If an assistant wants to scale teeth, she needs to go to school to be a RDH. There is a big difference between  " training" and education. The patients best interests are not being put first if a dental assistant is allowed to scale. Can you say CHEEEEEEAP and GREEEEEDY!!!!!? Any dentist that would allow this has no integrity. The quality of care for the patient would be reduced.  Don't you think patients will realize this? Allowing a dental assistant to scale would be putting the patient at risk for periodontal disease because of improper instrumentation. Patients will feel that they are getting a reduced level of care.  What next?  How would you feel if you went to see your family doctor for a physical, and he/she had " trained " their secretary to take your blood because they don't want to pay someone who was formally trained to do so? Or to perhaps to assist with a pap smear because they they dont want to pay a nurse to help.? How does that sound?   Sounds like BS to me.

                                                                                                                                  Jilda Lott, RDH