As a licensed  Dental Hygienist, I am opposed to dental assistants or any unlicensed dental professional scaling teeth.  When an RDH is providing periodontal therapy there is a wealth of information that the oral tissues reveal regarding the patient's overall health that hygienists are trained to look for and have a responsibility to inform his/her patients about.  Patients benefit far more from their hygiene visit than just getting their teeth cleaned when cared for by an RDH.  In fact, RDHs are at the forefront of wellness and prevention.  We can not ignore and potentially jepordize the health of our patients by placing assistants, substandardly trained, at the "window to patient health."  This would be reckless and irresponsible with the research supporting the oral and overall health connection that we have had available now for almost 2 decades.  As a dental team, we have an amazing opportunity as never before, to make a dramatic difference in the lives of the citizens of Virginia.  We can not afford to jepordize the health of Virginians by fragmenting and lowering the standard of care.