distance learning.
Class fees include our workbook.
Students should also have the following books: if you do not have these books you can purchase them from our school
- “Modern Dental Assisting” book 14th edition, by Robinson and Bird
- “Dental Materials “ Clinical Applications for Dental Assistants and Dental Hygienists. 3rd edition, Hatrick and Eakle
- “Dental Assisting: A Comprehensive Approach”, 3rd and 4th editions. Delmar, 2008 and 2013.
- “Essentials of Dental Assisting”. 5th edition. Elsevier, 2013. 5. Harris, Norman O., Franklin Garcia-Godoy and Christine Nielson Nathe.
- “Primary Preventive Dentistry”. 7th and 8th ed. Harris and Nathe, 2008 and 2014.
YOU MUST BRING LAB JACKET AND PROTECTIVE EYE WEAR For Laboratory Sessions



