I am proud to say that I have not only practiced dental hygiene for 30+ years, but have been with the same private practice the entire time. So as you can imagine, my patients are much more than a chart with a number.

These people are my extended family as I have treated as many as three or more generations at one time. They have come to trust me and often will ask me detailed questions about possible treatment plans and trust what I tell them.

The dental hygienist looks at the whole person - not just their mouths. For example, if a new medication is added, this often triggers me to ask about health issues. In many cases, the patient is unaware of this issue's importance around their dental health.

There is NO way that the skill levels required to properly monitor and treat the dental hygiene needs of  patients can be taught with anything less than an accredited 2 or 4 year dental hygiene program.

The dentist would not have the time and quite honestly not want to take the time to probe every patients mouth, the DAll would not be qualified to do so thus possibly permitting a chance for the untrained eye/hand to miss problems that could later render irreversible damage.

I call this SUPERVISED NEGLECT and can not allow this to happen to my patients, neither conciously or ethically.

Please take notice in some of the posted law of surrounding states. No surrounding state has allowed this measure to past into law even though many have more rural areas than Virginia. I ask that we follow their lead and also reject voting yes on this issue

Denise Blake RDH