Dear Board of Dentistry Members,

Please consider allowing the Dental Assistant II level to do Type I periodontal scaling.  I agree with Dr. Bruce Hutcuinson's comments on an earlier posting.  We will not take away work form the hygienists.  The assistants at the proposed level can be trained to perform those duties as they now do with the Indian Health Service.  Allowing the assistants that are trained and credentialed to do these duties will free the hygienist and dentist to work more with periodontal maintenance patients.

Sincerely,

Richard L. Taliaferro, DDS