MedExplore Dental Recruitment Agency

Information Pages:

• Steps to registering as a dentist in the UK
• Official and regulatory UK dental bodies
• UK dental employment arrangements
• The NHS contract and Fee Scale
• The Staff
• Cross infection control
• Complaints and disciplinary procedures
• Risk management
• The referral procedure
• Working with a laboratory
• Radiation safety
• Links to rental agencies
• Transport uniform and car hire

The Legal person (practice owner) has the legal responsibility to ensure regulations are observed. 
The legal person must appoint a Radiation Protection Supervisor (an appropriately trained dentist or dental nurse) who will help ensure the regulations are observed.
The RPS must receive appropriate training.

Any employee (over 18 years old) must not be exposed to more then 20mSv per year, but is recommended that employees involved in radiography are not exposed to more than 1mSv per year.

Pregnant staff members must not be exposed to more then 1mSv per year. (If the pregnant staff member is present for more than 100 exposures per week the RPA should be consulted)

The Legal Person must ensure all staff directly involved in radiography are trained so that they know:
-the risks to health caused by exposure to x-rays
-the precautions that need to be taken.
-the importance of observing regulations

Dental Practices must conform to two sets of regulations:

• The Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999(IRR99) which relates principally to the protection of staff and the public.

• The Ionising Radiation (medical Exposure) Regulations 2000(IR(ME)R2000) which relate to patient protection.

The Controlled Area 

This is the area where no one must stand during X-ray exposure
It takes the form of:
- the path of the primary X-ray beam (until it is attenuated by shielding)
- the area within 1.5m of the X-ray tube and the patient, in any direction.

However, these guidelines are minimums. Care should be taken to ensure that no one stands in the path of the primary beam and that all staff (and other patients) stand as far away as possible during exposure.

Intra oral radiography

• Intra oral film of Speed E (or faster should be used)

• The beam should be collimated

• For dental radiography use lead aprons for pregnant women.

• Intra-oral X-ray machines should operate between 60-70 kV.

• Use film holders.

It is a good idea to clinically audit to quality of radiographs and to review and improve procedures.

If a patient (or staff member) is exposed to a larger than intended dose, the event must be reported to a Radiation Protection Adviser. (The Radiation Protection Adviser is an appropriately qualified individual who has expert knowledge of radiation).

MedExplore Ltd Dental Recruitment Agency takes no responsibility and bears no liability for the accuracy of this information. It is strongly recommended that you act only on advice from the BDA, the GDC or your defence union.

Other useful information about working as a dentist in the UK can be found by using the menu at the top of this page.  Register now as a dentist or dental practice and keep up-to-date with the latest jobs on offer, sent to you by email.