Dental Imaging

Dental Radiography Guidelines

• The federal law that establishes guidelines for the proper maintenance of dental x-ray equipment is not specified.

Informed Consent

• A parent or legal guardian must give informed consent for a minor patient to undergo dental imaging.
• Informed consent is the process of informing the patient about the details of dental imaging.

Infection Control and Personal Protective Equipment

• Sterile gloves do not always have to be worn during dental radiography.
• Masks and safety glasses are not optional for dental radiography.
• Infection control procedures must be followed in dental radiography, even though no aerosols are produced.
• Covered surfaces must also be disinfected in dental radiography.
• Gloves fall under the non-critical infection control category.

Disease Transmission and Pathogens

• A major concern in dentistry is cross-contamination.
• A pathogen is a microorganism that can cause disease.

Routes of Disease Transmission

• The recognized routes of disease transmission in the dental environment are not specified, except that food and water are not one of them.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• The purpose of PPE is not specified.

Informed Consent Elements

• One of the recognized elements of informed consent is not "the patient's medical history".

Confidentiality

• A dental professional can discuss patient treatment with other healthcare professionals, according to the text.

Dental Auxiliaries

• According to state laws, the dentist is legally accountable for the actions of dental auxiliaries.

Ownership of Dental Images

• The basis for the ownership of dental images by the dentist is not specified.

Sterilization of Instruments

• Critical instruments (e.g. dental instruments) must be sterilized after each use in dental imaging.
• Semi-critical instruments (e.g. mirrors, Cotton forceps) must be sterilized after each use in dental imaging, if feasible.
• Non-critical instruments or devices (e.g. x-ray heads, chin rests) require intermediate-level or low-level infection techniques for their care between patients.
• Acceptable methods of sterilization for instrument sterilization in dental imaging are not specified.

Test your knowledge on the importance of dental images in diagnosis and treatment. Explore the potential consequences of patient refusal and learn about educating patients on the significance of dental imaging.