quality assurance in dental radiography chapter 19

Quality Assurance in Dental Radiography

Chapter 19

Copyright ©2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.All rights reserved.

Essentials of Dental Radiography for Dental Assistants and Hygienists, Ninth EditionEvelyn M. Thomson • Orlen N. Johnson

Objectives Define the key words Explain the relationship between quality

assurance and quality control List the steps of a quality assurance program Explain the role a competent radiographer

plays in quality assurance List the four objectives of quality control tests



Objectives Make a step-wedge with cardboard and lead

foil and demonstrate how to use it List two tests the radiographer can use to

monitor a dental x-ray machine Explain the use of the coin test to monitor

darkroom safelighting Describe how to test for light leaks in the

darkroom



Objectives Explain the use of a reference film to test

processing chemistry Explain the use of the fresh-film test to

monitor the quality of a box of film Describe quality control tests for radiographic

viewing equipment Advocate the use of quality assurance to

produce diagnostic-quality radiographs with minimal radiation exposure



Introduction Quality assurance is defined as the

planning, implementation, and evaluation of procedures used to produce high-quality radiographs with maximum diagnostic information (yield) while minimizing radiation exposure.



Introduction Establishing a quality control program for

radiographic procedures helps to increase the quality of radiographs produced and decrease the incidence of retake radiographs.

Quality assurance includes both quality administration procedures and quality control techniques.



trol



Quality Administration Procedures Needs assessment Written plan Authority and responsibilities Monitoring and maintenance schedules Log and periodic evaluation



TABLE 19-2 Suggested Time Intervals forPerforming Quality Control Tests



Competence of the Radiographer Essential to a quality assurance program is

the ability of the radiographer. Retakes result in unnecessary radiation

exposure to the patient and lost time for both the patient and the practice.

The radiographer must be competent not only in exposing, processing, and mounting dental radiographs, but also in identifying when errors occur.



Quality Control The objectives of quality control include:

Maintain a high standard of image quality. Identify problems before image quality is

compromised. Keep patient and occupational exposures to a

minimum. Reduce the occurrence of retake radiographs.



Quality Control Dental x-ray machine monitoring Darkroom monitoring Processing system monitoring X-ray film monitoring



BOX 19-1 Quality Control Tests for Dental X-ray Machines



PROCEDURE 19-1Assembling a step-wedge



Figure 19-1 Step-wedge. (A) Commercially made step-wedge. (B) Step-wedge made from discarded sheets of lead foil from intraoral film packets.



Figure 19-2 Sketch of a step-wedge. A step-wedge is useful in making visual comparisons for quality control.



PROCEDURE 19-2 Procedure for x-ray machine output consistency test



Figure 19-3 Correct position of tube head when not in use. Extension arm folded, tube head and PID aimed at the floor.



PROCEDURE 19-3Coin test for safelight adequacy



PROCEDURE 19-4Reference film to monitor processing solutions



Figure 19-4 Dental radiographic quality control device. Available from x-ray QC [formerly Dental Radiographic Devices], www.xrayqc.com.



Review: Chapter Summary Quality assurance is defined as the

planning, implementation, and evaluation of procedures used to produce high-quality radiographs with maximum diagnostic information (yield) while minimizing radiation exposure.

Quality assurance includes both quality administration procedures and quality control techniques.



Review: Chapter Summary The five steps to a quality administration

program are (1) assess needs, (2) develop a written plan, (3) assign authority and responsibilities, (4) develop monitoring and maintenance schedules, and (5) use a log and evaluations to check on the program.



Review: Chapter Summary The key to producing the highest quality

diagnostic radiographs with the lowest possible radiation exposure is operator competence.

Quality control is defined as a series of tests to ensure that the radiographic system is functioning properly and that the radiographs produced are of an acceptable level of quality.



Recall: Study Questions General Chapter Review



Reflect: Case Study The practice where you work needs to update

their radiographic quality control plan. Currently the basic plan mentions the need to test the x-ray machine and monitor the darkroom and processing systems. Applying what you have learned in this chapter, develop a quality control plan for your practice. Include the following:



Reflect: Case Study

1. List of equipment you think the practice should be testing

2. The name of the test needed3. Recommended time interval for performing

the test4. Name of the person assigned to perform the

test



Reflect: Case Study

5. A description of what a failed test and a successful test would look like

6. The action required if a failed test results



Reflect: Case Study

Then prepare the following documents that your practice would use to assist the quality assurance plan:1.A detailed, step-by-step procedure that someone could follow to perform each of the tests you have recommended2.Forms to keep a log of the outcomes for each of the tests you recommended



Relate: Laboratory Application Proceed to Chapter 19, Laboratory

Application, to complete this activity.

quality assurance in dental radiography chapter 19

Documents

dental assistants

dental radiographychapter

quality of radiographs

use of quality assurance

pearson education

quality controllist

quality assurancelist

thomson orlen