East Street Dental Practice.

office (+44) 01258 452522


RADIATION SAFETY GUIDELINE

Objective: The purpose of these guidelines is to assure uniform compliance with the Current accepted practices in the use of ionizing radiation. All practice members are involved directly or indirectly in radiography and all should adhere to these policies as closely as possible. The primary intent of these guidelines is to keep patient radiation exposure to a minimum and to eliminate radiation exposure of staff.

Ordering Films

A. All radiographs should only be prescribed by a registered dentist.
B. The patient's medical and dental history should be reviewed and an oral examination completed before dental radiographs are ordered.
C. Previous radiographs, especially those taken recently, should be requested from a previous practice, these should be evaluated before ordering films which would cover the same area.
D. Only those radiographs that may be expected to yield significant diagnostic information should be ordered. If there are other examination techniques that can provide suitable information, they should be utilized instead of radiographs.
E. The need for dental radiographs should be based on accepted selection criteria. These selection criteria are intended as a guide to the dentist in deciding which films to order.
F. The determination of need for and/or the extent of a radiographic examination must not be based on arbitrarily established time frames.
G. Radiographs should not be taken on patients who cannot cooperate due to mental or physical handicaps. An attempt to do so will usually result in poor quality films and therefore unnecessary exposure the patient.
H. Radiographs should not be taken for administrative purposes only.
I. Screening films used to identify occult lesions are not acceptable.
J. The recommended guidelines do not need to be altered when ordering films for a pregnant patient.
K. A history of radiation therapy should not influence the decision to order dental radiographs.

Radiographic Exposure

1. X-ray equipment is located in each surgery, with the processor located in the utility room.
2. No person other than the patient should be in the area during x-ray exposure. If assistance is needed to ensure patient cooperation (such as with a small child or handicapped patient), a family member or other
Accompanying person may assist in the procedure. Staff  must not hold films for patients during exposures.
3. Infection control policies should be strictly followed.
4. Film-holders should be used to position the films. If this is not possible because of anatomical restrictions, the patient may use finger pressure to hold the film in place.
5. During each exposure, the operator should stand at least 2 metres away and observation and communication with the patient must be maintained during the exposure.