I oppose allowing a "DA II" to perform scaling.   Let's get to the basics.  Removing only supragingival calculus is not therapeutic. In 25 years I have never seen any patient that I scaled only supragingivally.  I believe to remove subgingival calculus should require the education and licensure of a Registered Dental Hygienist.  I always ask the question, "What would I do for this patient if they were a family member?'.  I would urge all those who posted to allow assistants to scale to ask the same question.  In the Richmond area there are very few job openings for hygienists.  I see no shortage of hygienists at all so I don't consider that a legitimate argument.  If  assistants have to be supervised by a dentist wouldn't these patients already have access to care?  So that argument doesn't increase access to care.  I don't want to see the standard of dental care lowered in Virginia.

Susan Reid-Carr,  BSRDH