Course Title: Apply the principles of radiation biology and protection in dental practice

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2020

Course Code: DENT5858C

Course Title: Apply the principles of radiation biology and protection in dental practice

Important Information:

This unit is being co-delivered with HLTDEN008 Prepare to expose a prescribed dental radiographic image and HLTDEN009 Produce a prescribed dental radiographic image. 

You must enrol in the two units delivered in this cluster and all learning and assessment activities will include the components of all competencies.

School: 174T School of VE Engineering, Health & Science

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4407 - Certificate IV in Dental Assisting (Radiography)

Course Contact: Ms. Sandra Torbica

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9341 1408

Course Contact Email: sandra.torbica@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 120

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to minimise the risk of radiation to the patient, the operator and others during the exposure of a prescribed dental radiographic image. It also describes the quality assurance measures necessary to ensure all radiographs are of consistent diagnostic standard.

This unit applies to dental assisting work.

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand Standards and industry codes of practice.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

HLTDEN007 Apply the principles of radiation biology and protection in dental practice

Element:

1. Apply the principles of radiation biology to protect patient, operator and others from ionising radiation

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Implement safe work practices to minimise risks to operator, patient and others of immediate and long-term effects of radiation

1.2 Identify correctly the main components of the X-ray unit to assist the operator taking a dental radiograph

1.3 Identify correctly and select the exposure variables of dental X-ray generating equipment according to manufacturers’ instructions and patient requirements

1.4 Apply the correct units of radiation dose

Element:

2. Determine image characteristics of a dental radiographic image to minimise the necessity for re-takes

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Ensure visual qualities of the radiograph are of a diagnostic standard

2.2 Ensure geometric qualities of the radiograph are of a diagnostic standard

Element:

3. Minimise radiation by maintaining quality in processing

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Identify the contents of the film package and determine the use of each item

3.2 Maintain quality assurance for processing dental radiographic images

3.3 Follow quality assurance processes for the use of radiographic chemicals in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions

3.4 Maintain appropriate conditions for manual and automatic processing in accordance with manufacturers’ specifications

3.5 Identify a range of processing errors and implement corrective measures to produce a diagnostic radiograph

Learning Outcomes


  1. Apply the principles of radiation biology to protect patient, operator and others from ionising radiation
  2. Determine image characteristics of a dental radiographic image to minimise the necessity for re-takes
  3. Minimise radiation by maintaining quality in processing


Details of Learning Activities

Students will be involved in the following learning activities to meet requirements for this competency:

  • Face to Face classes
  • Written classroom tasks
  • Demonstration and classroom discussion
  • Facilitator led practical clinical demonstration
  • Group discussions
  • Participation in group activities based on simulated workplace exercises
  • Clinical practice, peer evaluation/feedback session/completion of practical worksheets
  • Online learning  via CANVAS
  • Self-managed research to support completion of Study Guides.
  • Students will be observed and assessed through their planned activities throughout the duration of the course


Teaching Schedule

As per Certificate IV Timetable, which is issued as a hard copy on Induction Day and is also located in Canvas.

The classes will be delivered on level 3 or 2 of Building 154, RMIT (within the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne). Notification will be provided via student email if the date or location change.

The following teaching schedule is as per the timetable issued to students via email prior to their commencement, as well as on Day 1 during student induction into the program. The timetable is also provided in Canvas for student reference. (Please Note: timetable is subject to change at the discretion of RMIT. In this event notification will be provided to your student email).

The following teaching schedule is as per the Certificate IV in Dental Assisting timetable (Please refer to Assessment tasks section for assessment schedule dates):

 

Session 1 (Monday 24 Feb 2020)

  • Legal and Ethical Induction

 

Session 2 (Monday 23 March 2020)

  • Principles of Radiation (Lecture/Workshop)

 

Session 3 (Monday 23 March 2020)

  • Digital Radiation (Lecture/Workshop)

 

Session 4 (Monday 06 April 2020)

  • Safety and Radiation Hygiene (Lecture/Workshop)


Session 5 (Tuesday 07 April 2020)

  • Intraoral and Extraoral Dental Anatomy (Lecture/Workshop)

 

Session 6 (Monday 04 May 2020)

  • Film Placement Practical session/Student to Student

 

Session 7 (Tuesday 05 May 2020)

  • Occlusal radiographic technique Practical session

 

Session 8 (Monday to Thursday - week commencing Group A: 11 May 2020, Group B: 18 May 2020, Group C: 25 May 2020, Group D: 01 June 2020

  • Intra-oral Radiographs Simulated Clinic (Bisecting, Paralleling and Bitewing Techniques)

 

Session 9 (Monday 17 August 2020)

  • Dental lab revision

 

Session 10 (Monday 05 October 2020)

  • WPA Preparation Workshop


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

Students will be able to access course information and learning materials through CANVAS.

CANVAS is an online resource with the lesson plans for each unit. Within CANVAS are the session lessons plans, assessments, resources and other materials required for completion of each unit of competency.

Additional materials maybe provided in class and lists of relevant reference books, resources in the library and accessible Internet sites will be provided where possible. During the course, you will be directed to websites to enhance your knowledge and understanding of difficult concepts.

 


Overview of Assessment

Before the critical aspects of evidence are considered all prerequisites must be met. 

This unit is being co-assessed with HLTDEN008 Prepare to expose a prescribed dental radiographic image and HLTDEN009 Produce a prescribed dental radiographic image. 

 

To be deemed competent you must demonstrate an understanding of all aspects required of the competency.   

Regular attendance is necessary. 

Assessment methods have been designed to measure your achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over multiple tasks and consist of theory and practical based tasks.

 


Assessment Tasks

To be deemed competent student must pass all assessments and must demonstrate an understanding of all aspects of assessment and the competency required which will incorporate a variety of methods including knowledge and skill based tasks and activities.

Assessment methods have been designed to build student knowledge and skills throughout all 3 units of competency over 3 LEARNING STAGES containing multiple formal tasks and assessments. Please note that students will not be permitted to proceed with STAGE 2 until STAGE 1 learning and assessment process has been successfully completed. 

Student will be asked to personally demonstrate to teacher/assessor the practical skills gained during this course to the relevant industry standards within the simulated and workplace environment.

Additional Formal assessment activities will occur throughout this course and feedback will be provided at regular intervals.

In order to comply with the legal requirements of this unit, students will be required to keep the Log Book up to date during their work practice under supervision of the licenced operator in their workplace. The Log Book will be required to be submitted to the lead teacher upon request for the purpose of a regular monitoring in student skill gaining. 

Student will need to obtain Satisfactory (S) in all following assessment tasks before a final grade of CA (Competency Achieved) can occur.

In case of Not Yet Satisfactory (NYS) result, student may get opportunity to re-sit the test or be re-assessed in the practical assessment. In case of NYS result again, student file will be taken to the Course Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting for further discussion and final decision making.  

Outcome/feedback for assessment tasks will be provided via Grades on Canvas and/or may also be discussed verbally if required.

 

STAGE 1 OF STUDENT LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT:

 

Assessment Task 1: Dental Anatomy Written test  

(This assessment is co-assessed in a cluster HLTDEN007 Apply the principles in radiation biology and protection in dental practice in conjunction with HLTDEN008 Prepare to expose a prescribed dental  radiographic image and HLTDEN009 Produce a prescribed radiographic image)

This is an open book assessment scheduled on 05 May 2020.  Students are only allowed to use the current Dental Radiography textbook as a reference during this test.This assessment will assist students in understanding and interpreting geometric and visual qualities of the radiographs. In order to achieve a Satisfactory result, student must complet all questions successfully. Further guidance will be provided during the class. 

 

Assessment Task 2: Intra-oral Simulated practical assessment  

(This assessment is co-assessed in a cluster HLTDEN007 Apply the principles in radiation biology and protection in dental practice in conjunction with HLTDEN008 Prepare to expose a prescribed dental  radiographic image and HLTDEN009 Produce a prescribed radiographic image)

This assessment will be conducted on Thursday of the same week when students are attending their Intra oral clinical practice sessions (as per the group allocation). 

This is a simulated assessment in the Level 3 Sim Lab involving all 3 techniques- Bisecting, Paralleling and Bitewing technique. Only after successful completion of this assessment students will be permitted to take radiographs on real patients under direct supervision of their workplace mentors.

Assessment criteria and further information will be discussed with students during their attendance to lectures, as well as practical session. 

To undertake a practical clinical assessment (simulation), students MUST present for the assessment process as follows:

  • Appropriate clinical attire (no shorts, jeans or tracksuit pants, no bare midriff, no singlet tops).
  • Footwear fully covered in leather/vinyl (not suede) clinical footwear.
  • Hair is to be contained by tying back or in appropriate hair cover.
  • Fingernails must be short and clean and no nail varnish to be worn. No artificial fingernails are to be worn.
  • The wearing of henna is acceptable.
  • No jewellery to be worn on the hands or wrists. Wedding rings or jewellery that cannot be removed for cultural reasons must be taped with an appropriate waterproof tape 
  • All cuts/ skin abrasions on the hands or wrists must be covered with a waterproof dressing

A student that is non-compliant with any of the above requirements will not be permitted to undertake practical exercise or assessment at the scheduled time which will result in assessment being rescheduled.

 

 

STAGE 2 OF STUDENT LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT:

 

Assessment Task 3: Case Presentation  

(This assessment is co-assessed in a cluster HLTDEN007 Apply the principles in radiation biology and protection in dental practice in conjunction with HLTDEN008 Prepare to expose a prescribed dental  radiographic image and HLTDEN009 Produce a prescribed radiographic image)

This assessment is conducted on Monday 17 August 2020. Students will be presenting the Challenging patient they have experienced during their workplace training. Presentation will need to be approximately 5-10 mins long and will be presented in front of the group. Criteria for this assessment will be available on CANVAS and will also be discussed further during face to face sessions. 

 

Assessment task 4:  Intra-oral Patient Portfolio x30 images + Reflection 

(This assessment is co-assessed in a cluster HLTDEN007 Apply the principles in radiation biology and protection in dental practice in conjunction with HLTDEN008 Prepare to expose a prescribed dental  radiographic image and HLTDEN009 Produce a prescribed radiographic image)

Students are required to produce a Portfolio of 30 diagnostic intraoral radiographs during their clinical practice at their workplace. Each radiograph submitted must have a Critique sheet attached as part of this assessment.

First part of the Portfolio containing 10 radiographs must be submitted on Monday 17 August 2020. 

Second part of the Portfolio containing 10 radiographs must be submitted on Monday 31/08/2020 (Group A), Tuesday 01/09/2020 (Group B), Wednesday 02/09/2020 (Group C), Thursday 03/09/2020 (Group D)

Third part of the Portfolio containing 10 radiographs must be submitted on Monday 5 October 2020

In order to achieve a Satisfactory result, student must successfully complete all listed requirements of assessment criteria: present 30 diagnostic intra-oral radiographs in the portfolio, correctly critique all technique and/or processing errors and submit detailed Reflection. 

 

 

STAGE 3 OF STUDENT LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT:

 

Assessment Task 5: Written knowledge assessment 

(This assessment is co-assessed in a cluster HLTDEN007 Apply the principles in radiation biology and protection in dental practice in conjunction with HLTDEN008 Prepare to expose a prescribed dental  radiographic image and HLTDEN009 Produce a prescribed radiographic image)

This is conducted on 05 October 2020. The written test will be conducted under supervision at RMIT under exam conditions. 

In order to achieve a Satisfactory result, student must pass all critical aspects of this assessment task. 

 

Assessment Task 6: Workplace Assessment  

(This assessment is co-assessed in a cluster HLTDEN007 Apply the principles in radiation biology and protection in dental practice in conjunction with HLTDEN008 Prepare to expose a prescribed dental  radiographic image and HLTDEN009 Produce a prescribed radiographic image)

This is conducted after student last day of attendance and prior to their enrolment end date. Detailed information on assessment criteria will be explained to students during their class attendance. Allocated assessor will contact the student for discussion and scheduling of the suitable time for this assessment. Student knowledge and skills will be observed in the workplace according to assessment criteria provided in assessment document.

Students will attempt the workplace assessments under supervision of the licenced assessor.


Assessment Matrix

The assessment tasks listed in this course guide address all the elements and criteria of the requirements of this course. 

Other Information

All email communications will be sent to your RMIT email address and you must regularly check your RMIT emails.

 

Credit Transfer and/or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/enrolment/credit  

 

Study and learning Support: 
http://www.rmit.edu.au/studyandlearningcentre  

Equitable Learning Services (ELS):
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/support-and-facilities/student-support/equitable-learning-services 

 

Late submission: 
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/forms/assessment-forms



Special consideration: 
http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration 

 

Plagiarism: 
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/rights-and-responsibilities/academic-integrity

Course Overview: Access Course Overview