Under the Health Professions Act, prescription of dental radiographs (x-rays) falls within the allowed scope of practice for a dental hygienist. Furthermore, dental hygienists may own and operate ionizing and non-ionizing radiation equipment, including dental x-ray equipment and certain lasers.
Changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS Act) and revised regulations took effect on December 1, 2021. The Radiation Protection Act and its regulations were incorporated into the OHS Act and OHS Code. This means these health and safety laws are in one place rather than multiple statutes.
Click the links to read more about the changes to the OHS laws and access more radiation health and safety resources from the Alberta Government.
Radiation Health & Safety Resources
Safety Code 30 was updated on June 30, 2022. This new document replace the 1999 version and provides specific guidance to the dentist, dental hygienist, dental assistant, and other support personnel concerned with safety procedures and equipment performance.