I did not take the time to "research" who petitioned for "allowing" dental assistants to use high speed drills  but in view of national data pertaining to the high rates of injuries, infections, and etc. and even deaths in all types of healthcare systems,  I, as a seasoned and expert operating room nurse,  find this type of attempt to expand / delegate more and more "medical tasks"  to UAPs (unlicensed assistive personnel) or even perhaps to licensed staffers who are not medically educated or medically trained (either in medical school or in dental  school) appalling!  

Why not just close down all medical and dental and etc schools since "someone"  believes just "anyone"  can be trained to do anything!  I challenge those who keep attempting to expand unqualified staffers to get on the operating room table  themselves or into the dental chairs and allow themselves to be guinea pigs.......sad........there are more safety regulations pertaining to research annmals then there are to human beings. 

Why is it that it always seems like the "issue" seem like it  is all about "getting" more patients processed faster so the coffers fill up faster and higher?   This issue is analogous to the California NPs (nurse practitioners) and PAs (physician assistants) who recently asked  for "priviledges to perform abortions"........if a woman has an abortion then she should have IT performed by a qualified doctor or surgeon!  

Since, we do not live in an underdeveloped country, I expect our standards to be better. 

My opinions, respectfully

Helen M. French RN,BSN,ADN