Refer to comments made by Carey Lasher dated 11-09-2008 regarding reasons against this change.

Also, some dentists have commented that this would allow more affordable care to those that don't receive it, which is a worthy thought.  However, the proposed change would reduce the quality of care available to those already paying for and receiving it and not necessarily increase the amount of patients obtaining care.  We should never reduce quality to reach the masses, rather we should find a way to offer quality to everyone since that is what everyone needs and wants.  Dental hygiene does affect overall health, does it not?  The better option would be to do a Pareto analysis as to reasons why individuals aren't receiving care and then address those appropriately.

Why not allow for Dental Hygiene clinics/offices to be located in Virginia without a dentist if we really want to reach the masses?  Talk about reducing costs to people, wouldn't that work?  Is the shortage of dental hygienists or of dentists?  It seems to me that there are more hygienists than there are dentists and they are a lot cheaper.  Other states such as Colorado and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario have already allowed hygiene clinics with limited or no dentist supervision.

Again, scaling by a dental assistant II is NOT an acceptable option.