First of all I would like to say that I have nothing to do with the dental field and my concern does not come from job security. I myself am in the health care profession and my concern is for the patients well being. It is absolutely absurd to let dental assistants take sharp instruments to patients mouth without having the proper "EDUCATION"...... I agree that education is great and to ME that is what counts the most. From my own research, I have found that dental assistants take a simple class, which probably a 12 year old could pass.  And have you ever thought about the clinical experience that future dental hygienists have to go through in order to even get certified??? Not only do they have to be certified in knowledge of the material but they also have to be certified in the clinical aspect..... They receive that little piece of paper that says they are "qualified" because they are QUALIFIED!!

You should try becoming a Board patient for one of these future dental hygienists and watch them go through the whole process... you would be amazed at how "QUALIFIED" you would have to be in order to pass to receive that little piece of paper......

And when you talk about money.... ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? Do you not understand that dentists are pushing this bill so that they can just hire dental assistants to clean peoples teeth without having to worry about paying the cost of having hygienists in the office???? And then you speak about the qualitiy of treatment would be diminished???? That statement must be a joke... basically you ARE promoting to diminish GOOD qualitiy of healthcare by supporting this policy.

I STRONGLY encourage you to look up the different processes that assistants and hygienists have to go through in order to become certified.... But here's a hint... simple class vs. two years of educational classes and clinical experience....