As a Virginia dental patient, I am concerned about the recent change allowing dental assistants to perform supragingival scaling. Scaling involves the use of specialized instruments on a patient’s teeth and near the gumline, and I believe any expansion of who can perform this procedure needs clear and consistent safeguards.

As a patient, I should not have to determine whether an individual dental office has provided adequate training. There should be statewide standards that clearly define the education, competency, supervision, and documentation required before a dental assistant performs scaling on patients.

I respectfully urge the Virginia Board of Dentistry to initiate formal rulemaking and establish strong, uniform regulations for implementation of this law. Patients deserve to know that their safety and quality of care are protected regardless of which dental office they choose.