Basic Safety Standards for Radiation Protection
On 6 February 2018, the entry into force of the Dutch Basic Safety Standards for Radiation Protection Decree, the associated ministerial regulations and the ANVS regulation introduced changes to radiation protection requirements for dental practices. The KNMT's Dental Radiology Guideline was also revised.
The legislation changed several professional titles. The Coordinating Expert (CD), responsible for assessing the Radiation Applications Risk Assessment (RA) and overseeing the content of acceptance tests and quality control (QC) measurements for X-ray equipment, was renamed the Radiation Protection Expert (SBD)*. The Supervising Expert (THD) became the Radiation Protection Supervisor (TMS), and the treating practitioner (dentist) became the Medical Expert (MD).
One of the main changes for dentistry concerned the regulatory control system. Previously, the use of dental X-ray equipment up to 100 kilovolts (kV) required notification. Under the new legislation, the use of all X-ray equipment requires registration, regardless of voltage. Cone beam CT equipment is an exception: its use always requires a licence under the new legislation.
The Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS) worked with stakeholders and industry organisations, including the KNMT and VGT, to produce factsheets explaining the effects of these legislative changes. The original guidance refers to three factsheets under Further Information on the right-hand side.
Together with its members and a Radiation Protection Expert (SBD), the VGT can arrange the legally required risk assessment and expert review for your practice through the VGT Radiation Protection Portal, a digital Nuclear Energy Act (KEW) record. Practice information in this digital record is accessible only to the practice, the responsible dental supplier, the SBD assessing the risk assessment and the VGT.
(*) A Radiation Protection Expert (SBD) is someone listed in the ANVS national register of Radiation Protection Experts. An SBD can register at the level of
- Coordinating Expert (SBD-CD), after obtaining the Coordinating Expert qualification (formerly N3), or
- General Coordinating Expert (SBD-ACD), after obtaining the General Coordinating Expert qualification (formerly N2).
In addition to these qualifications, re-registration requires ongoing professional development:
- An SBD-CD must spend 250 hours per year working with radiation, and an SBD-ACD 500 hours per year;
- An SBD must provide evidence of further training and attendance at symposia, and earn registration credits;
(Dentists generally hold level 5 radiation expertise.)
Legislation:
- Basic Safety Standards for Radiation Protection Decree (Bbs)
- Basic Safety Standards for Radiation Protection Regulations (Rbs)
- Occupational Exposure Radiation Protection Regulations 2018 (R-SZW)
- Medical Exposure Radiation Protection Regulations (R-VWS)
- Basic Safety Standards for Radiation Protection Regulation (Vbs)
