Only in some states, and only at the top of the expanded-function ladder.
Where it's allowed, a credentialed dental assistant — an EFDA, or California's RDAEF — can place and finish a filling, but the dentist must prepare the tooth first.
The assistant never diagnoses the decay or drills it out.
This is the sharpest state divide in dental assisting: many states don't permit it at all, and those that do require advanced training and a specific credential.
The short answer
Placing restorations is the highest-tier expanded function a dental assistant can perform, and it's available in only a subset of states.
Where it is, it requires an advanced credential — an Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) permit, or in California a Registered Dental Assistant in Extended Functions (RDAEF) — earned through a board-approved course and exam.
Even then, the assistant's role is bounded: the dentist diagnoses the decay, numbs the patient, and drills to prepare the tooth.
The credentialed assistant places and finishes the filling the dentist has prepped.
Many states don't allow assistants to do this at all — it's the widest state-to-state split in the field.
Restorative scope is the sharpest state divide — verify before you place anything
What "placing a restoration" actually means
Placing a filling is a multi-step procedure, and expanded-function scope splits it in two.
The dentist owns the irreversible clinical part: diagnosing the decay, anesthetizing the patient, and drilling to remove decay and prepare ("prep") the tooth.
Where authorized, the EFDA-level assistant takes it from there — placing the restorative material into the prepared tooth, then packing, carving, and finishing it to the correct shape and bite.
It's skilled work, but it follows the dentist's diagnosis and preparation rather than replacing them.
The assistant never decides that a tooth needs a filling or drills it.
The EFDA / RDAEF credential you need
This scope sits at the top of the expanded-function tier, so the credential is more demanding than an entry permit.
States use different names — EFDA or EDDA in many, RDAEF in California, CRFDA and similar titles elsewhere — but the common thread is a board-approved course plus a competency exam focused on restorative placement.
These are the same expanded-function credentials that govern duties like placing sealants, just at a higher level.
For how these state titles relate to the national DANB certification, see our guide to CDA vs. RDA and the dental assistant title maze.
The sharpest state divide
No other assistant duty varies as much.
Some states authorize EFDA-level assistants to place permanent restorations; others allow only interim or temporary ones; and many don't permit assistants to place restorations at all.
Among the states that do allow it, the required credential, the materials permitted, and the supervision level differ.
Because this is the core of the credential maze, treat any generalization as the range rather than a rule for your state.
The only authority is your state's dental practice act, and it's an area that changes — verify the current rule for your exact state before pursuing this scope.
Assistant vs. hygienist restorative scope
Restorative placement is also performed by dental hygienists in a few states, which is a common source of confusion.
The functions overlap, but the credential paths differ: an EFDA reaches restorative scope from the dental assistant side, while a restorative hygienist adds it on top of the RDH license.
Which title may place restorations — and whether permanent or interim, and under what supervision — depends entirely on the state, so a rule for one doesn't carry to the other.
Our companion guide covers it from the hygienist's side: can a dental hygienist place fillings.
How to confirm your state's rule
Your state dental board publishes whether assistants may place restorations, the exact credential required, and whether permanent or interim placement is allowed; the ADAA's state pages are a helpful starting map.
Where they differ, the board is the authority.
Because this is the most state-specific duty in dental assisting, confirm your state's precise rule and earn the required credential before placing any restoration, and note the date you checked — these rules are revised periodically.
This article is general career information, not legal or clinical advice. Expanded-function and scope-of-practice rules vary by state and change over time — confirm current requirements with your state dental board.