Elements and Performance Criteria
- Prepare clients for dental radiography
- Position the client comfortably
- Reassure the client and explain the procedure in language that is easily understood
- Ask the client to remove items which may interfere with the radiographic examination and offer appropriate explanation
- Ensure client, other members of the dental team and the public are protected from ionising radiations
- Assist the operator in the implementation of safe work practices to minimise radiation risks to workers and to clients
- Select and prepare the correct radiographic film/image receptors and film packet holders for the radiographic examination and make it available to the operator
- Label exposed films accurately and legibly before the client leaves the surgery
- Prepare equipment and materials for dental radiography
- Maintain clean and dry working surfaces
- Clean and maintain processing equipment in good working order
- Maintain processing solutions at the correct strength and temperature
- Record the date of preparation of solutions accurately
- Arrange for servicing of equipment at the intervals specified by the manufacturer and Radiation Health
- File equipment service records in a location within the surgery that can be readily accessed
- Prepare digital program to receive digital image
- Process and mount dental radiographs
- Protect processing facility/equipment against accidental intrusion of light
- Wear personal protective equipment
- Handle radiographic film packages/image receptors carefully so that their quality is maintained
- Carry out processing stages in the correct sequence and for appropriate duration in accordance with manufacturer specifications
- Identify common faults caused by incorrect processing and notify the operator
- Rectify processing faults in accordance with operator's instructions
- Notify the operator of any processing faults which cannot be rectified prior to further radiographs being processed
- Label and date the radiograph mounting accurately and legibly
- Mount and secure radiographs in correct anatomical position for viewing
- File radiographs correctly
- Maintain stock of unexposed radiographic film and chemicals
- Assure the quality of dental radiographic processing
- Participate effectively in radiographic quality assurance programs
- Monitor processing solutions for deterioration
- Notify the operator when radiographs do not meet the quality criteria of the reference radiograph produced under optimum conditions
- Collect and record all unacceptable radiographs that do not meet diagnostic standards due to processing error and identify how processing can be improved
- Dispose of waste chemicals safely in accordance with manufacturer specifications and legislative requirements