STANDARD COMPETENCIES:

 

 I.      Describe and demonstrate general safety practices in the classroom, x-ray exposure room, and darkroom.

 II.     Describe and demonstrate safety practices using various x-ray instruments and equipment

 III.    Discuss the history of x-radiation in dentistry and the importance of dental radiographs.

 IV.     Use terminology associated with dental radiography for effective communication in the field.

 V.      Discuss the history of dental x-ray equipment, dental x-ray film, and dental x-ray techniques.

 VI.     Discuss the fundamental concepts of x-radiation as it applies th dental radiography.

 VII.    Define x-radiation and list the properties of x-radiation.

 VIII.   List and define the components of the dental x-ray machine.

 IX.     Discuss the production of x-radiation and its interaction with matter.

 X       Identify, list, and discuss the types, component parts, and performance standards of dental x-ray machines.

 XI.     Identify, list, and discuss the types of dental x-ray film holders and beam alignment devices.

 XII.    Discuss the concepts, principles, and rules relating to the bite-wing technique.

 XIII.   List the step-by-step procedures for patient preparation, equipment preparation, exposure sequence, and film placement for the bite-wing technique.

 XIV.    14.Discuss modifications in the bite-wing technique.

 XV.     15.Discuss the types and composition of dental x-ray film.

 XVI.    16.Discuss methods of dental x-ray film storage and protection.

 XVII.   Explain the procedures involved in manual and automatic x-ray film processing techniques.

 XVIII.  List processing chemicals, their components, and functions.

 XIX.    Discuss the procedures and rationale for duplicating dental radiographs.

 XX      Identify the causes of processing errors and determine solutions.

 XXI.    Discuss the rationale for infection control.

 XXII.   List and discuss the recommended infection control practices for dentistry including dental radiography.

 XXIII.  Discuss the concepts and step-by-step procedures for the paralleling technique.

 XXIV.   Describe modifications to the paralleling technique.

 XXV.    Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the paralleling technique.

 XXVI.   Discuss the quality and quantity of the x-ray beam as affected by voltage ans amperage respectively.

 XXVII.  Discuss x-ray beam intensity and its relationship to kilovoltage, milliamperage, exposure-time, target-film distance, target-object distance, and target-surface distance.

 XXVIII. Discuss the concepts of the inverse square law and the half-value layer.

 XXIX.   Identify and discuss the visual and geometric characteristics of dental x-ray images.

 XXX     Discuss the concepts and methods of radiographic film mounting.

 XXXI.   Discuss the effects of radiation on living tissue including biologic injuries.

 XXXII.  Identify and discuss the methods of radiation measurement.

 XXXIII. Identify and discuss the risks of radiation exposure.

 XXXIV.  Discuss the rationale for having a quality assurance plan in the dental office.

 XXXV.   List and discuss quality control tests for radiographic equipment, supplies, and film processing.

 XXXVI.  Discuss the importance of quality administration procedures and operator competence.

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:

 

 I.      Radiation History

         A.      Dentistry and X-radiation

         B.      Discovery of X-radiation

         C.      Pioneers in Dental X-radiation

         D.      History of Dental X-ray Equipment

         E.      History of Dental X-ray Film

         F.      History of Dental X-ray Techniques

 II.     Radiation Physics

         A.      Fundamental Concepts

         B.      X-radiation

         C.      The X-ray Machine

         D.      Production of X-radiation

         E.      Interactions of X-radiation

 III.    Dental X-ray Equipment

         A.      Dental X-ray Machine

         B.      Dental X-ray Film Holders and Device

 IV.     Bite-wing Technique

         A.      Basic Concepts

         B.      Step-by-Step Procedures

         C.      Vertical Bite-wings

         D.      Modifications in Technique

 V.      Dental X-ray Film

         A.      Film Composition and Latent Image

         B.      Types of Dental X-ray Film

         C.      Film Storage and Protection

 VI.     Dental X-ray Film Processing

         A.      Film Processing

         B.      The Darkroom

         C.      Manual Film Processing

         D.      Automatic Film Processing

         E.      Film Duplication

         F.      Processing Problems and Solutions

 VII.    Infection Control and the Dental Radiographer

         A.      Infection Control Basics

         B.      Recommended Infection Control Practices in Dentistry

         C.      Infection Control in Dental Radiography

 VIII.   Paralleling Technique

         A.      Basic Concepts

         B.      Step-by-Step Procedures

         C.      Modifications in Technique

         D.      Advantages and Disadvantages

 IX.     Radiation Characteristics

         A.      X-ray Beam Quality and Quantity

         B.      X-ray Beam Intensity

 X       Dental X-ray Image Characteristics

         A.      Visual Characteristics

         B.      Geometric Characteristics

 XI.     Film Mounting and Viewing

         A.      Film Mounting

         B.      Film Viewing

 XII.    Radiation Biology

         A.      Radiation Injury

         B.      Radiation Effects

         C.      Radiation Measurements

         D.      Radiation Risks

 XIII.   Quality Assurance in the Dental Office

         A.      Quality Control Tests

         B.      Quality Administration Procedures

         C.      Operator Competence