The problem with all of this is that there are not enough dental hygiene programs available. Please open more! Having assistants scale is not the answer to this problem because they don't have the proper schooling. Learning on the job is not going to solve this issue. Scaling only supragingivally makes no sense. All the plaque and calculus underneath the gums will be left causing gum disease and dental assistants will not be able to help diagnose that to begin with!!