Policy Statement: To minimize radiation exposure to faculty, staff, students, and patients, the making of all radiographic images must be strictly governed according to the following protocols:
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Follows the published Food and Drug Administration, American Dental Association, and the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology guidelines, standards, and regulations pertaining to use of dental radiation and prescribing dental radiographs.
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The prescription for all radiographic images must be added to the patient's record and authorized by the licensed attending dental faculty member. Prior radiographic images, if available, should be evaluated before new radiographic images are ordered. Only those additional views needed for complete diagnosis/treatment planning will be exposed. This does not preclude making a new intraoral full mouth survey if it is appropriate to the diagnosis.
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The need for all radiographic images, as established through history and clinical examination, is based on the professional judgment of dental faculty and licensed dentists.
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Radiographic images ordered on a routine basis, without patient’s need, are prohibited. Screening radiographic images will be kept to the number needed to determine the acceptance of a patient for treatment and will become part of any subsequent diagnostic radiograph series in the patient’s record.
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When a need for radiographic images is established, students will be required to produce a minimum number of radiographic images consistent with an adequate diagnosis of disease.
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Radiographic images should only be made on patients capable of compliance. Non-compliant patients may be referred for the procedure to be done under appropriate sedation.
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The need for radiographic images during and/or after treatment, and the frequency of recall radiographs, will be based on the patient's needs and the professional judgment of the attending dental faculty.
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Retakes/remakes should be approved by a faculty supervisor or radiology staff before retaking any images. The student must identify the faulty image, cause of error and correction method. Faculty or trained staff must provide input and assist students during retakes. Students may retake an image once after consulting with faculty or trained staff. If additional retakes/remakes are needed, they must be done under the direct supervision of the faculty or trained staff. Retakes should be taken only for a valid clinical or diagnostic reason, not the purpose of improving the esthetics of the radiograph.
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If a student is judged to lack the required technical skills, they will be required to complete a competency review in technique and knowledge of radiation protection principles with the Division Head of Oral Radiology.
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Radiographic surveys shall show appropriate region of interest including crown of teeth, root apex, surrounding periapical bone, and each crown with minimum overlapping.
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The policy for exposing radiographic images for staff, faculty, students and patients is the same. Radiographic exposures will only be made when there is a potential benefit by the discovery of useful information on the radiograph.
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Radiographs for teaching purposes only are not allowed.
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Radiographic images will not be made only for administrative or research purposes (including insurance claims or legal proceedings). However, diagnostic radiographic images may be used for administrative purposes. Radiographic images of patients will also not be made only for training or demonstration.
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Professional judgment and selection criteria must be used to determine the frequency and extent of each radiographic exposure. Every effort must be made to limit radiation exposure to the patient and the operator.
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Imaging For Research: Any research related radiographic imaging activity must be approved prior to start of a project by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Activity must stop at the end of approval period from IRB.
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ALARA principle applies to all types of imaging. All the radiographs must be prescribed by a licensed faculty member. Appropriate codes should be entered and completed in the patient’s electronic health record.
