Radiation Protection in Dentistry - Recommended Safety Procedures for the Use of Dental X-Ray Equipment - Safety Code 30

Environmental Health Directorate
Health Canada
1999
ISBN: 0-660-15420-X
Cat. No.: H46-2/94-177E

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Table of Contents

• Explanatory Notes
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Principal Objectives of the Safety Code
• 3. Responsibility and Personnel
  • 3.1 Responsibility
  • 3.2 X-Ray Equipment Operators
• 4. Facility Requirements
  • 4.1 Design Criteria for Dental Facilities
  • 4.2 General Recommendations
  • 4.3 Radiation Protection Inspection
• 5. Equipment Specifications
  • 5.1 Newly Acquired Dental X-Ray Equipment
  • 5.2 Existing Dental X-Ray Equipment
    • 5.2.1 General Requirements
    • 5.2.2 Conventional Dental X-Ray Equipment
    • 5.2.3 Panaromic X-Ray Equipment
    • 5.2.4 Cephalometric X-Ray Equipment
• 6. Film Processing and Handling
  • 6.1 Film Processing
  • 6.2 Darkroom
  • 6.3 Film Storage
  • 6.4 Viewbox
  • 6.5 Cassette and Screen
• 7. Quality Assurance Program
  • 7.1 Goals of Quality Assurance Program
  • 7.2 Cost-benefit Considerations of Quality Assurance Program
  • 7.3 Implementation of a Quality Assurance Program
    • 7.3.1 Establishment of Quality Control Procedures
    • 7.3.2 Establishment of Administrative Procedures
  • 7.4 Radiographic Imaging Quality Control
  • 7.5 Quality Control Procedures in Dental Radiography
    • 7.5.1 Procedures During Implementation
    • 7.5.2 Procedures During Operation
    • 7.5.3 Procedures Frequency
• 8. Procedures to Reduce Radiation Exposure to Personnel
  • 8.1 General Recommendations
• 9. Procedures for Minimizing Radiation Exposure to Patients
  • 9.1 Guidelines for the Prescription of Dental Radiographic Examiniations
  • 9.2 Guidelines for Protecting the Patient During Radiographic Examinations

Appendices

• Appendix I Recommended Dose Limits of X-Radiation to Operators and Other Occupationally Exposed Personnel
• Appendix II Shielding Guides for Dental Facilities
  1. Shielding for Conventional X-Ray Equipment
  2. Shielding for Panoramic X-Ray Equipment
  3. Shielding for Cephalometric X-Ray Equipment
• Appendix III Shielding Guides for Storage of Dental Radiographic Film
• Appendix IV Provincial / Territorial Radiation Safety Agencies of Dental Facilities
• Appendix V Radiation Measurement Units - International (SI) System
• Appendix VI Glossary of terminology
• Appendix VII Radiation Emitting Devices Regulations for Dental X-Ray Equipment with an Extra-oral Source
• Bibliography