As a concerned patient, I vote no on this proposal.  The scaling currently performed by Dental Hygienists is the product of intensive training and schooling over a two year period.  To allow assistants to perform this important task is a disservice to the patients who pay substantial funds to have it done correctly.  Allowing Dental Assistants who are paid substantially less than Hygienists may put additional money in the Dentists' pocket but it disregards the impact on the patients health and wellfare.  Assistants would not receive the proper level of training to perform the task correctly.  Not having made a two year investment to learn the proper techniques for scalng, assistants are not likely to have the same level  of professional commitment to the job.