The law and who can expose dental radiographs.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which untrained, unlicensed, and unregulated auxiliary dental personnel are permitted by law to expose radiographs.

Study Design: A survey questionnaire was mailed to the agencies regulating dental practice of the 50 US and 3 regional jurisdictions. Information was requested regarding agency laws regulating who was permitted to prescribe dental radiographs, who was permitted to expose dental radiographs, and who, if anyone, was specifically prohibited.

Results: Survey data show that 47.3% of the US population live in jurisdictions that have no regulations prohibiting untrained, unregulated auxiliary dental personnel from exposing patients to ionizing radiation.

Conclusions: The clinical implications for private dental practice in this era of expanding use of auxiliary personnel are that the need exists for increased training and formal licensing of all auxiliary personnel involved in dental radiography.