The fact that this proposed change is even up for consideration is disheartening and down right scary.  The practice of dentistry is complicated (and has become much more complicated over the years) and current 4 year dental education does an overall fair job at best for preparing dentists to be competent at even the most basic skills and treatment planning.  Allowing undertrained practitioners to claim specialty status will, without a doubt, lead to patient harm and continue to degrade the profession into the future.   I strongly oppose this change!