Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 5:33 PM AWST

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Assist with dental radiography

Assist with dental radiography

Unit of competency
National Code
HLTDEN002
State Code
AWA52
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
08/12/2015
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
22/06/2016
Field of Education
060799 - Dental Studies, N.e.c.
Original Release Date
22/06/2016
Nominal Hours
45
Description
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required for a dental assistant to prepare patients for dental radiography. It also describes the skills and knowledge to process and mount conventional dental radiographs. 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.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Prepare for dental radiography
  • 1.1 Position the patient comfortably
  • 1.2 Reassure the patient and explain the procedure in language that is easily understood
  • 1.3 Ask the patient to remove items that may interfere with the radiographic examination, and offer appropriate explanation
  • 1.4 Ensure patient, other members of the dental team and the public are protected from ionising radiations
  • 1.5 Assist the operator in the implementation of safe work practices to minimise radiation risks to workers and to patients during procedure
  • 1.6 Select and prepare the correct radiographic film or image receptors and relevant holders for the radiographic examination, and make it available to the operator
2. Prepare equipment and materials for dental radiography
  • 2.1 Maintain clean and dry working surfaces
  • 2.2 Clean and maintain processing equipment in good working order
  • 2.3 Maintain processing solutions at the correct strength and temperature
  • 2.4 Record accurately the date of preparation of solutions
  • 2.5 Arrange for servicing of instruments and equipment in line with manufacturers’ instructions and Radiation Health Committee national policies, codes and standards
  • 2.6 File equipment service records in a location within the surgery that can be readily accessed
  • 2.7 Prepare program to receive image, correctly orientate and label radiograph and enter patient data
3. Process and mount dental radiographs
  • 3.1 Protect processing facility and equipment against accidental intrusion of light
  • 3.2 Wear personal protective equipment
  • 3.3 Handle radiographic film packages or image receptors carefully so that their quality is maintained
  • 3.4 Carry out processing stages in the correct sequence and for the appropriate duration in accordance with manufacturers’ specifications
  • 3.5 Identify common faults caused by incorrect processing and notify operator if these occur
  • 3.6 Rectify processing faults in accordance with operator’s instructions
  • 3.7 Notify the operator of any processing faults that cannot be rectified prior to further radiographs being processed
  • 3.8 Label, date and file the radiograph mounting accurately and legibly
  • 3.9 Mount and secure radiographs in correct anatomical position for viewing
4. Maintain stock of unexposed radiographic film and chemicals
  • 4.1 Store radiographic film, image receptors and chemicals in accordance with manufacturers’ specifications
  • 4.2 Maintain sufficient stock
  • 4.3 Rotate film stock so that film is used before its expiry date
5. Assure the quality of dental radiographic processing
  • 5.1 Participate effectively in radiographic quality assurance programs
  • 5.2 Monitor processing solutions for deterioration
  • 5.3 Notify the operator when radiographs do not meet the quality criteria of the reference radiograph produced under optimum conditions
  • 5.4 Collect and record all unacceptable radiographs that do not meet diagnostic standards due to processing error, and identify how processing can be improved
  • 5.5 Dispose of waste chemicals safely in accordance with manufacturers’ specifications and legislative requirements
  • 5.6 Maintain and clean the imaging plate scanner according to organisation procedures
No information
No information
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
WD106 HLTDA304D Assist with dental radiography Unit of competency
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
ODI45 HLTDEN016 Assist with dental radiography Unit of competency
State Code National Code Title Type
AYY9 HLT45015 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting Qualification
AYX5 HLT35015 Certificate III in Dental Assisting Qualification