To whom it may concern:

I think it is irresponsible for the dental community to think that the public would be in good hands having a dental assistant performing a procedure that has been previously required to be performed only by dentists or hygenists.  There is a huge discrepancy in the training.  Most hygenists are college degreed.  I would think the liability for the dentist would increase significantly. 

I write this letter as a patient.  I would not want a minimally trained dental assistant cleaning my teeth and having to pay the same amount of money for a much less thorough job.  Nor would I want them in my mouth with sharp tools and minimal training.

Barbara Mostiler