The California Department of Public Health has been conducting compliance inspections of the state's dental practices to uncover instances of unlicensed dental assistants operating imaging machines, according to the California Dental Association (CDA).
In California, dentists, registered dental hygienists, and registered dental assistants are allowed to take radiographs in a dental practice if they have passed a radiation safety course approved by the Dental Board of California, the CDA noted.
Practices found not in compliance with this regulation will be reported to the dental board for investigation, according to the CDA.
A list of approved radiation safety courses is available on the dental board's website.
