Sept. 25, 2009
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) recently proposed revisions to its rules on radiation control, which include changes to rules governing the use of x-ray technology in dentistry.
The most noteworthy change for the dental profession is in regard to the use of portable handheld x-ray equipment, like the NOMAD x-ray system. New rules would require that handheld devices like the NOMAD be placed on a stand during use. This would severely limit the portability of the device. The CDA will file a comment objecting to this requirement and encourages dentists who use this technology to file written comments as well.
Other changes applicable to the dental profession include:
- Elimination of shielding requirements for intraoral and panoramic x ray technology
- Increased shielding requirements for volumetric and cephalometic dental x-ray imaging systems
- Addition of a thyroid shielding requirement for patients and operators (when the operator is not behind full body shielding)
- Addition of quality assurance and quality control requirements
- New record keeping requirements, including a stipulation that patient records must be kept for at least 10 years
The CDA has written detailed comments addressing these and other concerns. To view the CDA’s comments, please click here.
To view a copy of the proposed changes to the x-ray rule, please click here. Please note that the x-ray rule is extensive (almost 400 pages), if printing the file.
Written comments on the rule are due by 5 p.m. on Sept. 30, 2009. Comments may be submitted to the Department of Public Health and Environment at cdphe.hmxraycomments@state.co.us. A public hearing on the rule is scheduled on Oct. 21, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in the Sabin-Cleere Conference Room of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The CDPHE is located at 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Bldg. A., Denver, CO 80246.
If you have additional questions about the rule or rulemaking hearing, please contact Jennifer Goodrum, director of governmental relations, at 303-996-2847 or jennifer@cdaonline.org
