I would like to speak against the proposed  changes.  I have been a dental hygienist since 1969.  I have practiced in private practice as well as government facilities around the world.  I have seen the varieties of training and education offered to dental assistants as well as dental hygienists.  (ie Military clinics both in the US and Korea,  clinics and universities in Poland and Russia).I cannot speak strongly enough against this proposal.  The educational curriculum for dental hygiene is long and rigorous, as is the prerequisite schooling.  This helps to ensure that the students are able to fully comprehend the scope of practice that includes oral health as well as total body health. Evidence based treatment requires more than a few hours of "training".  I live in Illinois and have seen personally the type of courses offered to dental assistants to learn to coronal polish and place sealants.  They ar minmal at best. The one day  offered to learn both procedures is about what a monkey needs to learn this.  Did you want a monkey to work on YOUR family? Do not think that there will be any real supervison of these procedures.  Remember what your visit to the dentist is like, and the few short minutes you see him/her.  Please do not give in to special interest groups who only want the chance to use undereducated personnel to aid their bottom line. Less education is not what we need! We need  baccalaureate dental hygiene programs and advanced degrees for advanced treatment.  Thank you for offering me the chance to comment on this proposal.