Chairman Katz said the Department of Public Health has no objection to a proposed change that would allow dental assistants to take dental X‑rays without a dentist being physically present in the office.

The item matters because the change would remove a present requirement that a dentist be in the office when an assistant takes X‑rays, while hygienists already may take X‑rays without a dentist present. Chairman Katz said the proposal would require only a statutory wording change and would not require new programs or funding.

"We had talked previously about the allowing dental assistants to take X rays when the doctor is not, present in the office. We are making progress on that. I've been working with Ryan Burns on that, and, the DPH has no objection to it," Chairman Katz said.

Katz said she planned to meet with the Connecticut State Dental Association to obtain a supporting letter and then contact members of the legislature's public health committee to present the proposed statutory wording change. "The beautiful thing about what we're looking to do is doesn't cost any money. Don't have to set up any new programs. All you gotta do is change some wording in the statute. And, that's where we are right now on that," Katz said.

Board members clarified current practice: hygienists may take X‑rays without a dentist present, while assistants must currently have a dentist in the office prior to taking X‑rays. Katz and others emphasized that, under the proposal, a dentist would still direct what type of X‑rays are needed in cases such as patient pain or specific diagnostic needs.

A board member asked whether assistants would be able to "order" X‑rays from outside institutions; the chair and other participants emphasized a distinction between taking intraoffice dental radiographs and ordering medical imaging from outside facilities. One board member noted that only a dentist can order medical imaging such as CT scans from outside institutions.

Katz said she would keep the commission updated as she pursues a supporting letter from the Connecticut State Dental Association and legislative contacts. No formal vote or change to statute occurred at the meeting.