This consultation ended June 21, 2015
CDSBC Invites Feedback on Dental Radiography
The Board of the College of Dental Surgeons of BC (CDSBC) has approved the draft document
Dental Radiography for public consultation. The consultation period closed on June 21, 2015.
Background
Radiographs (X-rays) are necessary for the evaluation and diagnosis of many oral conditions and diseases. The Board recognized the need to articulate CDSBC’s expectations for registrants when using dental radiographs – including the use of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in dentistry, a newer form of radiograph that provides three-dimensional images.
The Quality Assurance Committee was tasked with the mandate to consider the issue and make recommendations. It formed a sub-committee that included Dr. David MacDonald, an Oral and Maxillo facial radiology specialist at UBC. The sub-committee reviewed the current literature and examined the guidance documents from other organizations and jurisdictions.
The result is a draft set of principles that applies to all radiography and not one specific technology. The document sets out the requirements for who can prescribe and interpret radiographs, the six guiding principles for dental radiography, and three core documents that must be followed by registrants who use dental radiography.
Once finalized, Dental Radiography will become a standard for the profession.
Consultation and Next Steps
The consultation was open to members of the public, dental professionals and CDSBC’s partner organizations. CDSBC’s registrants (dentists, dental therapists and certified dental assistants) were invited to comment on the document.
Other organizations that were invited to comment include the Ministry of Health, the British Columbia Dental Association, the regulators for dental hygienists, denturists, and dental technicians, UBC Dentistry, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC, Doctors of BC, dental component societies in B.C. and provincial dental regulators across Canada.
CDSBC will collate the feedback for consideration by the Quality Assurance Committee. The intent is to submit the final document to the CDSBC Board for final approval later in 2015, after which it will become a standard for the profession.
