Although my background is in nursing, I see a parallel between this situation and that of the nurse and the ancillary staff in hospitals.  Nursing assistants, dietary aides et al have been crossed trained to take over certain duties that had been only carried out by the professional nursing staff.  This was done to save money and has ended up in my estimation been a huge factor in the overwhelming increase in hospital-caused infections.  The dental hygienist is professionally licensed and must demonstrate proficiency not only in caring out procedures, but also in a proficiency in the understanding of why procedures are done.  I have rarely known a dentist or dental assistant in my decades of going to the dentist who took the time to do real patient teaching or give adequate explanation of why something is being done, but I have never known a dental hygienist who didn't take the time to teach.  Please consider us (the patients), and not just your pocketbooks, before you make this decision.