FGDP(UK) and PHE publish revised guidance on radiation protection

The Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP[UK]) and Public Health England (PHE) have published revised guidance on radiation protection in dental practice.

The second edition of Guidance Notes for Dental Practitioners on the Safe use of X-ray Equipment sets standards of good practice for the safe use of X-ray equipment in dental practice, and is endorsed by the College of General Dentistry (CGDent).

Presenting definitive, detailed and comprehensive recommendations in a logically ordered and intelligible format, Guidance Notes for Dental Practitioners on the Safe use of X-ray Equipment, 2nd Edition is designed as a reference for the whole primary care dental team.

The guidance covers both administrative and practical matters, taking into account developments in dental X-ray equipment, imaging technology and legislation since the first edition, which was published in 2001 by the National Radiological Protection Board (now part of PHE's Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards).

Ian Mills, Dean of FGDP(UK) and Trustee of the College of General Dentistry, said: 'The core function of the FGDP is to raise the standards of care delivered to patients through education of the dental profession and the provision of evidence-based guidance, and we have been delighted to work with Public Health England to publish a second edition of the Guidance Notes for Dental Practitioners on the Safe Use of X-ray Equipment. For almost two decades, this has been an important text in setting standards for the safe use of X-ray equipment in dental practices, and this updated edition will undoubtedly continue to be a key reference document for the whole primary care dental team.'

The guidance is freely available on the FGDP website.