To whom it may concern:

           Being a dental assistant for three years, and also near completeing my first semester of hygiene school, I would have to say I strongly oppose to the thought of assistants scaling.   There is too much knowledge, and scientific facts that underlies the deeper meaning of the"art to scale".   Dental Hygienists have dedicated years of training, and school to help prep them to give the public ,the best oral care.  I know right now it may sound redundant, but there is alot more than scaling and polishing teeth, that hygienists are responsible for.   And I know that Dentist want the best care for their patients as well, but cutting the cost for the patient, by allowing assistants to scale is not the answer.  In fact it is doing the exact opposite. Today, there is still confusion of what is the role of the hygienist, for some patients. By allowing assistants to scale, will only expand the confusion of our role in the public health. From the first day of school, we were told of the ethics that are obtain by dental hygienists, upon entering this profession, and have already begun implenting them in our clinic times.  By passing this bill is absolutely  unethical, and  will cause more harm to our clients, who seek our for help, in  maintaining their oral care. Thank you for your time and consideration.