Dental Radiographer Basics (Ch 11-15)

Question 1

Who is a dental radiographer?

Answer 1

any person who positions, exposes, and processes dental x-ray image receptors

Question 2

What is risk management?

Answer 2

the policies and procedures that should be followed by the dental radiographer to reduce the chances of a patient taking legal action against the dental radiographer or the supervising dentist

Question 3

What information about dental x-rays should be disclosed to the patient in order for them to give consent to treatment?

Answer 3

-purpose and potential benefits of the radiographs
-person responsible for performing the radiographic procedure
-number and type of radiographs used
-possible harm that may result if dental radiographs are not taken
-risks associated with x-ray exposure
-alternative diagnostic aids that may serve the same purpose as radiographs

Question 4

What is disclosure in dental radiography?

Answer 4

the process of informing a patient about the particulars of dental radiography

Question 5

What is informed consent?

Answer 5

consent given by a patient following complete disclosure

Question 6

What is liability?

Answer 6

legal accountability

Question 7

What is malpractice?

Answer 7

improper or negligent conduct or treatment

Question 8

What is negligence?

Answer 8

omission or failure to provide reasonable precaution, care, or action; occurs when the diagnosis made or the dental treatment delivered falls below the standard of care

Question 9

What is the standard of care?

Answer 9

the quality of care that is provided by dental practitioners in a similar locality under the same or similar conditions

Question 10

What is the statute of limitations?

Answer 10

a period during which a patient may being a malpractice action against a dentist or an auxillary

Question 11

What is confidentiality?

Answer 11

private information contained in the dental record

Question 12

What type of documentation should be included in the dental record regarding dental radiographs?

Answer 12

-informed consent
-number and type of radiographs exposed (including retakes)
-rationale for these radiographs
-diagnostic information obtained from the interpretation of the radiographs

Question 13

Who is responsible for prescribing and evaluating radiographs?

Answer 13

the dentist

Question 14

Who is the legal owner of a patient’s dental radiographs?

Answer 14

the dentist

Question 15

What is an antiseptic?

Answer 15

a substance that inhibits the growth of bacteria

Question 16

What is asepsis?

Answer 16

the absence of pathogens or disease-causing microorganisms

Question 17

What are bloodborne pathogens?

Answer 17

microorganisms present in blood that causes disease to humans

Question 18

What does disinfect mean?

Answer 18

to inhibit or destroy disease-causing microorganisms through the use of a chemical or physical procedure

Question 19

What is a high-level disinfectant, and what are they labeled as by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?

Answer 19

used to disinfect heat-sensitive, semicritical dental instruments; labeled as “steriliants-disinfectants”

Question 20

What is a intermediate-level disinfectant, and what are they labeled as by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?

Answer 20

recommended for use on all surfaces that have been contaminated; labeled as chemical germicides as both “hospital disinfectants” and “tuberculocidals”

Question 21

What is a low-level disinfectant, and what are they labeled as by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?

Answer 21

recommended for general housekeeping purposes; labeled as “hospital disinfectants”

Question 22

What is disinfection?

Answer 22

the act of disinfecting

Question 23

What is occupational exposure?

Answer 23

contact with blood or other infectious materials involving the skin, eye, or mucous membranes that result from procedures performed by the dental professional

Question 24

What is parenteral exposure?

Answer 24

contact with blood or other infectious materials that result from piercing or puncturing the skin barrier

Question 25

What is an exposure incident?

Answer 25

a specific incident involving contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that result from procedures performed by the dental professional

Question 26

What is infectious waste?

Answer 26

waste that consists of blood, blood products, contaminated sharps, or other microbiological products

Question 27

What is a critical instrument?

Answer 27

instruments that are used to penetrate soft tissue or bone and must be sterilized after each use

Question 28

What is a noncritical instrument?

Answer 28

instruments that do not come in contact with mucous membranes

Question 29

What is a semicritical instrument?

Answer 29

instruments that contact but do not penetrate the soft tissue or bone and must be sterilized after each use

Question 30

What is a pathogen?

Answer 30

a microorganism capable of causing disease

Question 31

What is personal protective equipment (PPE)?

Answer 31

equipment worn by dental professionals to protect themselves from hazards; including gloves, masks, and eyeware

Question 32

What is a sharp?

Answer 32

any object that can penetrate skin

Question 33

What are standard precautions?

Answer 33

measures that integrate and expand the elements of universal precautions into a standard of care designed to protect health care personnel and patients from pathogens that can be spread by blood or any other body fluid, excretion, or secretion

Question 34

What is sterilization?

Answer 34

the act of sterilizing

Question 35

What does it mean to sterilize?

Answer 35

the use of a physical or chemical procedure to destroy all pathogens, including highly resistant bacterial and fungal spores

Question 36

List some examples of critical instruments used in dental radiography.

Answer 36

there are no critical instruments used in dental radiography

Question 37

List some examples of semicritical instruments used in dental radiography.

Answer 37

-beam alignment devices

Question 38

List some examples of noncritical instruments used in dental radiography.

Answer 38

-position indicating device
-exposure button
-control panel
-lead apron

Question 39

Can digital sensors be heat sterilized after use?

Answer 39

no

Question 40

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), what should be used to clean and disinfect the digital sensor after use?

Answer 40

EPA-registered intermediate level disinfectant

Question 41

List some examples of pathogens that dental professionals may be exposed to.

Answer 41

-cold and flu viruses and bacteria
-Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
-Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
-Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1, HSV-2)
-Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
-Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Question 42

What are the three routes of disease transmission in the dental environment?

Answer 42

-direct contact with pathogens present in saliva, blood, respiratory secretions, or lesions
-indirect contact with contaminated objects or surfaces
-direct contact with airborne contaminants presents in spatter or aerosols of oral and respiratory fluids

Question 43

What three conditions must be present in order for an infection to occur?

Answer 43

-a susceptible host
-a pathogen with sufficient infectivity and numbers to cause infection
-a portal through which the pathogen may enter the host