Have you added or replaced x-ray equipment? New Office? New ownership? If so, call me ASAP!
10 day deadline to register and 90 day deadline to inspect.
ADA revises radiology guidelines (February 2024)
ADA Releases Updated Recommendations to Enhance Radiography Safety in Dentistry Recommendations include appropriate, justified use of dental X-rays, discontinuing use of lead abdominal aprons, thyroid collars.
CHICAGO, Feb. 1, 2024 – The use of lead abdominal aprons or thyroid collars on patients when conducting dental X-rays is no longer recommended, according to an expert panel established by the American Dental Association (ADA) Council on Scientific Affairs. Additionally, dentists should take into consideration the diagnostic information needed from X-rays to benefit patient care or substantially improve clinical outcomes.
The Journal of the American Dental Association published the new recommendations today, which aim to improve radiation protection in dental radiography and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Medical physicists with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) supported the panel’s development of these recommendations – the first on dental imaging safety and radiation protection from the Council since 2012. The Council’s recommendations are also aligned with recent recommendations released by the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology.
After reviewing published studies on radiography, the expert panel determined lead aprons and thyroid collars are not necessary to shield patients from radiation exposure. These recommendations apply to all patients, regardless of age or health status (like pregnancy). Evidence indicates that modern digital X-ray equipment and restricting the beam size only to the area that needs to be imaged better protect patients against radiation exposure to other parts of their body. Lead aprons and thyroid collars can also block the primary X-ray beam, preventing dentists from capturing the image they need.
“When this happens, more radiographs need to be taken, and unnecessary X-rays are what we want to avoid,” said Dr. Purnima Kumar, D.D.S., Ph.D., professor of dentistry and chair of the Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and chair of the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs. “The central point of these recommendations is that clinicians should order radiographs in moderation to minimize both patients’ and dental professionals’ exposure to ionizing radiation.”
The recommendations also advise dentists to safeguard patients against unnecessary radiation exposure by:
- Ordering radiographs like X-rays to optimize diagnostic information and enhance patient care outcomes and making every effort to use images acquired at previous dental exams;
- Using digital instead of conventional X-ray film for imaging;
- Restricting the beam size during an X-ray exam to the area that needs to be assessed (an approach called “rectangular collimation”);
- Properly positioning patients so the best image can be taken;
- Incorporating CBCT only when lower-exposure options will not provide the necessary diagnostic information; and
- Adhering to all applicable federal, state and local regulations on radiation safety. – (NOTE: I had a conversation with the new director of inspections for the state of Tennessee in September 2023 and he informed me that the state would not be enforcing lead apron requirements in the dental space, only in the medical space).
To view the complete recommendations, visit JADA.ada.org.
Are you looking to freshen up your Logo, Branding, or Web Design?
Check out Launch and Co. (<-click here or click the pic above)
For more information, you can also check out this detailed prospectus:
| launch_and_co.pdf |
Revised NOMAD requirements - effective 12/9/19
This week the Division of Rad Health issued new guidelines for the use of all handheld X-ray devices (NOMAD, Digimed, etc.). This may serve as your required policy for the handheld. I have also added a few .PDFs below to help you build out your compliant strategy:
Policy for the proper use of any hand-held X-ray devices:
Effective 12/9/19
Monitoring:
Policy for the proper use of any hand-held X-ray devices:
Effective 12/9/19
Monitoring:
- Only individuals who may operate the hand-held X-ray device are required to wear whole body and ring dosimeters (one for the right hand and one for the left). That is 3 badges per operator.
- It is recommended that your office maintain a list of personnel allowed to operate the device and only provide dosimeters for those individuals. Note: The one-year monitoring period is still in place.
- At the end of the one-year period, assuming you are under the 10% max dose requirement (i.e. 500 mR), then you may suspend the dosimetry and keep the records on file in case any future regulator wishes to review the results.
- Your office must implement and document security and accountability procedures to ensure no unauthorized use, misuse or unauthorized removal of the hand-held device from its storage location. If any of the above occurs, you must report the incident to the Division of Radiological Health at 615-532-0364 or by email at xray.registration@tn.gov.
- A policy must be created and an incident log must be maintained to support this security and accountability policy. This policy should be available for review upon request.
- No bystanders are to be allowed within a 6-foot radius from the patient being examined with the hand-held device.
- The hand-held device can only be used in areas designated as examination areas for patients (i.e. the device may not be used in a break room, office area, waiting room, etc.).
- Specific information regarding use and storage of the hand-held device must be included in the initial and recurring training of staff. The minimum requirements for that training include:
- Training on proper operation of the hand-held
- Instructions provided by the manufacturer and specific to the hand-held
- Understanding of the use of dosimeters for any personnel allowed to operate the hand-held
- Security and accountability procedures for use and storage as determined by your office
- Procedures to ensure no bystanders are within a 6-foot radius of patient when being examined with the hand-held device
- Procedures to ensure the hand-held is only used in areas designated as patient examination areas
- Records of initial and recurring training must be kept. Records must include, at minimum:
- Date of training
- Printed name and signature of each individual trained
- Printed name and dated signature of person providing the training
- Topics covered in training or copy of the actual training materials
- Duration of training
| policy_for_handheld_x-ray_devices.pdf |
| annual_training_-_nomad.pdf |
| security.pdf |
Quick heads up that OSHA has arrived in middle TN dental offices . . . .
In January, they inspected several in Murfreesboro, four in Clarksville, and a large practice in Cool Springs. I highly recommend you reach out to . . .
Olivia Wann
Modern Practice Solutions, LLC
They are your one-stop for everything OSHA/HIPAA, continuing ed, etc. Olivia Wann and her staff are absolutely fantastic.
If your OSHA manual is out of date or completely empty . . . Don't get caught by surprise . . . e-mail Olivia today. Or Call: (931) 232-7738
Or check out their website: www.oliviawann.com
They are your one-stop for everything OSHA/HIPAA, continuing ed, etc. Olivia Wann and her staff are absolutely fantastic.
If your OSHA manual is out of date or completely empty . . . Don't get caught by surprise . . . e-mail Olivia today. Or Call: (931) 232-7738
Or check out their website: www.oliviawann.com
Equipment Repair:
This last month, I received quite a few calls from people who were looking to have their X-ray equipment repaired. Most of the major dental supply companies no longer provide repair, opting in stead for replacement. The guys listed below might be able to help you with your repair issues. (Keep in mind that if a problem cannot be repaired, and you have to replace . . . call me ASAP)
Rubin Rivera 615-969-8425
Tim Fischer 931-217-1750 or 931-647-0143
Terry Ward 615-941-1470
Philip Grace 865-258-2399
Larry Dockery 865-983-0504
Jeremiah Robinson 615-603-2686
Jason Blair (MidSouth Dental - West TN) - 877-425-3554
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TDA Endorses Kevin Christian, LLC for X-Ray Inspections
- ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE MARCH 2012 TDA NEWSLETTER
The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the Tennessee Dental Association's most recent endorsement: Kevin Christian, LLC. This company conducts x-ray equipment inspections and currently has 900+ Tennessee clients. You can save your practice both time and money by having a private inspection of your x-ray equipment.
Since the State of Tennessee's Department of Radiological Health and most insurance companies require x-ray equipment to be inspected every four years, hiring the most recently endorsed member service, with 18 years experience, makes perfect sense. When you have your required inspection performed by Kevin Christian, LLC, you pay the State of Tennessee only 18% of the cost of a state inspector performing the same service. The amount charged by Kevin Christian, LLC along with the 18% state fee is much less than the regular amount charged by the state. And then, there is the convenience factor. You choose the date and time for your inspection, so there is no "down time" in your patient schedule.
In 1982, at the urging of the TDA, the state developed the reduced fee private inspection option. Make Kevin Christian, LLC, your choice for x-ray equipment inspections.
Mr. Christian can be contacted at: Phone: 615-268-4345 or Email: RadiationPhysics@comcast.net
The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the Tennessee Dental Association's most recent endorsement: Kevin Christian, LLC. This company conducts x-ray equipment inspections and currently has 900+ Tennessee clients. You can save your practice both time and money by having a private inspection of your x-ray equipment.
Since the State of Tennessee's Department of Radiological Health and most insurance companies require x-ray equipment to be inspected every four years, hiring the most recently endorsed member service, with 18 years experience, makes perfect sense. When you have your required inspection performed by Kevin Christian, LLC, you pay the State of Tennessee only 18% of the cost of a state inspector performing the same service. The amount charged by Kevin Christian, LLC along with the 18% state fee is much less than the regular amount charged by the state. And then, there is the convenience factor. You choose the date and time for your inspection, so there is no "down time" in your patient schedule.
In 1982, at the urging of the TDA, the state developed the reduced fee private inspection option. Make Kevin Christian, LLC, your choice for x-ray equipment inspections.
Mr. Christian can be contacted at: Phone: 615-268-4345 or Email: RadiationPhysics@comcast.net
Visit my photography website lucyrunswild.com
Exclusively Endorsed:
