Board advances rule review, adopts teledentistry update and reworks RDA radiography language
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Summary
The board approved review of chapters 114–116 and adopted a teledentistry rule, and the committee made detailed edits to the RDA registration rule (114.2) to make radiography, infection‑control and image‑labeling requirements explicit.
The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners’ rule‑review committee on Nov. 6 opened and approved a review of chapters 114–116 (auxiliary duties), adopted a teledentistry rule and directed staff to rework language in the rule covering dental assistant registration and radiography instruction.
At the outset the committee approved staff’s recommendation to initiate the statutorily required periodic review of chapters 114–116. “Board staff will file the notice of intention to review and consider for readoption, readoption with amendments, or repeal board rule chapters 114 through 116 pursuant to the board's rule review plan,” staff said. The motion to propose review — including minor cleanups to 114.3 and 115.4 — passed unanimously.
The committee unanimously adopted a proposed amendment to 22 TAC 108.16 (teledentistry) to align the rule with House Bill 1700 by specifying the informed‑consent documentation required for teledentistry encounters. Miss Stuttard said the board received supportive public comments and recommended adoption.
Longer debate focused on 22 TAC 114.2 (registration of dental assistants), particularly the radiography and infection‑control sections. Committee members agreed to remove repeated references that separated “digital” versus “film” radiography and to ensure the course objectives explicitly cover both intraoral and extraoral modalities (including CBCT) where applicable. Members also asked staff to add an explicit line requiring appropriate disposal of chemicals used in developing radiographs. One suggested formulation introduced by a member read in committee as: “When applicable, proper disposal of chemicals used in the processing of radiographs shall comply with all other laws and regulations applicable to the practice of dentistry in Texas.”
Committee members also directed staff to add explicit labeling requirements for radiographic images, including a patient name and the date the radiograph was taken, to improve investigatory utility and reimbursement documentation. The group debated terminology such as “mounting” versus “orienting” digital images; some members recommended retaining “mounting” as the commonly used teaching term while clarifying that orientation and proper chart placement are part of learning outcomes.
On infection control, members asked the staff to make the curriculum objectives explicit so students receive instruction covering both bloodborne‑pathogen and hazard‑communication standards and the environmental handling of radiographic processing chemicals when applicable. Staff said they will take the committee’s wording suggestions and prepare a consolidated draft for publication and comment.
Why it matters: the revisions clarify educational expectations for registered dental assistants and modernize language to reflect current practice patterns while preserving instruction where film‑based workflows remain in use. The teledentistry amendment implements statutory informed‑consent changes and is ready for adoption.
What’s next: staff will redraft 114.2 with the committee’s edits and publish the proposal in the Texas Register for public comment. Stakeholders — including educational programs and CE providers — will have an opportunity to submit written comments and suggested edits.
Provenance: committee discussion and staff presentations are captured in the meeting transcript and cited below.
