It is unfortunte when professionals are so consumed with how they can make more money that they forget about the well being of the patient.    After all, as dental professionals we should work as a team for the betterment of our patients not our pockets.  An assistant, even a Dental Assistant II, is not as qualified as a dental hygienist to scale below or above the gumline.  When I am in the chair, I want to know that I am receiving the best care I can afford.  Imagine going to the dentist office and getting a cleaning by someone you assume is a hygienist only to find out is not.  Not to mention, you are paying the same price!! A dental hygienist is trained in so many more areas than this Dental Assistant II,  A dental hygienist working together with a dentist can provide optimal care.  Why settle for less than that?  Imagine someone who doesn't know much about oral cancer detection, patient selection, etc.?  The are many times where experience with periodontal issues is extremely important in managing the care of the patient.   It is also important to remember that while dentists do receive some training in general scaling, it is not a benchmark of their studies.  As hygienists, we often help train dental students in our trade.  A hygienist is important to the patients quality experience, and lets not deprive them of that.