I have been a Dental Hygienist for 15 years, and I am writing this to oppose the idea of a Dental Assistant scaling patient's teeth.  We as hygienists have studied to get our DEGREE in Dental Hygiene and my belief is that a Dental Assistant can not be trained in a short time to give patients the same quality of care that that they are currently receiving.  I would implore all Dentists who support this change in legislation to reconsider their decision to preserve the same standard of care that is given by a Registered Dental Hygienist!!!