To whom it may concern,

My name is Rachel, and I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in biology from VCU in 2018. I went on to obtain my master’s degree in molecular genetics. We desperately need more individuals with advanced training, such as dental hygienists, NOT assistants. I do not entrust my dental care to those with MINIMAL training in microbiology, health, safety, and these incredibly delicate procedures. This legislation would reduce the scope of dental hygienists, and harm competitive pay to those who have invested and worked so hard to be where they are today. Allowing scope creep for assistants harms patients and harms the dental hygienist profession. It is the cheap way out. Patient care and disease control should not be sacrificed to allow private equity to profit. NO to dental assistants scaling.