Scaling should NOT be included in the DAII training! This will lead to substandard care and undiagnosed Perio disease. Not to mention patient saftey. Hygienist go through rigiorous training in order to master this! And only after a two year/four year program, a national and regional exam states feel comfortable that hygienist won't kill anyone. What about training for medical emergenices in the dental chair? Who will do the perio exam at least once a year? The head/neck exam's and the oral cancer screenings? If DA's are trained to do this scaling they are not trained to do full exam's as well. Many doctors do count on their hygienists to look at the xrays, do the head/neck exams, and oral cancer screenings and point out any findings. Things will start falling to the back burner in order to increase production. Access to care is a big issue but this isn't the way to increase it!

Katie Kerns, RDH