Action | Registration and practice of dental assistants |
Stage | NOIRA |
Comment Period | Ended on 11/12/2008 |
My best friend is a dental hygienist and worked extremely hard to get there. She spent several years as a dental assistant and did what "assistants" should do..."assisted." A hygienist, on the other hand, is a trained professional who has the education/training necessary to properly clean teeth. From a patient's perspective, I would not want an assistant cleaning my teeth. As it is, I am not satisfied with some of the care I've received from my hygienist. I cannot imagine having an untrained dental assistant trying to clean my teeth. Patients should be able to trust their dentist. He/she should ensure that the patient gets "professional" care.