Scaling is a preventive and therapeutic procedure that requires extensive education, clinical training, and demonstrated competency in periodontal assessment, instrumentation techniques, infection control, and patient safety. Registered Dental Hygienists complete rigorous accredited educational programs and licensure examinations specifically designed to ensure safe and effective delivery of these services.
Permitting individuals without RDH licensure to perform scaling could compromise patient care, increase the risk of undetected periodontal disease, and diminish the professional standards that protect the public. The expertise of licensed dental hygienists is essential for recognizing oral health conditions, providing appropriate treatment, and making necessary referrals.
Virginia should continue to uphold high standards of care by ensuring that dental scaling remains within the scope of practice of licensed Registered Dental Hygienists. Maintaining these requirements helps safeguard patient health, preserves professional accountability, and supports quality oral healthcare for all Virginians.
This is no only substandard care for patients it is degrading to dental hygienists who put in the work to be licensed. I was a dental assistant for years before I attended Dental hygiene school and I can say as a dental assistant I would not have known enough to do this!! What are we doing Virginia? This is a terrible and dangerous decision that was made by people who clearly don’t care about their own health much less a profession that is now being publicly demeaned!