P124 Talking Standards: Guidance Notes for Dental Practitioners on the Safe Use of X-Ray Equipment

About This Course

In collaboration with CGDent this recorded webinar covers the content of the Dental Guidance Notes – 2nd Edition and will draw attention to areas where the guidance differs from that in the first edition, or where new guidance has been introduced.

The first edition of the Guidance Notes for Dental Practitioners on the Safe Use of X-ray Equipment (the Dental GNs) was published in June 2001 following the establishment of a working party by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) and copies of the guidance were distributed to every dental practice in the UK by the Department of Health.

In the 20-plus years since then, there have been significant changes requiring further guidance to be developed. These include:

• A move from film-based dental radiography towards digital imaging techniques
• The appearance of dental cone-beam CT and hand-held dental X-ray equipment in general dental practice
• Revised radiation protection legislation

Good practice guidelines for the dental profession have also moved with the times, with, for instance, evidence-based selection criteria and national diagnostic reference levels now available for all imaging modalities. A substantial amount of experience has also been accrued by those organisations and individuals providing radiation protection advice and services to dental practices.

It was clear that the 2001 edition of the Dental GNs was in need of updating and in 2018 Public Health England (PHE) offered to take the lead in this. A working party was established with members representing the UK regulators, PHE, the Society for Radiological Protection (SRP), the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM), dental professional bodies, consultant dental radiologists, organisations and individuals proving RPA and MPE services to the dental community, and, most importantly, real-life dentists and dental care professionals.  The first meeting of the working party was in July 2018 and the drafting of the Dental GNs – 2nd Edition was completed in August 2020. The Dental GNs – 2nd Edition were published on the FGDP’s website on 13 October 2020 following a stakeholder consultation exercise.

Aims

This course aims to provide an update on the UK guidance covering radiation protection in dental practice.

Objectives

During this course learners will be able to:

• Understand how to restrict the exposure of staff and patients as far as is reasonably practicable
• Understand the principal requirements of relevant legislation and guidance namley: 

          - The Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017

          - The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017

• and the associated guidance:

         Guidance Notes for Dental Practitioners on the Safe Use of X-Ray Equipment, 2nd Edition

• Apply the basic principles of practical radiation protection in a dental practice

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course the learner will gain an understanding of:

•  The means of restricting the exposure of staff and patients as far as is reasonably practicable.
•  The principal requirements of relevant legislation and guidance.
•  How to apply the basic principles of practical radiation protection in a dental practice.

GDC Development Outcomes