Who holds the ownership of dental radiographs once they are exposed?

The ownership of dental radiographs rests with the dentist. This means that once dental radiographs are exposed, they become part of the dental practice's clinical records. While patients have the right to access their own radiographs and can request copies for their personal records or to share with other healthcare providers, the original radiographs are retained by the dental office.

This arrangement is established to support the continuity of care, as the dentist may need to review the radiographs for future treatment decisions. Moreover, this ownership allows the dentist to ensure the radiographs are properly maintained and stored following relevant regulations and standards, thereby protecting patient confidentiality and medical records.

Patients indeed have significant rights regarding their medical information, but it is the dental practitioner who maintains ownership of the images for practice management and historical record-keeping.