2026 Catalog: All Courses

The Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act of 1981 [PL 97-35] requires dental personnel be trained and certified in dental radiology. The intent of radiology certification is to eliminate unnecessary radiation exposure to the patient, operator, and other staff while assuring quality, diagnostic radiographs. The certification process involves successfully passing a written examination and demonstrating clinical competency while adhering to accepted radiological practices.

After studying the modules and taking the end of modular quizzes, the dental auxiliaries should be prepared to take the written exam

Infection Control

• Place barriers or disinfect operatory and X-ray equipment.


• Wear appropriate PPE.


• Select the appropriate receptor and exposure settings.


• Assemble the XCP.


• Disinfect protective devices, including the apron and thyroid collar.


• Limit contamination when taking dental images.

Patient Protection

• Place protective devices on each patient during all exposures.


• Store protective devices to reduce creasing and damage.


• 
  Stabilize the PID or cone and position it in close proximity to the XCP
  when the image is taken.
  

Operator Protection

• 
  Stand at least six feet from the patient and outside the path of the
  primary beam, or behind a protective barrier, during exposure.
  


• 
  Allow only necessary persons in the radiographic area during exposures.
  


• Give a warning before pushing the X-ray activator button.


• 
  Position the receptor and cone correctly without having them held by
  staff or the patient during exposures.
  


• Wear a dosimeter if necessary.

Take, Process, Upload, and Store Diagnostic Dental Digital Images

• 
  Place the receptor appropriately for the area of the mouth under study.
  


• 
  Take images with correct density and contrast so that anatomical hard
  and soft tissue landmarks can be differentiated.
  


• 
  Take images with no distortion in the area of the mouth under study.
  


• 
  Take images with no overlapping in the area of the mouth under study,
  except where tooth alignment does not permit open contacts.
  


• Take images with no cone-cutting.


• 
  Take bitewing images that show the distal surface of the erupted canine
  and the distal surface of the second molar.
  


• 
  Use the appropriate template to ensure dental images are dated,
  identified with the patient’s name and chart number, and stored in the
  patient’s electronic dental record.
  

Damon Pope — Deputy Project Manager for the IHS Electronic Dental Record IHS DOH National Infection Control Consultant For follow-up questions, please contact the speaker at damon.pope@ihs.gov.

The speaker has no conflicts of interest to report.

It is the policy of the Indian Health Service, Division of Oral Health, that faculty/planners disclose any financial or other relationships with commercial companies whose products may be discussed in the educational activity. The Indian Health Service, Division of Oral Health, also requires that faculty disclose any unlabeled or investigative use of pharmaceutical products and medical devices. Images that have been falsified or manipulated to misrepresent treatment outcomes are prohibited.

None of the faculty/planners for this activity has a conflict of interest, and there is no use of unlabeled or investigative pharmaceutical products or medical devices. No images have been falsified or manipulated to misrepresent treatment outcomes.The educational objectives, content, and selection of educational methods and instructors are conducted independent of any commercial entity.

The IHS Division of Oral Health is an accredited sponsor of continuing education under the American Dental Association Continuing Education Recognition Program (CERP). ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the IHS at IHS CDE Coordinator or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at CCEPR.ada.org

Tuition must be paid in full 8 weeks prior to the start date of any course. Request for refunds must be received in writing at least two weeks before the course begins. For each refund request, there will be an administrative charge of $100. No refunds will be made to registrants who fail to attend a course. If IHS CDE program cancels a course, then 100% of the tuition will be refunded.