Legal Issues, Quality Assurance, and Infection Control

Introduction

• As a dental assistant, it is your responsibility to understand the laws that apply to you when you are exposing dental radiographs.
• Both federal and state regulations control the use of dental x-ray equipment.
• To ensure the highest quality and minimal risk to patients in radiation exposure, a quality-assurance program is necessary.
• Dental radiography procedures are not usually considered high-risk for the transmission of diseases. However, infectious diseases present a significant hazard in the dental office and dental professionals are at an increased risk of such diseases.