Hygienists have completed the thorough training that is required to provide the level of care that we give to our patients.   In the long run, it is the patient who will suffer, by receiving treatment from inadequately trained DAII's.  Dental hygienists did not learn to scale teeth in a 2 hour class, but in an accredited college degree program.   Hygienists are not just scaling machines- we evaluate each individual patient's oral needs and concerns, along with reviewing their medical conditions and overall wellbeing.  We then provide care and education based on these observations. 

I feel that allowing DAII's to scale is negligent to the safety and health of our patients.  If a dental assistant wants to do hygiene, or her employer feels that she should take on this task, then there are many colleges right here in Virginia who offer Dental Hygiene programs.  She/he should complete the training the the current licensed dental hygienists in Virginia are required to have.

One question: if this should pass, will the DAII's be required to complete the same CE requirements as the RDH's?????