I strongly oppose any legislation that would allow dental assistants in Virginia to perform dental scaling without the education, clinical training, competency, and licensure required of a Registered Dental Hygienist. Scaling is not simply a task—it is a clinical procedure that requires a comprehensive understanding of periodontal disease, anatomy, infection control, instrumentation, medical history, and the recognition of oral health conditions that may require further evaluation. Allowing individuals without this specialized education and professional licensure to perform scaling creates an unnecessary risk to patients and has the potential to result in substandard or inadequate care. Virginia patients deserve the protection and quality of care that comes with a properly educated and licensed dental professional. Expanding duties without maintaining appropriate educational and licensure standards prioritizes convenience over patient safety and undermines the ethical standards of our profession. We should be raising the standard of oral healthcare in Virginia—not lowering it.