As the only dentist serving in the Virginia General Assembly, I am compelled to register my strong opposition to the Board of Dentistry’s proposed amendment to its licensing requirements to require regular testing on laws and regulations governing the practice of dentistry in the Commonwealth.  We are members of a profession who care deeply for the well-being of our patients.  We as individual practitioners and as a profession are interested in doing what we can to better protect the health and safety of our patients.  This proposal does not accomplish that purpose; instead it seeks to create a pool of test-takers of sufficient size to make it financially feasible for the board to attract a testing company to administer the test and report results to the Board.  I agree with many of my colleagues who have suggested that the Board should continue to deal with wrongdoers on a case by case basis, rather than unduly punishing all for the sins of the few.