Dental hygienists work their blood, sweat and tears for 2-4 years (in my case 4 years) to become Board Certified AND scale teeth the proper way. Allowing dental assistants to do what a hygienist has been extensively trained to do is ludicrous. Please, we as human beings should have some kind of morality left in us to put the PATIENT'S HEALTH FIRST above the dollar sign. (Just put yourself in the dental chair - the answer is a no brainer to saying NO to dental assistants scaling).