End of week summary

Well done – you have completed the first week of the Radiation Protection in Dental Practice course.

During this week we have:

• Introduced the structure of the course, the learning objectives, the educators, and outlined the content of the course.
• Described the different types of dental X-ray equipment and ancillary equipment, and their key features for radiation protection.
• Described what X-rays are and how they are generated, and the key features of dental X-ray tubes
• Defined some important terms commonly used in radiation protection, including:
  • ionisation
  • radiation dose
  • justification, optimisation, dose limits
• Described the health effects that can result from exposure to X-rays, typical doses received by patients during dental radiography and the risks of radiation exposure in the wider context of other types of risk.
• Discussed the main factors affecting the size of the dose patients receive during dental radiography, and how these influence the doses received by dental practice staff.
• Discussed the additional factors that also affect the doses received by dental practice staff

Next week you will be learning about the two pieces of UK legislation that protects people undergoing medical radiation exposures, and protect employees and other persons from radiation exposures received as a result of work activities.

Take some time to reflect on what you have learned this week and how it may apply throughout the next four weeks.

In the comments, share your thoughts on this week.