NHS Dental Contracts & Medical Emergencies Flashcards

Under IRMER 2017 (Ionising Radiation Medical Exposure Regulations), what is the role of the 'referrer' in dental radiography?

Answer: The registered dental professional who clinically justifies the need for the radiographic examination

Under IRMER 2017, the referrer is the registered professional who requests or clinically justifies the radiographic examination; they must have adequate knowledge to justify the radiation exposure.

What is the IRMER 2017 requirement for 'justification' of a dental radiograph?

Answer: The benefit of the examination must outweigh the radiation risk to the individual

IRMER 2017 requires that every individual radiographic examination is justified by demonstrating that the diagnostic benefit to the patient outweighs the radiation detriment, applying to all dental radiographs.

What is the recommended recall interval for bitewing radiographs in a caries-free low-risk adult patient?

Answer: Every 2 years

FGDP(UK) radiographic guidelines recommend 2-yearly bitewing radiographs for low-risk adult patients with posterior tooth contacts and no recent caries, balancing diagnostic benefit against radiation dose.

What is CBCT's primary advantage over conventional dental radiography?

Answer: Three-dimensional imaging at lower dose than medical CT, showing structures in all planes without superimposition

CBCT provides volumetric 3D imaging, eliminating superimposition and allowing structures to be viewed in axial, coronal, and sagittal planes — invaluable for implant planning, impacted teeth, and jaw pathology.

Which professional is designated as the 'Radiation Protection Supervisor' (RPS) in a dental practice?

Answer: A named, trained member of the dental team responsible for day-to-day compliance with radiation procedures

The RPS is a practice-based professional, trained in radiation protection, responsible for ensuring local rules are followed and day-to-day compliance with IRR 2017 radiation protection procedures.

What are the three categories of individuals under IRMER 2017 involved in medical exposures?

Answer: Referrer, Practitioner, and Operator

IRMER 2017 defines three duty holder categories for medical exposures: the Referrer (justifies/requests), the Practitioner (justifies/authorises), and the Operator (carries out the exposure practically).