Re: Dental Assisting II Training«
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Dear Members of the Board:«
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More than ten years ago I began writing to the Board of Dentistry in
reference to allowing licenced hygienists to administer local anesthetic
under the supervision of the dentist. As you know this is now in the
process of implementation.«
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My rationale for the above was to enhance the dental team's ability to
deliver services to the public at a reasonable cost and at the same time
make those services more readily available to a larger segment of the
population of Virginia. The same rational now applies to the training of
Dental Assistant II's. It is my understanding that the DA II would be
allowed to perform supragingival scaling of Type I Periodontal patients
under the supervision of the dentist. Given the proper training and
certification, these assistants can enhance the dental team's ability to
deliver quality services in the quantities that will be demanded in the
near future.«
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If I may, I believe that the dental team of the near future must
incorporate something similar to the following hierarchy of treatment
skills:«
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   »1) More and better trained dentists who are able to deliver a broad
range of dental services.«
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   »2) More hygienists who are better integrated into the dental team so
that they can relieve the dentist of some of the daily tasks of dental
practice such as the administration of dental anesthesia as mentioned
above.«
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   »3) Dental Assistant II's to relieve the hygienist of some of the daily
tasks of hygiene in the dental practice so that the hygienist has the time
to perform higher functions for the dentist.«
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   »4) Dental Assistant I's to keep all of the above team members supplied
with the materials and instruments to accommodate the increased flow of
patients and to provide the level of comfort and care patients have come
to expect.«
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You are of course aware of the expanding need for dental services,
especially in underserved areas of our state. It is no secret that
economics plays an important role in underserved areas. Only by creating
new categories of dental team members and enhancing the skill sets of the
existing members, can the capacity to deliver dental services be
significantly increased while, at the same time, controlling costs to the
public. Increasing the productivity of the dental team will make the
establishment of dental treatment centers in underserved areas more
practical and more attractive for dentists and all other dental team
members.«
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Sincerely,«
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John A. Marino, DDS«
   »Delegate to the Virginia Dental Association House of Delegates