As a dental hygienist with 15 years of experience in the dental field, I strongly oppose allowing dental assistants without formal dental hygiene education and licensure to perform dental hygiene services in Virginia.

Dental hygiene is a distinct profession requiring specialized education, clinical training, competency, and professional accountability. Hygienists are trained to assess periodontal health, recognize disease, provide preventive and periodontal care, educate patients, and identify conditions requiring further evaluation. These skills cannot be replaced by on-the-job training alone.

This is not about diminishing the important role of dental assistants. They are an essential part of the dental team, but their education, training, and scope of practice are fundamentally different from those of licensed dental hygienists.

Workforce shortages should not be addressed by lowering the standards for patient care. If Virginia needs more preventive oral healthcare providers, we should invest in educating and expanding the licensed dental hygiene workforce—not create alternative pathways that bypass the education and training required to become a dental hygienist.

Virginia patients deserve to know that the professional providing their preventive and periodontal care has the appropriate education, clinical training, competency, and licensure to do so safely. Patient safety and quality of care must remain the priority