New Code for Dental Radiation Safety released by ARPANSA

Following an internal review and stakeholder consultation, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), which develops codes, standards, guides and provides advice to support radiation protection and nuclear safety throughout Australia, has published the new radiation protection code for the dental industry.

While acknowledging that dental X-rays are a routine part of dental examinations and/or diagnosis, and that radiation exposure is low and unlikely to impact a patient's health, ARPANSA’s Chief Medical Radiation Scientist, Dr Ivan Williams said "it is still important to have regulatory oversight to ensure that dental doses continue to remain low, and to provide assurance to the community".

He noted that ARPANSA, in a bid to align their code with international best practice, works with eminent authorities like the International Commission on Radiological Protection and the International Atomic Energy Agency, "whose protection principles and exposure limits form the basis for our national regulations governing the exposure of radiation to workers and the public".

Work is also undertaken with state and territory regulators as part of an approach designed to ensure that standards are uniform across the country.

It's important to note that while the dental code itself has changed, the current safety guidelines, currently under review, are still relevant and dental practitioners should continue to follow their current protection measures.

"We expect there will be minor changes to safety guidelines reflecting the advances in dental imaging optimisation and confirming the very low radiation risks," says Dr Williams.

"Patients and workers can be assured that regulatory guidance remains appropriate for contemporary dental practice."