I am against a dental assistant being able to scale supragingivally.  What is stop them from going subgingivally? Who is going to stand over their shoulder and make sure they do not go subgingivally?  Thats right .. NO ONE!! I guarantee if you were to walk into some private practice offices today you would see an assistant placing retraction cord or doing numerous other duties that should not be performing. Not to mention that you have on the job training for most dental assistants in this area.  I stand with strong oppostion to this matter because I was a dental assistant before I became a dental hygienist.   I worked hard to further my education and so should anyone else who wants to scale supraginvially or subgingivally!!