I am writing in response to the issue of expanded duties for dental assistants that may include scaling supra gingival calculus on Type I perio patients.  I am opposed to this duty for dental assistants irregardless of their scope of training at this time.

  I am supportive of expanded functions for dental assistants who have graduated from an accredited program such that is offered in states like Pennsylvania.  In this way, the citizens of Virginia could be comfortable knowing that they were being treated by dental professionals of all levels.  In the 29 years that I have been practicing I have only worked with a couple of CDAs and they are wonderful, talented individuals who I  trust implicitly.  This also would have the impact of legalizing everything the assistants do on a daily basis for the dentist.

I am also supportive of expanded functions for  dental hygienists.  We are a highly trained profession who could do so much more to serve if given the opportunity.  We do more than pick and flick-we educate, we problem solve and create solutions for our patients.  We partner with the dentist and the dental team to treat our patients to have as optimal dental health as possible.

As for the issue of a shortage of hygienists  in Southwest Virginia-that may be so due to the fact that there is a great discrepancy in the pay scale for a hygienist in that region and other parts of the state.

And for the underserved populations, perhaps the Board could look at allowing dental hygienists to see these patients independently, without the restrictions that are currently in effect.  If we could work together and think outside the box we can serve the population that needs us.

Thank you,

Jane Higgins, RDH