I am a practicing hygienist in the state of VA. I had been a dental assistant for 7 years before graduating hygiene school.

And I can say from personal first hand experience, as a very well trained assistant, that I would never have been qualified to do any scaling procedure before my professional dental hygiene schooling. A dental assistant is not required to have any real schooling or certification for the work they are doing. And to place an instrument in their hands that could ultimately endanger the health and well being of our patients is scary.

The true question is what do we feel as dental professionals is acceptable patient care. 

There is no way to explain what danger this puts patients in. This is not just about replacing a hygienist, but about finding a cheap way to give below quality care to patients. I dare any person to find a dental assistant experienced or not to distinguish between a type I or type II periodontally involved patient. It is not possible, they would have to go through hygiene school. This testimony is first hand, coming from a former dental assistant!

It is also important to consider how we as dental professionals are viewed by our medical colleges.  Do we lower our standards for patient care, on type I or any patients? The clear answer is NO! This opens a flood gate for dental professionals all over our state to lower the standards of patient care, we must ask at what cost!