As a hygienist of 45 years and still practicing, I am greatly disappointed in the Board's decision to allow dental assistants with minimal training and little oversight to perform supragingival scaling. We, as hygienists, have done years of training plus passed national, regional and state boards in order to safely treat our patients. Also we complete continuing education yearly. Allowing assistants to do this puts patients at risk. Expanding dental hygiene programs is a better solution to the shortage.