Like many hygienists, I too was a DA for 3 years prior to becoming a RDH. I felt like I already knew most of what I would need as a DA and was quite overwhelmed with the amount I still needed to learn when I started hygiene school. I value my profession and the excellent education and training I received. It prepared me to provide quality care to patients. I still continue to learn with the required continuing education I receive each year.

Treating a patient is more than just scaling their teeth. Everything builds on the next. Their medical history, head and neck exam, condition of their mouth, possible causes for certain conditions, etc are all in addition to scaling in order to provide thorough quality care. RDHs are professionally trained to treat the patient as a whole. Oral health is directly related to overall health.

Often times a patient looks healthy until you pick the probe up and find disease. It would be supervised neglect and it would risk the health and safety of patients if you allow DA to scale in any way. I strongly oppose allowing DA to scale. It is imperative that you put the public's health and safety first.

Respectfully,

Amanda Beheler, RDH