Why radiation shielding matters in dental practices

Radiation may be invisible, but the risks are real. Without appropriate shielding, it can pass through walls into neighbouring rooms — silently exposing staff, patients, and the public to the harmful effects of ionising radiation.

That’s why adding new x-ray equipment to a dental practice isn’t just about choosing the right apparatus. It’s about ensuring the premises are both safe and compliant with NSW radiation regulations.

How to create a safe work environment

Whether it’s a new surgery with an intraoral x-ray, the installation of an OPG or CBCT, or an upgrade from OPG to CBCT, understanding your shielding requirements upfront is essential for:

✅ Creating a safe work environment

✅ Avoiding penalties for non-compliance & costly retrofits

✅ Timely EPA Compliance Certification

This article simplifies the shielding process with a clear step-by-step pathway and expert tips, helping you make confident decisions — before the first wall goes up.

Installing new x-ray equipment? Make sure you understanding your shielding requirements!

Shielding Assessment

The first step in determining the shielding requirements for your x-ray room is to complete a shielding assessment. This assessment identifies whether the room is classified as low, medium, or high risk.

It is required for every room where x-ray equipment is being installed and can be carried out either by the practice owner (in line with EPA Radiation Guideline 7) or by a Consulting Radiation Expert.

Common outcomes are:

➡️ Intraoral unit: Often low risk

➡️ OPG: May be low or medium risk

➡️ CBCT: Almost always medium risk

If the room qualifies as low risk, a self-assessment is sufficient and must clearly state that no additional shielding is required. You can then proceed with installation, equipment registration, and EPA Compliance Certification. This assessment must be kept on file as part of your compliance documentation and may be requested in the event of an EPA audit.

If the assessment determines the room to be medium- or high-risk, a shielding plan must be prepared.

This flowchart outlines the steps to determine the shielding requirements for your x-ray room, ensuring it meets both safety and compliance standards.

Shielding Plan

A shielding plan determines whether additional shielding is required to keep staff, patients, and the public safe. Where shielding is needed, it specifies the required lead thickness for each wall and door to ensure safety, outlines acceptable alternatives such as lead-equivalent materials (e.g., GIB X-Block, Barite Board), and provides installation guidelines.

The plan may be drafted by any party, but it must be reviewed and approved by a Consulting Radiation Expert (CRE).

Assessment factors include:

➡️ Equipment specifications (kVp, mA, FOV)

➡️ Room size and dimensions

➡️ Wall, door, ceiling and floor materials

➡️ Location of adjacent rooms (especially if occupied)

➡️ Estimated workload

➡️ Operator positioning ... and more

If the shielding plan concludes that no additional shielding is required, you may proceed with installation, equipment registration, and EPA Compliance Certification. The plan must be retained on file for compliance purposes and, like the assessment, may be requested during an EPA audit.

If additional shielding is required, it must be installed as specified in the plan, and radiation barrier tags applied to all shielded barriers.

These tags must state:

➡️ For lead barriers: the lead thickness or lead area density.

➡️ For non-lead barriers: the type and thickness of the building material used.

Example: Radiation Barrier Tags

After the shielding is in place, you are ready to install the new x-ray apparatus, register it, and complete the EPA Compliance Certification. Be sure to also apply the radiation barrier tags.

Need clarity on radiation shielding?

Shielding is not just a regulatory tick-box. It’s a safeguard for the people who spend their working lives in dental practices, as well as the patients and visitors who pass through them.

Getting it right from the start prevents unnecessary radiation exposure and protects your practice from penalties for non-compliance and costly retrofits.

At Gamma Tech, we take the guesswork out of compliance. Our accredited experts make the process clear, efficient, and stress-free — giving you confidence that your new x-ray equipment and premises meet NSW radiation regulations and protect everyone in and around the practice from the harmful effects of ionising radiation

Need further guidance? Our PDF-guide "Shielding Simplified" simplifies the shielding process with a clear step-by-step path and expert tips, helping you make confident decisions — before the first wall goes up.