The Dental Hygiene program at MWCC is now offering a Dental Radiology Certification course aimed at individuals working in dental practices who had not previously had the opportunity to earn the certification.
The 16-hour course meets the requirements of both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Dentistry and the state of New Hampshire for Radiographic training and certification. This course is not an introductory course, students should have some experience working in a dental office and/or should be familiar with dental X-ray machines and their use. Applicants should also have some basic knowledge of dental radiology-related concepts and terminology.
The first day of the course will be a lecture, the second day will be in the radiology lab at MWCC’s Fitchburg Dental Clinic, and will conclude with the certification exam.
Following this course, students will be able to:
- Describe patient preparation for radiographic exposures
- Describe the use and purpose of intraoral and extraoral radiographic images
- Select an appropriate radiographic survey to examine or view conditions, teeth, or landmarks
- Describe technique modifications based on anatomical variations and clinical conditions
- Select equipment for radiographic technique
- Describe how to acquire radiographic images using various techniques
- Demonstrate basic knowledge of digital radiography
- Demonstrate basic knowledge of conventional film processing
- Evaluate radiographic images for diagnostic value
- Mount radiographic images
- Describe techniques for patient management before, during, and after radiographic exposure (e.g., patients with special needs)
- Describe how to prepare radiographic images for legal requirements, viewing, duplication, and transfer (e.g., HIPAA)
- Describe how to store chemical agents used in dental radiography procedures according to regulatory agencies, in compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard
- Identify current American Dental Association (ADA) guidelines for patient selection and limiting radiation exposure
- Apply the principles of radiation protection and hazards in the operation and location of radiographic equipment
- Demonstrate knowledge of patient safety measures to provide protection from x-radiation
- Address patient radiation concerns (e.g., informed consent, patient refusal)
- Identify operator safety measures to provide protection from x-radiation
- Describe methods for monitoring operator x-radiation exposure (e.g., personal monitoring device)
- Demonstrate understanding of infection control techniques used to minimize cross-contamination during radiographic procedures according to ADA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and OSHA guidelines for conventional and digital radiography.
- Expose and review a full mouth survey.
- Expose, process, and mount a full mouth radiographic survey using intra-oral film.
Click here to register for an upcoming session of this course.