As a registered dental hygienist and clinical instructor at Old Dominion University, I strongly oppose the use of dental assistants to perform scaling on any patients.
We must strive to provide the best possible quality oral care for patients and allowing this proposed change to the law will jeopardize positive oral health outcomes.
Virginia has taken a step forward in allowing hygienists to administer local anesthesia. Let us not take a huge step backward by making a decision that will ultimately lower patient care standards as well as endangering the safety of the public.
