Action | Registration and practice of dental assistants |
Stage | NOIRA |
Comment Period | Ended on 11/12/2008 |
I support expanded duties for Dental Assistants including scaling for class I perio patients. This will help solve access to care problems in areas of Virginia where we have a shortage of hygienists. It will also expand the capabilities of all other dental offices to provide care to more patients. This will have a positive impact on the future shortage crisis in dentistry. I also recommend that each dentist be allowed 3 DA II's so each hygienist and the dentist can be assisted by a DA II. Other duties should include placing and curing composites, not finishing or polishing, and placing and carving amalgams. DA ii's should not be allowed to use a handpiece intraorally. Placing retraction cord, removal of cement, making and placing temporary crowns are proper procedures for a DA II to perform.