As the protectors of the citizens of Virginia, you must vote against scaling by dental assistants II  for the safety of the public. This precedent would put the public at risk.  There is an existing system which trains individuals to scale teeth.  The training includes professional oversight through guidelines from the ADA CODA,  accountability through the National Board Examination, and competency through Clinical Examinations.  Prospective dental assistants who want to scale teeth should take the appropriate curriculum and courses, and successfully complete the competency oversight of National and Clinical Examinations for licensure.  Anything less will dumb down the entire profession.  As you are well aware, it is not Virginia's ethical practitioners that must be regulated.  The potential for abuse is too great a risk to the unsuspecting public.