Appendix B to Part 75 - Standards for Accreditation of Dental Radiography Training for Dental Hygienists
42:1.0.1.6.62.0.15.4.11 : Appendix B
Appendix B to Part 75 - Standards for Accreditation of Dental
Radiography Training for Dental Hygienists A. Sponsorship
Sponsorship must be by an entity that assumes primary
responsibility for the planning and conduct of competency-based
didactic and clinical training in dental radiography.
1. This responsibility must include: defining the curriculum in
terms of program goals, instructional objectives, learning
experiences designed to achieve goals and objectives, and
evaluation procedures to assess attainment of goals and objectives;
coordinating classroom teaching and supervised clinical
experiences; appointing faculty; receiving and processing
applications for admission; and granting documents of successful
completion of the program.
2. The formal training in dental radiography may be a part of a
total program of dental hygiene education accredited by an
organization recognized by the United States Department of
Education.
3. The sponsoring entity and the dental radiography training
must be approved by the State entity responsible for approving
dental hygiene education programs or the State entity responsible
for credentialing dental personnel in radiography.
B. Curriculum
Dental radiography training for dental hygienists must provide
sufficient content and instructional time to assure competent
performance.
1. The dental radiography curriculum content and learning
experiences must include the theoretical aspects of the subject as
well as practical application of techniques. The theoretical
aspects should provide content necessary for dental hygienists to
understand the critical nature of the radiological procedures they
perform and of the judgments they make as related to patient and
operator radiation safety.
2. The dental radiography curriculum must include content in
seven areas: radiation physics; radiation biology; radiation
health, safety, and protection; X-ray films and radiographic film
quality; radiographic techniques; darkroom and processing
techniques; and film mounting.
-
Radiation Physics. Curriculum content should include:
historical background; role of radiology in modern dentistry; types
of radiation; X-ray production principles; operation of X-ray
equipment; properties of X-radiation; and X-radiation units,
detection and monitoring devices. -
Radiation Biology.
Curriculum content should include: Interaction of ionizing
radiation with cells, tissues, and matter; factors influencing
biological response of cells and tissues to ionizing radiation;
somatic and genetic effects of radiation exposure; and cumulative
effects of X-radiation and latent period. -
Radiation Health,
Safety, and Protection. Curriculum content should include:
Sources and types of radiation exposure; public health implications
and public concerns; principles of radiological health including
collimation and filtration; radiation protection methods in the
dental office; necessity for high diagnostic yield with a reduction
of X-radiation exposure; and monitoring devices. -
X-ray Films
and Radiographic Film Quality. Curriculum content should
include: X-radiation production and scatter; X-ray beam quality and
quantity; factors influencing radiographic density, contrast,
definition, and distortion; film characteristics; dosage related to
film speed; types of films, cassettes, and screens; and film
identification systems. -
Radiographic Techniques.
Curriculum content should include: imagery geometry; patient
positioning; film/film holder positioning; cone positioning and
exposure settings for the intraoral paralleling technique,
bisecting the angle technique, and techniques for occlusal
radiographs; extaroral panoramic techniques; and patient variations
that affect the above techniques. -
Darkroom and Processing
Techniques. Curriculum content should include: solution
chemistry and quality maintenance; darkroom equipment and safe
lighting; film processing techniques; automatic film processing;
and processing errors. -
Film Mounting. Curriculum content
should include: anatomical landmarks essential to mounting films;
film mounting procedures; and diagnostic quality of radiographs.
3. The curriculum must also include clinical practice
assignments.
- Clinical practice assignments must be an integral part of the
curriculum so that Dental Hygienists have the opportunity to
develop competence in making radiographs. Faculty supervision must
be provided during a student's radiographic technique experience.
Students must demonstrate competence in making diagnostically
acceptable radiographs prior to their clinical practice where there
is not direct supervision by faculty. - Dental hygienists must
demonstrate knowledge of radiation safety measures before making
radiographs and, where possible, should demonstrate competence on
manikins before making radiographs on patients. Radiographs must be
exposed for diagnostic purposes and not solely to demonstrate
techniques or obtain experience. - The clinical experience should
provide opportunity to make a variety of radiographs and
radiographic surveys including primary, mixed, and permanent
dentitions, as well as edentulous and partially edentulous
patients. C. Student Evaluation
Evaluation procedures must be developed to assess performance
and achievement of dental radiography program objectives.
D. Faculty
The dental radiography training must be conducted by faculty who
are qualified in the curriculum subject matter.
1. This may include a D.D.S./D.M.D. degree; graduation from an
accredited dental assisting or dental hygiene education program
with a certificate or an associate or baccalaureate degree; status
as a Certified Dental Assistant certified by the Dental Assisting
National Board; or recognition as equivalently qualified by the
State entity which approved the training program in dental
radiography.
2. The faculty-to-student ratio must be adequate to achieve the
stated objectives of the curriculum.
E. Facilities
Adequate radiographic facilities must be available to permit
achievement of the dental radiography training objectives. The
design, location, and construction of radiographic facilities must
provide optimum protection from X-radiation for patients and
operators. Equipment shall meet State and Federal laws related to
radiation. Monitoring devices shall be worn by dental personnel.
Lead aprons must be placed to protect patients. Safe storage for
films must be provided. Darkroom facilities and equipment must be
available and of a quality that assures that films will not be
damaged or lost.
F. Learning Resources
A wide range of printed materials, instructional aids, and
equipment must be available to support instruction. Current
specialized reference texts should be provided; and models,
replicas, slides, and films which depict current techniques should
be available for use in instruction. As appropriate
self-instructional materials become available, they should be
provided for the student's use.
Note:
Educational programs accredited by an organization recognized by
the United States Department of Education are considered to have
met these standards. Under existing licensure provisions in all
States, becoming a dental hygienist requires graduation from a
dental hygiene education program accredited by an organization
recognized by the United States Department of Education. In lieu of
this requirement, Alabama accepts graduation from a State-approved
preceptorship program.