In consideration of the BOD's time, I will not repeat what many have previously stated. If the goal of this proposal is to truly  increase access to dental care for the citizens of Virginia then removing the limit of 2 RDH's per dentist would certainly be one logical solution.The dental hygienist is presently the only licensed member of the dental team and with the most  education,other than the dentist. In many areas of Virginia new RDH graduates have not been able to find employment, by increasing the number of RDH's one dentist may employ this would help the unemployment issue and increase the number of patients that can receive dental care. Perhaps, another idea would be to encourage Dean Hunt to open up more spaces for Virginia residents in the dental school, by limiting the number of non-resident  students accepted, that leave the US upon graduation, or expanding the program to keep pace with the increasing amount of dentists retiring at a rate of 4 to 1 dentists entering the practice of dentistry.

Thank you for your time.