Qualification in Dental Radiography for Dental Nurses (NW221013A)

This course is open to GDC registered dental nurses working in an NHS practice only. 

* Please note that this course teaches you how to take common dental radiographs, it does not teach you how to take Cone Beam CT scans.

An application form will need to be completed to gain entry on to this course please click HERE to complete 

Closing date for applications: Friday 26th August 2022

We can only accept 1 nurse per practice

Once your application has been accepted, confirmation will be sent by email,  a contribution of £160 is required to secure your place.

When the online course and the practical work are successfully completed, a prompt to pay a further £124 for the examination fee will be given.

The taught sessions will be held via MS Teams webinar. By registering for this course the student agrees that they are free to be released from practice for each teaching session and will be expected to attend ALL the sessions.

• Day 1: Thursday 13th Oct
• Day 2: Thursday 17th Nov
• Day 3: Thursday 8th Dec
• Day 4: Thursday 12th Jan
• Day 5: Thursday 23rd Feb

All sessions will be from 09:15 to 16.30 

in addition students will be expected to:

• Have confirmation from a supervising principle e.g. Practice owner, Dentist or Manager, confirming they take responsibility for overseeing the training in the workplace.
• Be self-motivated to complete the course
• Have an excellent level of English, be able to read, write and understand English fluently
• Have relevant indemnity and be registered with the GDC
• Must have access to take at least 40 radiographs under supervision in practice (OPGs, bitewings and PAs)
• Have access to a laptop or device which had internet access and Audio Visual capabilities (including camera and microphone).

Exam date: Saturday 18th March 2023

To gain the qualification students will need to:

• Attend ALL study days
• Gain clinical experience in taking radiographs by completing a practical portfolio
• Take a 1 hour true/false & best answer examination on the theoretical aspects of dental radiography
• Complete a practical work based portfolio

For the practical portfolio, students must take a minimum of 40 radiographs under supervision, which must include the following types of radiographs:

• 20 periapicals (using the paralleling technique)
• 10 pairs of bitewings
• 10 panoramic radiographs

These radiographs are not required to pass the qualification & will not contribute to the student's final grade, but will be recorded in the student's transcript to demonstrate their experience.

Please note this qualification is subsidised by Health Education England. If for any reason you are unable to complete the course you will be liable for the full cost, amounting to a further £595 being invoiced to you.

The qualification will be awarded by the BDA  

Mandatory: Dental Nurse

The aim of this suite of sessions is to provide tutorial support to students undertaking the BDA on-line dental radiography course.

To

• Explain the structure and function of the x-ray tube, and describe how x-ray photons are produced at the atomic level
• Recognise how x-ray photons interact with human tissue and describe the biological effects of ionising radiation
• Select different terms relating to dose
• State the key principles of radiation protection and explain how to limit dose
• Describe the key elements of ionising radiations legislation as applicable to dental radiography
• Relate the structure and function of x-ray film, digital sensors and phosphor imaging plates
• Describe how to use intra-oral, panoramic and cephalostat equipment
• Demonstrate how to undertake common dental radiographs (peri-apical, bitewing, panoramic, cephalostat and occlusal radiographs)
• Recognise normal anatomy on routine dental radiographs and assess routine radiographs for diagnostic quality
• Identify common abnormalities on routine dental radiographs
• Recall quality assurance procedures as applicable to dental radiography

Delegates will be equipped to gain the BDA Qualification in Radiography.