Washington Administrative Code
Title 246 - Health, Department of
RADIATION
Chapter 246-225A - Radiation safety and diagnostic image quality standards for dental facilities
Section 246-225A-070 - Special requirements for dental extra-oral radiography
Universal Citation: WA Admin Code 246-225A-070
Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024
Registrants shall use X-ray systems for extra-oral radiography that meet the following requirements for:
(1) Beam limitation.
(a) X-ray equipment designed for only one
image receptor size at a fixed SID must be able to limit the size of the beam
at the plane of the image receptor to no larger than the image receptor, and to
align the center of the X-ray beam with the center of the image receptor to
within two percent of the SID. In the case of extra-oral imaging systems where
the image receptor can be turned vertically or horizontally, the beam-limiting
device must also be able to be turned so that the dimensions of the beam match
the image receptor dimensions at the image receptor plane.
(b) Intra-oral radiography systems used to
perform cephalometric projections, including trans-cranial exams, must be
equipped with a stable means to:
(i) Comply
with the beam size dimensions in subsection (1)(a) of this section;
and
(ii) Center the beam to the
image receptor as required in subsection (1)(a) of this section.
(c) General purpose medical X-ray
equipment used to perform dental radiography must:
(i) Have stepless adjustment of the
dimensions of the X-ray beam so that the width and height of the X-ray beam are
independently adjustable. The minimum beam size at an SID of 100 centimeters
must be equal to or less than 10 by 10 centimeters.
(ii) Have a means for operators to visually
set the width and height of the X-ray beam. The misalignment of the edges of
the visually set light field with the respective edges of the X-ray beam along
either the length or width of the visually set light field must not be more
than two percent of the distance from the source to the center of the visually
defined light field when the surface upon which it appears is perpendicular (at
a 90 degree angle) to the central axis of the X-ray beam.
(iii) Have a means to indicate on the X-ray
equipment when the axis of the X-ray beam is perpendicular to the plane of the
image receptor and to align the center of the X-ray beam to the center of the
image receptor to within two percent of the SID (five percent for equipment
manufactured before August 1974). Dental lateral jaw examinations are excluded
from this requirement.
(iv) Have a
beam-limiting device that indicates the X-ray beam size in centimeters or
inches at the plane of the image receptor to which the beam-limiting device is
adjusted.
(v) Have an actual beam
size at the plane of the image receptor that matches the indicated size to
within two percent of the SID.
(2) SSD and SID.
(a) Dental extra-oral radiography systems
must have a durable, securely fastened means to limit the SSD to not less than
23 centimeters. The requirement may be met when the beam-limiting device
provides the required limits.
(b)
Dental extra-oral radiography systems in which the SID is not fixed (such as an
intra-oral system used for cephalometrics) must have a device or reference that
will indicate the actual SID to within two percent of the indicated
SID.
(3) Viewing device.
Dental extra-oral radiography installations must provide a viewing device (mirror, video camera, or glass window designed to reduce exposure) so that operators of the X-ray equipment may observe the patient's head and neck area during the exposure without being exposed to the primary beam or stray radiation.
(4) Scattered radiation suppressing grids. When using scattered radiation suppressing grids, the grids must be:
(a) Clearly labeled with the SID for which
the grids are designed to be used; and
(b) Used at the proper SID.
(5) X-ray film and screen requirements.
(a) X-ray film used for
extra-oral imaging must be used before the expiration date specified by the
manufacturer.
(b) The spectral
sensitivity of the X-ray film used must be matched by the appropriate spectral
output of the intensifying screens used in the cassettes as recommended by the
film and screen manufacturers.
(c)
Screens must be free of dirt, abrasions, and discoloration that would cause
artifacts on the image.
Statutory Authority: RCW 70.98.050 and 70.98.080. 11-19-013, § 246-225A-070, filed 9/7/11, effective 10/8/11; 08-14-074, § 246-225A-070, filed 6/26/08, effective 7/27/08.
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