Action | Registration and practice of dental assistants |
Stage | NOIRA |
Comment Period | Ended on 11/12/2008 |
Scaling by a Dental Assistant or DA II should not be allowed by the Board of Dentistry. The only reasoning behind allowing someone to give less than quality care is to save money. A Dental Assistant or DA II are paid less than a Hygienist, which in turn means less money going out for payroll. As a CDA and also an RDH, I can honestly say that the Dental Assistant and Hygienist are two totally different roles in the dental office. As a Dental Assistant I assisted the Dentist every day for nine years with cleanings, yet I had no knowledge about how to properly use a scaler without compromising the health of a patient. It was not until I received training in Dental Hygiene school that I realized that properly caring for a patient is so much more than just picking up a scaler and hoping for the best. I also strongly feel that scaling cement from around a crown and scaling teeth are no comparison. On behalf of the VDHA and the thousands of patients I see each year, I would like you to consider the health of your own family. Would you be comfortable letting a family member receive treatment from someone without the proper training? Are you willing to risk someone missing a key issue on the medical history that could lead to death? I feel that quality patient care should outweigh convenience or saving money. I oppose ANY and ALL scaling duties for the Dental Assistant and DA II.