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Question 1

What is the purpose of the current Ionising Radiation Regulations?

Answer 1

Protects patients and staff from exposure to excessive amounts of radiation.
Keep exposure ALARP to protect everyone

Question 2

What is the purpose of the current Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations?

Answer 2

Protecting patients, ensuring that the dosage of radiation that they are exposed to is minimal and only takes place when absolutely necessary

Question 3

What are local rules?

Answer 3

They are surgery/practice specific - tailored to the designated area that they are displayed in
They protect people in that area
Summaries and posters should be made available/on display

Question 4

What is the radiation protection file?

Answer 4

Available in the practice for all staff members to gain access to at any point
Constantly updated with all company regulations and policies

Question 5

What is the primary beam?
Why can it pose a risk?

Answer 5

Travels in a straight line in a concentrated area to take the x-ray image - ie - through the patients cheek
Staff can be exposed to the primary beam unnecessarily

Question 6

Why is scatter radiation a risk?

Answer 6

X-ray beams can come into contact with one another and scatter out of the primary beam formation
Causes a larger area of exposure risk

Question 7

Why can absorption by the patient pose a risk?

Answer 7

Excessive absorption is dangerous for the patient
Can cause damage to cell structure - can lead to an increased risk of cancer

Question 8

Why is equipment failure an issue for meeting regulations?

Answer 8

May no longer be meeting regulation standards - dangerous
Failure to fire correctly can lead to multiple images being taken and therefore more exposure for the patient

Question 9

What is a controlled area?
What is the purpose of it?

Answer 9

An area that has been designated by an employer to assist in controlling and restricting radiation exposures

Question 10

What is the purpose of lead foil in a traditional x-ray film?

Answer 10

Prevents/minimises scattering of the ionising radiation past the film packet

Question 11

What is the purpose of an intensifying screen in an extra-oral (OPT) cassette?

Answer 11

Both sides of the cassette are used to reduce the dose of radiation exposure required to produce a dental image