Basic Guide to Dental Radiography

Tim Reynolds has worked for many years as a radiographer in the NHS. Outside of clinical work Tim has worked in radiographic education for more than 20 years. Tim was a nationally elected member of the College of Radiographers Council. During his time on Council he was a member of the team that liaised with the Dental Nurse Standards Advisory Board to jointly develop the syllabus of study which provided the model for dental nurse radiography courses. He also sat on the National Executive of the British Radiation Protection Association. Formerly Principal Tutor for the Diagnostic Radiography undergraduate course at Keele University, Tim now runs his own educational consultancy specialising in radiography training for dental nurses.

Acknowledgements viii

1 General physics 1

2 X?-ray production 12

3 X?-ray interaction with matter 27

4 Principles of image formation 36

5 Imaging with dental X?-ray film 46

6 Digital imaging recording 61

7 X?-ray equipment 70

8 Radiation doses and dose measurement 78

9 Biological effects of X?-rays 86

10 Legislation: Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 (IRR 1999) 94

11 Legislation: Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposures) Regulations 2000 (IR(ME)R 2000), Statutory Instrument 1059 108

12 Quality assurance 114

13 Dental intra?-oral paralleling techniques 128

14 Orthopantomography 159

15 Other dental radiographic techniques 170

Appendix A: Adequate training 189

Appendix B: Image quality troubleshooting 192

Index 201