I do not support expanding functions for dental assistants. 

Access to care is a multi-faceted problem that may be best resolved by an increase of dentists, hygienists, and assistants in underserved and low-socioeconomic status areas, better educating the public about oral health, and insurance reform. 

According to minutes from a meeting of the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules on September 7, 2005 in Richmond, VA, the basis of the dentists request to allow expanded functions of dental assistants was "to be able to service more patients and be more productive." (1)  Will this "service" be available to those who need it most?  Probably not.  If the legislation passed, would dentists, armed with these dental auxillaries, vacate their metropolitan offices in favor of serving those in Tazewell, Highland and Campbell Counties?  Downtown Portsmouth?  No way.  Also, it is not likely that any significant savings under this plan would be passed on to patients or reach the patients who need it.

It's no secret that there are dentists that abuse the current system by allowing unlicensed, unqualified, and unsupervised dental assistants to perform prophylaxis.  Allowing a "loophole" by credentials would only exacerbate this abuse of privilege and drive down our golden standard of care.

As a patient and hygienist, I say NO to expanded functions of dental assistants!

(1) http://dls.state.va.us/GROUPS/jcar/meetings/sm090705.pdf