ORE Part 1 Radiology & Radiation Protection

Question 1

What legislation governs radiation protection in the UK dental environment?

Accepted Answer

Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17) and Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 (IR(ME)R 2017)

Answer

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 alone

Answer

The Medicines Act 1968

Answer

The NHS Act 2006

Question 2

What does ALARP mean in radiation protection?

Accepted Answer

As Low As Reasonably Practicable — exposures must be kept as low as reasonably achievable while still providing diagnostic benefit

Answer

As Low As Radiation Permits

Answer

Always Limit All Radiation Procedures

Answer

Automatic Limit for All Radiation Protocols

Question 3

What is the role of the 'referral criteria' in dental radiography?

Accepted Answer

Evidence-based guidelines (e.g., FGDP Selection Criteria for Dental Radiography) that ensure X-rays are only taken when clinical benefit justifies the radiation risk — not as routine

Answer

Determining the type of film to use

Answer

Selecting the exposure time for different patients

Answer

Identifying which patients need dental implants

Question 4

What radiation detector is worn by dental radiographers for personal dose monitoring?

Accepted Answer

Thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) badge or electronic personal dosimeter (EPD)

Answer

A Geiger counter

Answer

Photographic film in a lead apron pocket

Answer

No monitoring device is required for dental staff

Question 5

What is the effective dose from a full mouth periapical series of radiographs (approximately)?

Accepted Answer

Approximately 30–100 µSv (microsieverts) depending on technique and equipment

Answer

Equal to 1 chest X-ray (0.1 mSv)

Answer

Equivalent to a CT head scan

Answer

Less than 1 µSv total

Question 6

What is the principal risk from low-dose ionising radiation in dental practice?

Accepted Answer

Stochastic effects — probabilistic cancer induction and genetic effects with no threshold dose; risk is proportional to cumulative dose

Answer

Deterministic effects (tissue reactions) like radiation burns at all dental doses

Answer

Immediate acute radiation sickness

Answer

No risk exists at dental X-ray doses