2018 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 purpose of the certification program is to eliminate unnecessary radiation exposure to the patient, operator, and other staff while assuring quality, diagnostic dental images.

Learning resources [video demonstrations, practice quizzes, skill competency checklists] are accessible after registering for this course. The learning resources also include the Dental Digital Imaging Study Guide which presents information about: 1] Radiation Safety and Protection; 2] Digital Dental Equipment; 3] Dental Digital Imaging Techniques; 4] Infection Control; and 5] Special Dental Imaging Techniques.

After studying the information in the Dental Digital Imaging Study Guide, watching the video demonstrations, completing the quizzes and skill competencies, dental auxiliaries will be prepared to take the written exam, and demonstrate competency in digital imaging in the following areas:

Infection Control
• Place barriers or disinfect operatory and X-ray equipment.
• Wear appropriate PPE.
• Select appropriate receptor and exposure settings.
• Assemble the XCP.
• Disinfection of the protective devices [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 not in the path of the primary beam or behind protective barrier during exposure.
• Allow only necessary persons in radiographic area during exposures.
• Give a warning prior to pushing the X-ray activator button.
• Position receptor and cone correctly without being held by staff or patient during exposures.
• Wear dosimeter.

Take, Process, and Upload into Proper Template/ Store Diagnostic Dental Digital Images
• Place receptor appropriately for the area of the mouth under study.
• Take images with correct density and contrast such 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 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 distal surface of the second molar.
• Use appropriate template to assure dental images are dated, identified with patient’s name and chart number, and contained in the patient’s electronic dental record.

MARY BETH KINNEY — Personal Description / Biography not available. For follow-up questions, please contact the speaker at marybeth.kinney@ihs.gov.

ROYANN ROYER — Personal Description / Biography not available. For follow-up questions, please contact the speaker at rroyer@southcentralfoundation.com.

ERMA CASUSE — Personal Description / Biography not available. For follow-up questions, please contact the speaker at ermcasuse@gmail.com.

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

None

No tuition required

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.