RFDA Lab Instructor Guide
Dental lab instruments

RFDA Lab Instructor Guide

Florida Restorative Functions Dental Assistant Certification Course

4

Weekends

12

Lab Days

3

Core Procedures

Support

info@c3training.org

Overview & Staffing

This guide is designed for Lead Instructor Dentists and Support Dentists running in-person lab sessions for the RFDA Certification Course. It covers every weekend, every day, and every setup you need.

FDA RFDA Course Requirements video thumbnail

Staffing Roles

Lead Instructor Dentist

Primary Role

  • Primary instruction for all procedures
  • Coordinate sterilization, charting, and patient exams
  • Liaise with local college for patient treatment days
  • Point of contact for college administration

Support Dentist

Assisting Role

  • Circulate lab floor assisting participants
  • Hands-on coaching during exercises
  • May be promoted to Lead after demonstrated experience
Weekend 1 Composite Restorations
Weekend 1 video thumbnail
Friday Setup
Composite materials tray setup with typodonts, curing light, and supplies Dental instruments tray with matrix bands, wedges, and typodont

Start with simple lab procedures/materials and one single tooth for restoration (table-top without adjacent teeth in typodont)

Procedures

Saturday Setup
Composite materials tray setup Rubber dam setup with clamps and forceps
Dental instruments tray with matrix bands, wedges, and typodont

Restoration on a table-top typodont (not mounted, but with full dentition) and rubber dam

Procedures

Sunday Setup
Composite materials tray setup Dental instruments tray with matrix bands and wedges
Dental simulation lab with mounted mannequins and monitors Close-up of rubber dam with clamps on typodont

Full Restoration on mounted typodont (rubber dam and using a mirror for procedures — Mandibular first, then Maxillary)

Procedures

Weekend 2 Amalgam Restorations
Weekend 2 video thumbnail
Friday Record Keeping + Table-top Amalgam

Setup Checklist

Procedures

  1. Record keeping and progress notes
  2. Proper procedures, examples, and documentation
  3. Tooth numbers, surfaces, and restoration classifications (Class I-VI)
  4. Amalgam without rubber dam first, then with rubber dam
  5. Materials necessary for procedure
  6. Varnishing the prepared tooth
  7. Mixing and amalgamator operation, application
  8. Burnishing and polishing
Amalgam tray setup with rubber dam, clamp forceps, typodont, and matrix clamps Amalgam capsule mixer/amalgamator device
Saturday Mounted Typodont -- Full Amalgam Process

Setup Checklist

Procedures

  1. Maxillary first, then Mandibular
  2. Entire amalgam process
  3. Class I, II, V
Amalgam tray setup with rubber dam, clamp forceps, hole punch, and matrix clamps Amalgam capsule mixer/amalgamator device
Dental simulation lab with mounted mannequins and monitors
Sunday Stainless Steel Crowns

Setup Checklist

Procedures

  1. Mandibular first (morning), then Maxillary (afternoon)
  2. SSC on 1 posterior and 1 anterior lower teeth
  3. No typodont required for SSC -- direct technique
Gloved hands working on a typodont with a dental instrument beside a tray of tools and Ketac Cem cement Gloved hands holding a typodont and spatula next to a tray with Ketac Cem glass ionomer cement and instruments
Gloved hands manipulating a matrix clamp instrument over a typodont and tray of dental tools
Weekend 3 Review & Remediation
Weekend 3 video thumbnail
Friday Composite Review + Formal Evaluation

Setup Checklist

Procedures

  1. Composite -- full process, all day
  2. Formal evaluation on composites
Composite tray setup with two typodonts, composite syringe, dispenser gun, and SPEC 3 curing light Tray with wedge and matrix organizer, Sycamore Wedge wheel, clamp forceps, and typodont Tray with rubber dam clamp forceps, green rubber dam on frame, hole punch, and matrix clamps Dental simulation lab with workstations, mounted mannequins, and monitors
Saturday Amalgam & SSC + Formal Evaluations

Setup Checklist

Procedures

  1. Amalgam and stainless steel, full day
  2. Formal evaluation: Class I, II, V amalgam
  3. Formal evaluation: one stainless steel application
Amalgam tray setup with rubber dam clamp forceps, green rubber dam on frame, hole punch, and matrix clamps Amalgam capsule mixer/amalgamator device
Dental simulation lab with workstations, mounted mannequins, and monitors
Sunday Open Remediation + Final Exam

Procedures

  1. Open remediation for any outstanding skills
  2. Final written exam
  3. Permission and clearance granted to attend Weekend 4
Students must pass the written exam and complete all evaluations before being cleared for Weekend 4 (live patients).
Weekend 4 Live Patient Treatment
Weekend 4 video thumbnail
Friday Patient Treatment Day 1

Procedures

  1. Review patient profiles and charting
  2. Experience working with a dental assistant during procedures
  3. Check-in and check-out procedures
  4. Potential make-up day or remediation
  5. Status check on all required documents
  6. Patient clinical treatment procedures
Saturday Patient Treatment Day 2 + Graduation

Procedures

  1. 4 composite procedures (Class I, II, III, V)
  2. Composite performance evaluations
  3. Charting evaluations
  4. Graduation ceremony
  5. Certificates of completion awarded
Important: This is the final day -- confirm certificates are printed and the graduation order is coordinated with the college in advance.