As a previous dental assistant who sacrificed significantly to return to school and be trained as a registered dental hygienist, I oppose this amendment to the scope of practice of the dental assistant.  The underlying issue here is irreversibility.  A dental hygienist is a registered, educated, specially trained individual who performs scaling procedures.  We, by virtue of our education and credentialing, have accepted the responsibility that we can significantly harm a patient's overall health in the execution of these procedures.  If an assistant performs these duties, who is ultimately liable for any harm experienced by the patient?  The dentists who are supporting this need to carefully consider this point.  More importantly, how will the public perception of the dental hygienist as the Oral Healthcare Provider be altered?  This is a status we have worked so hard to achieve. If we allow dental assistants the ability to potentially commit an IRREVERSIBLE procedure we are undermining the current regulations that govern dentistry in the state of Virginia.  Those of us who are licensed professionals should be the only ones performing these procedures.