Section R12-1-610. Dental Intraoral Radiographic Systems

A.      Equipment. A registrant shall:

1.        Use a protective tube housing of diagnostic type;

2.        Use diaphragms or cones for restricting the useful beam and to provide the same degree of protection as the hous- ing. The diameter of the useful beam at the end of the cone or spacer frame shall not be more than 7.6 centime- ters (3 inches) for intraoral radiography;

3.        Ensure that a cone or spacer frame provides a source-to- skin distance of not less than 17.8 centimeters (7 inches) with apparatus operating above 50 kVp or 10 centimeters (4 inches) with apparatus operating at 50 kVp or below for intraoral radiography;

4.        Provide a timer to terminate the exposure at a preset time interval, a preset product of current and time, a preset number of pulses, or a preset radiation exposure to the image receptor;

5.        Ensure that it is not possible to make an exposure if the timer is set to the “zero” or “off” position;

6.        Ensure that the tube head remains stationary if placed in the exposure position;

7.        Ensure that the exposure initiating device is a “dead- man” switch; and

8.        Use a control panel that includes:

a.         A means to provide visual or audible indication, detectable at or from the operator’s position, during x-ray production or exposure termination; and

b.        Indication of technique factors for kVp, mA, expo- sure time, and any special mode that may be selected for the exposure.

9.        Use technique factors, where deviation of measured val- ues from indicated values for kVp and exposure time do not exceed the limits specified by the manufacturer. In the absence of the manufacturer's specifications, the devia- tion shall not exceed plus or minus 10 percent of the indi- cated value for kVp and plus or minus 20 percent for exposure time duration.

10.     For a digital system that uses an electronic sensor, use digital radiography techniques that permit reducing x-ray beam on-time to 25 percent of the exposure time required for “D” speed film or lower, reducing radiation to the patient by the same rate.

11.     For a computed radiography (imaging plate (IP) made of photostimulable phosphor) system that uses an imaging plate, use radiography techniques that permit reducing x- ray beam on-time to 50 percent of the exposure time required for “D” speed film or lower, reducing radiation to the patient by the same rate.

B.       Structural shielding. The registrant shall:

1.        Provide dental installations with primary and secondary barriers to ensure compliance with the personnel expo- sure requirements in Article 4 of this Chapter; (Note: In many cases, structural materials of ordinary walls suffice as a protective barrier without addition of special shield- ing material.)

2.        Install primary protective barriers between rooms or areas if dental x-ray units are used in adjacent rooms or areas;

3.        Provide each installation with a protective barrier for the operator or arrange the installation so that the operator can stand at least 1.82 meters (6 feet) from the patient and well away from the useful beam;

4.        Arrange the operator’s position to allow visual contact with the patient during exposure; and

5.        Comply with fixed installation requirements, if a mobile unit is used routinely in one location.

C.      Operating procedures

1.        A dentist or other persons shall not hold patients or films during exposure. Only persons required for the radio- graphic procedure are allowed in the radiographic room during exposures.

2.        An operator shall stand at least 1.82 meters (6 feet) from the patient or behind a protective barrier during each exposure.

3.        An operator shall ensure that only the patient is in the useful beam.

4.        The licensed practitioner or other person shall not hold the tube housing or the cone during the exposure.

5.        A registrant shall not perform dental fluoroscopy without an image intensifier.

Historical Note

Adopted effective June 30, 1977 (Supp. 77-3). Amended

effective August 8, 1986 (Supp. 86-4). Amended January

2, 1996 (Supp. 96-1). Amended effective June 13, 1997 (Supp. 97-2). Amended by final rulemaking at 9 A.A.R.

4302, effective November 14, 2003 (Supp. 03-3).

Amended by final rulemaking at 15 A.A.R. 1023, effec- tive August 1, 2009 (Supp. 09-2). Amended by final

rulemaking at 19 A.A.R. 3882, effective January 4, 2014

(Supp. 13-4).