School dental bus fined $200k for x-rays

A company that allowed unlicensed staff to x-ray the teeth and jaws of thousands of NSW children has been fined almost $200,000, the state's environment watchdog says.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority on Monday said the Australian Aged Dental Care was fined $198,000 and ordered to pay $125,000 in costs by the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney.

The company's four mobile units used orthopantomogram x-ray machines to examine teeth and jaw structures as it travelled to numerous NSW schools.

EPA Chief Environmental Regulator Mark Gifford said AADC "showed a blatant disregard" for the rules by instructing employees who didn't hold radiation licences to perform x-rays between 2013 and 2015.

"Licensing is used to safeguard the community and the environment by ensuring that only appropriately trained and qualified people are allowed to use radiation equipment," Mr Gifford said in a statement.

"The decision by the Court reflects the seriousness of the offence and the importance of complying with environmental laws and standards."

The sentence was handed down by Magistrate Hugh Donnelly.