Allowing dental assistants to scale supra and subgingivally compromises the quality and ethics of patient care.  After 5 semesters of theory and clinical instruction, passing an accredited dental hygiene program, National, Regional and State Boards, I am licensed to practice as a Registered Dental Hygienist.  To give very limited educational and technical instruction to any person and allow them to scale supra and subgingivally is unethical and compromises quality patient care, not to mention insults the integrityof every licensed dental hygiengist and dental hygiene school. Why not offer a program for employers to send interested dental assistants to dental hygiene school?