I am requesting that Scaling be included in Dental Assisting II Training. Such a training program already exists with the Indian Health Services. Expanding this to all of Virginia would enhance patient care throughout the state as a wide spread shortage of hygienist exists throughout the state. This shortage has decreased access to care and increased costs as hygienists salaries have increased dramatically over the last number of years. Dental Assistants II can be trained to do scaling for all Virginian's as they have been for the Indian Health Services. This would enable the cost for providing these essential services to decrease or at least remain in check since a much lower paid employee would be providing these services to the patient. In my opinion, anything that can be done, that does not endanger the health of the patient, yet increases access to care at decreased costs should be enacted.