I would like to take this opportunity to voice my strong opposition to the proposition of dental assistants performing scaling procedures on patients in Virginia.  Before entering the Dental Hygiene Program at Old Dominion University I was employed for 8 years as a dental assistant; therefore am capable of seeing the situation from the different point of views.  While I was an assistant I felt very confidante in the care I assisted in providing for my patients.  Had someone asked me THEN if I was willing to participate in a training course that would allow me to perform scaling on patients I would have jumped at the opportunity and would not have any idea of the detrimental effects I would/could have been causing.  Ask me the same question NOW, after completing over half of the BS program at ODU, and the red flags fly.  I am now fully aware of how important an acredited program is to serving patients safely and effectively.  As a future RDH I am proud of my role and capabilities to provide patients with thourogh preventive theraputics, screenings, and education.  I am confidante in these skills only because of the extensive education I have received.  Patients in Virginia have the right to know that they're clinicians are recognized and acredited to provide the upmost care for them, and this can only be accomplished through the continued testing of the National and Regional Boards along with continued education and monitoring.  For these reasons it is a very bad idea to allow DAII to attempt to fill RDH's shoes.