As a licensed dentist in Virginia for more than 33 years I have seen a significant increase in regulatory requirements imposed by the Board of Dentistry, many of which have had my support.  The proposed requirement for additional specific training for dental assistants in the area of infection control is unnecessary and redundant in my opinion because regulatory requirements for the entire staff are already in place.  Initial training for dental assistants is regulated and required, and annual re-training requirements have existed for years in order to satisfy OSHA and CDC policies and procedures.  The dental industry, in general, provides one of the least hazardous workplaces in the health care sector and there are few if any instances of illness transmission documented from a dental healthcare setting.  Additional regulatory burden on dental practitioners is not necessary in this regard, and serves to contribute to the consumer cost of dentistry in Virginia.