Navigating Nebraska’s Dental Radiation Regulations: A Quick Guide
At Jaeger Corporation, we're committed to helping our clients stay compliant and informed. Below you will find a short review of requirements extracted from Nebraska’s Administrative Code (NAC) Chapter 6 regarding dental equipment.
What Qualifies as Dental Radiation-Generating Equipment?
According to the regulations, dental radiation-generating equipment is specifically used for taking dental radiographs of human teeth or oral tissues. This excludes equipment like computed tomography (CT), cone beam CT (CBCT), dental fluoroscopic equipment, or rotating anode tube radiation-generating equipment (general-purpose medical X-ray units). It's important to distinguish these different types of equipment, as they often have separate regulatory requirements. If you are using imaging equipment that is not generally intended for dental use, please refer to Nebraska Code NAC 180, Chapter 6, Section 4 for General purpose X-ray, Section 5 for Fluoroscopy, and Section 8 for CT/CBCT. We have included additional information for dental CBCT equipment as these are common in dental practice.
When should you have a medical physicist check your equipment?
Physicist Testing Frequency
| Imaging Modality | State Requirements | Jaeger Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Dental X-ray | 5 years | 5 years |
| Dental CBCT | After installation, then no longer than every 2 years | After installation and then annually |
Key Requirements for Dental X-Ray Equipment:
Licensed Supervision: All use of x-ray equipment for dental diagnosis or treatment must be by or under the supervision of a licensed dentist in Nebraska.
Technique Chart: A technique chart must be displayed near the x-ray machine's control panel.
Equipment Performance Evaluation: Regular testing by a qualified medical physicist is required to ensure equipment functionality. For dental radiation-generating equipment, these tests must be performed every five years. This includes checking timer accuracy, exposure reproducibility, kVp, tube stability, collimation, and in-air exposure. Any issues found must be corrected within specified timeframes.
Operator Safety: The x-ray control must be positioned so the operator stands at least six feet from the useful beam or behind a protective barrier, unless using hand-held units.
Room/Wall Shielding: Depending on patient load and equipment type, some walls may require shielding to protect staff. A qualified medical physicist can perform the necessary calculations and verification testing to ensure the shielding meets state regulatory requirements.
Hand-Held Equipment: Special rules apply to hand-held dental equipment, including the use of a backscatter shield and manufacturer-specified training and protocols. Please refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations or call us for more information.
Key Requirements for Dental CBCT Equipment:
Radiation Calibrations: Calibrations are required to be completed by a qualified medical physicist upon installation and continued quality checks by the physicist no less than every two years. Due to the more complicated nature of CBCT units, we recommend physicist surveys on an annual basis.
Room/Wall Shielding Requirements:
Plan Reviews: For CT and CBCT x-ray systems, a plan review is required and must be conducted by or under the direction of a qualified radiological medical physicist or radiological health physicist. Radiation surveys are also mandatory after any changes to the facility, patient load, or equipment that could increase radiation exposure beyond regulatory limits.
Plan Review Results: A written report of the plan review results must be obtained from the radiological medical physicist or radiological health physicist. A copy of this report must be kept for inspection by the Department.
Quality Control: Follow the quality control recommendations of the manufacturer's QC manual. If the QC manual is unavailable from the manufacturer, contact a qualified medical physicist to develop the QC program.
Information for the CBCT Operator: The following information must be available to the CBCT operator:
Information on the allowable uses of CBCT as determined by the manufacturer's guidelines.
Instructions on performing quality control (QC) on the CBCT system and the required time interval for performing the QC
If a QC check reveals that a CBCT system operating parameter exceeds the manufacturer's tolerance limits, the system's use must be restricted.
If the manufacturer's tolerance limits are unavailable, a qualified radiological medical physicist or radiological health physicist must establish these limits. The CBCT system's use will then be restricted to those uses approved by the physicist.
The results of the most recent QC completed on the CBCT system.
Why is Compliance Important?
Adhering to these regulations is not just about ticking boxes. It's about ensuring the safety of both patients and staff. Proper equipment function, accurate measurements, and trained operators are all essential for minimizing radiation exposure and obtaining the best diagnostic images.
Jaeger Corporation is Here to Help:
We understand that keeping up with regulations can be complex. That's why Jaeger Corporation is dedicated to providing resources and support to our clients. We can help you navigate these requirements and ensure your practice remains compliant with the State of Nebraska.
Always refer to the official Nebraska Administrative Code NAC 180 for the most accurate and up-to-date regulations.
We hope this summary helps clarify the key aspects of Nebraska's dental radiation regulations. If you have any questions or need further assistance, don't hesitate to reach out to Jaeger Corporation.
Contact us at 402-496-2287 or email Jaeger Corporation
