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FutureLearn

Dental Radiography: Radiation Protection in Dental Practice

Public Health England via FutureLearn

Overview

Discover the core principles of dental radiography and X-ray exposure

Led by experts from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)’s Dental X-ray Protection Service (DXPS), this course will improve your understanding of the requirements for radiation protection in dental practice and provide you with the skills to take on the role of Radiation Protection Supervisor in your dental practice.

Develop your professional knowledge around the risks of X-radiation

This CPD course will equip you with the information and skills to ensure that dental radiography is carried out in a safe manner and that the requirements of key radiation protection legislation are complied with.

You’ll explore the potential hazards of dental X-radiation and the importance of restricting staff and patient radiation exposure as far as practicable.

Learn about UK dental radiation protection legislation and guidance

You’ll also familiarise yourself with relevant radiation protection guidance and legislation, including the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017, the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017, as well as the UK guidance for users of dental X-ray equipment.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to apply the basic principles of practical radiation protection in a dental practice and be ready to act as Radiation Protection Supervisor in your dental practice.

Does this course count as core CPD for dentists?

Yes, this course provides five hours of continuous professional development (CPD) training. Current UK legislation and guidance recommend that certain staff at dental practices to undertake five hours verifiable CPD in radiography or radiation protection, every five years.

This CPD training course is designed for dental professionals who are involved in work with dental X-ray equipment. This includes dentists, hygienists, therapists, dental nurses and practice managers.

Others working in the dental or general healthcare sectors may also find the course interesting, but will not have the same professional requirement to undertake verifiable CPD.

Syllabus

  • X-ray concepts and risks
    • Welcome to the course
    • Basic radiation concepts
    • Radiation hazards and dose limitation
    • End of week 1
  • Regulatory requirements - planning
    • Regulatory requirements
    • Expert advice and training
    • Planning for a new practice
    • End of week 2
  • Practical protection from X-radiation
    • Restricting doses to patients
    • Restricting doses to dental practice staff
    • End of week 3
  • Regulatory requirements - management of work with X-radiation
    • Putting plans into action
    • Written procedures for radiation safety - IRR17
    • Written procedures for radiation safety - IRMER17
    • End of week 4
  • Regulatory requirements - Quality Assurance
    • Introducing Quality Assurance
    • QA of Equipment
    • QA of Clinical Images
    • End of course

Taught by

Andrew Gulson

Reviews

4.9 rating at FutureLearn based on 93 ratings

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