Must dental assistants complete a state-approved course in x-ray function and safety?

• A. Yes
• B. Only if you work in a hospital
• C. Only if you perform dental X-rays
• D. No

Answer: (A)

Yes. In Louisiana, dental assistants who expose dental radiographs must complete a state-approved course in x-ray function and safety. This training ensures you know how to operate the X-ray unit correctly and safely, protect patients and staff from radiation, and follow proper techniques, exposure practices, infection control, and film processing. The course is required to demonstrate you have the competency to perform radiographic procedures and to comply with the regulations governing dental radiography, regardless of the practice setting. It applies broadly, not only in hospitals, and it’s tied to the ability to legally expose X-rays, not merely optional in specific situations.