I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Dental Radiology I

2. Course Prefix & Number:
DENT 1118

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 2

Lab Hours: 2

4. Course Description:

Radiology I is designed to provide knowledge and skills in radiation history, intra-oral and extra-oral radiographic techniques, image principles and techniques, radiographic equipment and image receptors, radiographic infection control, radiation exposure guidelines, patient and operator protection/safety, patient relations, education, and legal issues, anatomical landmarks and pathology, radiographic film mounting and viewing, radiographic interpretation, and record keeping.

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

No placement tests required

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

II. Transfer and Articulation

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course fulfills a requirement for the following program(s):

Dental Assistant, AAS and Diploma

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Apply ethical principles in decision-making	Describe ALARA concept in how it relates to radiation safety.
Work as a team member to achieve shared goals	Use small study groups to determine the outcomes of radiographic landmarks and exposure projects.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Identify radiographic terminology;
• Explain and perform intra-oral, extra-oral, and supplemental radiographic examinations, types, holding devices, and criteria;
• Describe radiographic x-ray equipment;
• Explain digital radiography;
• Incorporate radiation safety and protection;
• Describe radiographic anatomy, associated structures, and terminology;
• Explain radiographic image mounting, viewing, and interpretation;
• Incorporate infection control guidelines;
• Identify radiographic patient education and legal issues;
• Explain patient management techniques; and
• Summarize radiation and x-radiation discoveries.

 

 

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Radiographic terminology
• Learning Objective
• Dental radiography terms
2. Intra-oral, extra-oral, and supplemental radiographic examinations, types, holding devices, and criteria
• Learning Objectives
• Various radiographic dental examination types and purposes
• Radiographic image receptors, holders, requirements, and criteria
• Intra-oral and extra-oral radiographic diagnostic criteria, prescription factors, technique errors and corrections
• Paralleling and bisecting technique principles and rules
• Periapical and bitewing purposes and film projection criteria
• Procedure preparation, safety, and exposure sequence guidelines
• Digital imaging techniques
• Pediatric radiographic procedures
•  Extra-oral film projections, localization techniques, film placement, and functions
• Three dimensional digital film imaging, equipment, terminology, and projections, advantages and disadvantages
3. Radiographic x-ray equipment
• Learning Objectives
• Intra-oral radiographic regulations and purpose
• Dental radiographic machine components and functions
• Radiographic equipment use
4. Digital radiography
• Learning Objectives
• Digital radiographic fundamentals
• Digital radiographic equipment and functions
• Digital radiographic procedural steps
5. Radiographic radiation safety and protection
• Learning Objectives
• Patient, operator, and personnel protection and monitoring methods
• Radiation safety protection methods and techniques
• Federal and state radiation regulations
• American Dental Association (ADA) exposure guidelines and criteria
• Radiation exposure guidelines for Maximum Permissible Dose (MPD), Maximum Annual Dose (MAD), and As Low As Reasonably Achievable concepts (ALARA)
6. Radiographic anatomy, associated structures, and terminology
• Learning Objectives
• Anatomical terminology
• Dental structures vs. general anatomy
• Maxillary and mandibular radiographic anatomy and landmarks
7. Radiographic image mounting, viewing, and interpretation
• Learning Objectives
• Radiographic film mount purpose, film mounts, viewing equipment and their use
• Film mount process, labeling, methods, and viewing techniques
• Radiographic image interpretation concepts and process
• Dental restorative materials, caries, and periodontal disease classifications
• Dental trauma, injury, and periapical lesions
• Dental restorative materials and pathology on radiographic images
• Radiopaque and radiolucent radiographic dental restorations, specialty materials, appliances, and foreign objects
8. Infection control guidelines
• Learning Objectives
• Radiation infection control guidelines and procedures, including proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and utilizing standard precautions
• Bloodborne Pathogen standard
9. Radiographic patient education and legal issues
• Learning Objectives
• Patient education methods, patient rights, confidentiality, and risk management
• Common radiographic questions that patients may have
• Radiographic informed consent and state requirements
• Radiation recordkeeping guidelines
10. Radiation and x-radiation discoveries
• Learning Objectives
• Dental radiation pioneers, contributions, and discoveries
• Historical radiographic equipment, film, and technique developments
11. Patient management techniques
• Learning Objectives
• Styles of patient communication
• Radiographic patient challenges and management techniques
• Special needs dental radiographic patients, including physical and developmental disabilities
• Gag reflex mechanisms, precipitating factors, and technique modifications

2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions

1. X-ray machine components and purpose
2. Indicating devices
3. Radiation safety
4. Bitewing technique exposures
5. Paralleling technique exposures
6. Bisecting technique exposures
7. Adult Full Mouth Bitewing series techniques
8. Pediatric Full Mouth Bitewing series techniques
9. Digital sensor radiology Bitewing and Full Mouth techniques
10. Phosphor plate exposure and processing techniques
11. Film mounting
12. Radiology infection control procedures
13. Proper patient positioning
14. Radiographic landmarks
15. Error Evaluation dental images
16. Labeling of radiographs within the Dexis system
17. Image interpretation
18. Slob technique