Please reconsider this proposal. I was and teach Dental Assisting and you are opening a can of worms if this is passed. As a Registered Dental Hygienist and a past Assistant there is a difference in the education of each. As a Hygienist I went to approximately 4 years of schooling 2 which is specifically reserved for clinical education. Dentist know the difference between both positions and I am appalled that they would even consider this. My denial of allowing this has no reflection on an assistant they are qualified to do their scope of practice which doesnt include my scope of practice. If this is the case maybe we as Hygienists can perform a dentists duties considering they went to school alot longer than I and since there is a shortage of dentist. Something to think about. We in MD have a big issue with an RDH being allowed to do their scope of practice which DDS have fought from the beginning again if allowed you are going to see alot of malpractice suits in the future. Lets keep things the way they are and figure out another way to fix the problem. Thanks for taking the time to read my comment.

Gloria Cantler- President MDHA