Dental Radiography Assignment for DN14 Module: Radiation Safety

This assignment delves into the core principles of dental radiography, covering essential aspects such as the Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999 and the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposures) Regulations 2000, including the ALARA/ALARP principles. It explores the safe use of X-ray equipment, hazards associated with ionizing radiation, and the roles of various personnel involved in radiographic procedures. The assignment includes a detailed radiograph table, explains the use of intensifying screens, and outlines the manual processing of radiographs, including potential faults and chemical handling. It also addresses film storage, rotation of stock, and the importance of avoiding deteriorated films. Furthermore, it covers methods of mounting radiographs, quality assurance control systems, and radiation protection practices within a dental surgery setting. The solution provides insights into staff training records and personal monitoring systems, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of radiographic procedures and safety protocols.

DN 14
Part 1
1. DN14 1.1 range 1abc
Explain the following principles of the IRMER regulations.
 Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999.
The main aim of ionising Radiation Regulation of 1999 which is defined by the official code of practices
is to establish a framework in order to ensure that ionising radiations which arise from work activities
whether natural or man made radiations are kept reasonably low and should not exceed the limits
which are specified for individuals.
 Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposures) Regulations 2000.
The main purpose of this law is to protect the individuals from the dangers of ionising radiations who is going under medical
exposures (Brown and Davies, 2017). It includes the diagnostic procedures like X-rays, nuclear medicines, CT
scans. It also includes protecting the individuals from the radiations from the treatments like
radiotherapy irrespective where they are taken in dental practice, hospital, chiropractic etc.
 ALARA /ALARP – what does this stand for?
ALARA stands for “As Low AS Reasonably Achievable”, which means to make a reasonable efforts in
order to maintain exposures to ionising radiations at lower limits so that it does not exceed limits.
2. DN14 1.2,1.3 1.5 Range 3a
Ionising radiation is hazardous. Research the procedures in place at your surgery for the following:
 Safe use of X-ray equipment.
X-ray machine produce emit huge amount of radiations which may be harmful for the individuals so, there should be safety
maintained where the X-ray machines are established. Various X-ray producing equipment and their locations should be
registered with safety and radiological and health council. X-ray machines should be only used by under the supervision of a
person which has got appropriate license.
 Hazards associated with ionizing radiation.
There are various risks associated with the ionising radiations, with discovery of X-rays skin burns had been reported and after
a time period of seven years a first case of cancer was observed due to radiations. Generally the risks associated with the

ionising radiations is divided into so called stochastic effects such as genetic risks in offspringns, cancer to directly exposed
population and determistic effects.
3 DN14 1.4 Range 2a-f
Explain the role of each of the following: (What do you current policies state about these roles?
Referrer
A main role of referrer is to refer the patients which may be due
to different conditions or may provide the dentist with
appropriate rationale in order to refer a patient.
Practitioner
Main role of practitioner is managing the oral care of neck and
head oncology patients.
It also treats the patients in overall oral hygiene and health.
Operator
Operator plays an important role in the oral surgery and is the
important aspect for the success of the dental treatments (Wates,
Munjal and Taylor, 2016).
Operator is a person who operates or does surgery to a patient.
RPS
It is appointed to secure compliance with the ionising Radiations
Regulations 2017 with respect to work carries out in the areas
which is mainly subjected to local rules.
RPA
It helps in providing fully comprehensive Radiation Protection
Adviser and is also a Medical Physics expert services. It mail role
is to enable to meet the statutory obligations under the ionising
Radiations Regulations 1999 (Wilson and Lewney, 2017).

Part 2
1. DN14 2.1, 2.2 range 1 & 2
Complete the radiograph table:
Radiograph Intra-oral or
Extra-oral What area is seen Purpose of taking the
radiograph
Bitewing intra-oral Jaw Bones
It is used to examine
interdental caries and
recurrent caries under
existing restoration.

Periapical intra-oral Apex of tooth
It shows the entire
length of each tooth
from crown to root.
Occlusal Extra-oral Posterior teeth
It is used to see the
distance between the
tooth.
Lateral Oblique Extra-oral Jaws It used to view jaws
Cephaolostat Extra-oral Head
It is a device that
ensures the
reproducibility of
relationship between
the radiographic beam.
Orthopantomograph Extra-oral Head
It is scanning dental X-
ray of upper and lower
jaw
2. DN14 2.3
Explain why intensifying screens are used in extra oral dental radiography.
Intensifying screens are used in extra oral dental radiology in making extra oral images. The main
function of the screens is to reduce the radiations in order to protect the patients from the harmful
radiations (Brown and Davies, 2017). There are two groups of X-ray films which is used for the dental
purpose which includes Non-screen and screen films. Screen films are used for extra oral views like
cephalometric, panoramic and TMJ imaging. Intensifying screens are used in the X-ray cassette in
order to intensify the effect of X-ray photons which in return produces a large number of light photons.
It helps in decreasing mAs which is required to produce a particular density and it finally decreases the
patients dose significantly.
Part 3
1. DN14 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8 range 1ab

Explain how to manually process a radiograph. Ensure you include:
 FOUR faults that could occur during processing AND during the positioning of the film/collimator.
Four faults that occur during processing and positioning of the film or collimator are as follows:
 Coronal portion of teeth not recorded completely
 Apical region may not be visible because a region may be cut off when the film is not placed properly covering the
apical region in patients mouth.
 Another fault be distorted or blurred image.
 Appearing the image of fingers on the film.
 An explanation of how to handle, store and dispose of the chemicals and how to manage a chemical spillage.
Chemicals can be handled and stored by having the knowledge of health and safety requirements which should be relevant to
employer and employee (Jayaraman, 2018). Dental work place should follow the legislation required for handling and disposing
the chemicals in the work place.
 What action would be taken in the event of equipment failure.
When ever there is an equipment failure in the dental work place owners should take immediate
actions to repair the equipments as soon as possible and should take actions so that it should not
happen in the future.
 Why and how important it is to protect the processing environment from accidental intrusion.
It is really important to protecting the processing environment for the accidental intrusion because
intrusions may result disruptions during treatments and prevent from accidents in the work place.
 An explanation of how to handle different films to maintain quality.
Following are the ways to handle the different films to maintain quality are:
 images should be taken properly
 there should be proper contrast, image sharpness and resolution.
Part 4
1. DN14 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4

It is important when using radiographic films that they are stored appropriately. Explain the following:
 The reasons to rotate stock.
Stocks are rotated in order to implement the quality control program and to avoid the cross
contamination among the patients and between the staff.
 How to store radiographic films to avoid damage (including why films should be stored away from ionizing radiation).
Radiographic films should be stored at a cool place away from radiations and should be wrapped in black cardboard wallet and
should go inside black plastic bag (Jayaraman, Singer and Wong, 2016). Films should be stored away from ionising radiations in
order to prevent it from deterioration.
 Why deteriorated films should not be used.
Deteriorated films should not be used because it will provide the exact image and it makes difficult to understand for the
practitioners to get the appropriate results.
Part 5
1. DN14 5.3, 5.4
Identify the methods of mounting radiographs and explain:
Mounting of radiographs is an important step in the interpretation of dental, radiographs should be
mounted in correct automatic order to allow for a thorough and systemic interpretation.
 The correct method of mounting radiographs.
 What could happen if a radiograph is incorrectly mounted.

2. DN14 LO1 range 3b LO5 5.1, 5.2
Describe a quality assurance (QA) control system for radiographs and why it is necessary.

3. As part of clinical governance, a quality assurance scoring system should be used to grade radiographs to
achieve ALARP/ALARA. Please state what each score stands for:

4. DN14 1.5 range 3cd
Describe the following practices and policies for radiation protection in surgery:
a) Staff training records
b) Personal monitoring systems
A)

B)
REFERENCES
Brown, J. and Davies, J., 2017. Procedures in Dental Imaging. Manual of Clinical Procedures in
Dentistry, p.153.
Brown, T. and Wassif, H. S., 2017. Understanding continuous professional development participation
and choice of mid‐career general dental practitioners. European Journal of Dental
Education. 21(1). pp.46-51.
Jayaraman, J., 2018. Dental age estimation in India: Do we have a role beyond publishing scientific
evidences?. Journal of forensic dental sciences. 10(1). p.55.
Jayaraman, J., Singer, S. R. and Wong, H. M., 2016. Estimation of age using dental radiographs is a
justifiable procedure. Ind Dent Assoc Times. pp.16-8.
Renton, T. and Master, S., 2016. The complexity of patient safety reporting systems in UK
dentistry. British dental journal. 221(8). p.517.
Wates, E., Munjal, R. and Taylor, R., 2016. A survey of self-reported clinical practice of Dental Core
Trainees relating to radiographic investigations and service provision in OMFS units across the
UK. British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 54(10). p.e146.
Wilson, M. and Lewney, J., 2017. Piloting Direct Access in the Community Dental Services in Wales; a
review of guidelines and practical considerations. Ann Clin J Dent Health. 6. pp.36-39.