New NYS CBCT Regulations: What Dental Practices Need to Know
New York State has adopted new regulations for cone beam CT (CBCT) — and as of July 22, 2026, they are in effect. If your dental practice operates a CBCT unit, NYS Section 16.65 now applies to you.
What the regulations require
- Annual physics testing — quality control testing of your CBCT unit each year by a licensed medical physicist or other legally authorized person
- Acceptance testing before a new CBCT unit enters clinical use, plus re-testing after major repairs or software upgrades
- A documented quality assurance program — identifying your equipment, registration, trained operators, and your medical physicist
- Annual radiation safety training for every staff member who takes CBCT scans, with written practitioner attestation on file
- Recordkeeping — physics surveys, training records, and equipment service history kept for three years, and patient dose (dose area product or air kerma) documented for each exam
The next deadline: accreditation
By January 22, 2028, CBCT facilities must be accredited through a nationally recognized accreditation program acceptable to NYSDOH, such as the IAC Dental CBCT accreditation program. Practices new to CBCT must begin an accreditation application within 90 days of starting clinical use and achieve accreditation within 18 months.
One important point: these requirements are layered on top of the existing 5-year CRESO inspection cycle, not a replacement for it. The full background is in the New York State Dental Association’s overview of the new regulations.
What to do now
If your practice hasn’t had a physics survey since the rules took effect, that’s the place to start. Astarita Associates provides CBCT physics testing, QA programs, and accreditation support for dental practices across the tri-state area — contact us and we’ll help you get compliant before the next deadline.
