As a consumer/patient who takes dental health seriously, I am very concerned to learn that it has been proposed that dental assistants be allowed to perform cleanings and scaling.  I visit my dentist every six months and pay for those visits out of my pocket; I feel that what I am charged is worth it because of the guaranteed quality of work by the hygenist.   If para-professional staff begin to perform these duties, I doubt that the "savings" will be passed on to the consumer/patient and quality will no doubt be affected as well.  All the more reason to vote "NO" to this proposal.