Comparison of Bulgarian dentist and dental assistant responses to Q14-16 and Q19-20. The majority of both groups indicated that dental assistants with appropriate training are capable of doing expanded functions without personal supervision by a dentist (Q14) which could improve the efficiency of a dental practice (Q15). While 58.1% of the group collectively indicated that with appropriate training they could potentially perform expanded duties as well as the dentist (Q16), the difference between both groups was significant. The results would suggest that the dental assistants have more confidence in their ability to perform expanded functions than the dentists. Although the majority of both groups believed that a patient would not trust a dental assistant to place an amalgam in a tooth prepared by a dentist (Q19), they also indicated they would like to see dental assistants trained with an enhanced skillset and be permitted to perform expanded duties which otherwise are currently reserved for dentists (Q20). The differences between both groups, however, was significant (t-test, p=0.002) suggesting that the dental assistants are more embracing of the idea than the dentists are.