Track 1 Curriculum: Functional Dental Team Certificate


Designed for clinical support professionals who play a vital role in patient outcomes, this track empowers the entire care team to integrate oral–systemic principles, collaborate more effectively, and deliver truly optimized, whole-person care. When the entire team is aligned, patients experience deeper trust, better healing, and more meaningful results. This 1 year program is an investment in advanced training that reshapes your clinical thinking and elevates your practice. If the answer is yes, then you are in the right place.

Empower Your Role.
Transform Patient Outcomes.

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IFD Track 1 Curriculum

  • Includes IFD: Module 1 
  • 20 + CE  hours
  • Ideal Timeline: 1 year
    (On-Demand & Self-Paced)
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Program Overview

At the Institute for Functional Dentistry (IFD), we train individuals to become effective health collaborators, equipping them to play a meaningful role in supporting whole-person care and improving patient outcomes.

Track 1 introduces the foundations of functional dentistry, focusing on core principles of oral-systemic health, patient-centered evaluation, and practical strategies that support sustainable, preventive care. Participants learn how to recognize common clinical imbalances, support personalized interventions, and contribute confidently within an integrated dental care team.

This entry-level program provides the foundational knowledge, practical tools, and clinical perspective needed to integrate seamlessly into a functional dental practice. It is designed for clinical support professionals who want to align their work with purpose-driven, systems-based care.
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Continuing Education Hours

The program includes 20+ CE hours.

Our framework integrates didactic learning, case-based application, clinical integration, and collaborative contemplation.

Upon completion, you will receive a Certificate in Functional Dental Team Care.
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Who Is This For?

This program is for dental professionals who serve on the front lines of patient care and are passionate about a whole-body approach to health. The Functional Dental Team Certification is the perfect entry-level training for:

  • Dental Hygienists
  • Dental Assistants
  • Treatment Coordinators
  • Non-Licensed Team Members
  • Auxiliary Providers (OMFT, SLP, MD, PhD, DC, DO, ND, NMD, NP, IFMCP, etc.)


Dental teams face unprecedented burnout when their training teaches procedures without grounding them in purpose. Functional dentistry reconnects clinicians to meaning, clarity, and the true impact of their work.

The IFD Difference

Our residency-style curriculum ensures you develop a full-spectrum skill set,
integrating functional medicine and dentistry.

You will learn a systems-based approach rooted in the principles taught in Functional Medicine.

Integrated Functional Medicine Training

This program pairs foundational principles of functional medicine
with IFD-led case integration sessions.

Participants begin with a core functional medicine curriculum as their clinical foundation, alongside structured IFD integration sessions that translate systems-based concepts into
oral-health–specific applications.

Specialized IFD Modules

This program explores Functional Dentistry specific coursework,
including the therapeutic encounter and systemic interconnections of
oral health, including nutrition, the oral microbiome, and hygiene.

Detailed Curriculum Breakdown

The Functional Dental Team Certification program provides targeted, high-impact training
that integrates seamlessly with your functional medicine foundation.

Our curriculum teaches dental teams to interpret root-cause patterns, understand whole-body drivers of disease and support clinicians in upstream prevention.

Our motto is

#Mouth Matters| #Spit for Science| #Bridge the Gap


Join thousands of clinicians transforming the way they understand, diagnose, and address oral-systemic health.

“Dentistry involves more than teeth; it includes craniofacial growth, jaw position, and tongue posture. These factors directly influence airway anatomy and function, which in turn affect breathing and sleep. This is why functional dentistry is essential to overall health.”

- Patrick Mckeown, MA, FRSB

“The mouth is not separate from the body. Functional dentistry bridges oral and systemic health by asking ‘why’ and working as a collaborative clinical team to identify the systemic root causes such as airway health, nutrition, digestion and absorption, hormone balance, and the microbiome, so we can create care that is preventive, personalized, and truly whole-body.”

- Meghan Barnett, MS, CNS
“Functional dentistry traces problems back to their actual drivers: airway dysfunction, microbiome dysbiosis, salivary chemistry, hormonal balance, systemic stress. It’s time to foster oral health that doesn’t need constant intervention, and the IFD is a phenomenal resource for those looking to achieve that balance. Functional dentistry redefines dentists as frontline clinicians in chronic disease prevention and healthspan optimization.”

- Ilon Choai, DDS, MS

Frequently asked questions

Who is this program for?

Clinical support professionals including dental hygienists, dental assistants, treatment coordinators, non-licensed team members, and auxiliary providers working in dental or medical settings.

What level of training is this?

Foundational, entry-level training focused on oral–systemic literacy, prevention, and team-based care.

Do I need to be a dentist or hygienist to enroll?

No. This track is designed for all members of the clinical care team.

Does this program expand my scope of practice?

No. It enhances understanding, observation, communication, and collaboration within your existing role.

Does this program include functional medicine training?

Yes. Track 1 includes co-enrollment in IFM’s foundational course Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice (AFMCP), paired with IFD integration sessions.

How is the curriculum delivered?

Pre-recorded lectures, live and recorded faculty case studies, Q&A sessions every 1–2 weeks, module-based quizzes, and a final exam.

How long does the program take?

Approximately 1 year, depending on pace.

How many CE hours are included?

52.5 CE hours.

What certificate will I receive?

Certificate in Functional Dental Team Care.

Is there case-based learning?

Yes. Introductory case studies focused on early detection and prevention.

Is the program fully online?

Yes.

Is there community support after completion?

Yes. Graduates join the IFD professional community and receive access to future education opportunities.

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Continuing Education Disclosure:
Continuing education (CE) credit for the Institute for Functional Dentistry (IFD) Certification Program is awarded on a module-by-module basis in accordance with AGD PACE guidelines.

Each CE-eligible module consists of required educational components, which may include live and/or self-instruction lectures and associated assessments. Completion of all CE-eligible components and the module evaluation is required to earn CE credit.

Case studies, integration sessions, and discussion-based learning experiences are included for educational enrichment and applied learning but are designated as non-CE activities and do not carry continuing education credit.