I have been a practicing hygienist for 33 years, after several years of intense university training.  Remembering the training we had to go through, I'm having a hard time believing scaling is even being considered as a DA expanded duty!  I will be very afraid for the standard of care as well as the safety of patients all over Virginia if this goes through. If you want to expand availability of hygienists for practices, expand the schools.  There are certainly enough students who want to apply and who are rejected due to space.  Please don't jeopardize quality dental care in Virginia.