Dear Board of Dentistry Members

Please do not include scaling in the duties of a DAII.  As a dental hygiene educator for 15 years, I do not believe this is a safe practice for the people of Virginia.  Scaling is only one part of "cleaning" a persons mouth - it is very important to be knowledgable and skilled in ultrasonic instrumentation to break up the biofilm present and to help restore healthy tissue as well as to understand the disease process and have the ability to educate your clients.  If supragingival calculus is present, usually subgingival deposits and inflammation are present as well therefore DAII would only be providing minimal care. That is not exceptable!

Sincerely

Heidi Christopher, RDH,BA