Course 850 | Laboratory Exercises
Overview
Welcome students and future limited permit dental laboratory x-ray technicians. This laboratory course will prove to be a vital component on your way to becoming a successful x-ray technician. This course is designed for students preparing to take the dental laboratory limited permit exam in California and meets the state educational requirements for Radiation Protection and General Radiographic Laboratories. This course will provide you with a minimum of 15 hours of training in radiation protection and 10 hours of general radiographic training.
To complete this course, you must be concurrently enrolled in Principles of Radiologic Technology - Limited Permit (800) or have completed that course before enrolling in the laboratory component. If you have questions regarding these details, please contact us.
Furthermore, there are 2 versions of this course, one for facilities that use conventional x-ray film, and one for facilities that use digital technology. You have been provided both booklets. It is mandatory that you complete at least one version; however, if your lab is able to do both conventional and digital films, then you are encouraged to complete both for a complete and more thorough understanding of the material and concepts. With your supervisor leading you step by step through this series of experiments and you concurrently completing the coursework, you will improve your understanding of x-rays, applied techniques, and radiation safety procedures. Furthermore, these labs will give you practice in refining your radiologic skills, such as distance compensations, artifact recognition, and kVp selection. All of this will allow you to apply this knowledge and practice when encountering new situations on the job.
Doing the Experiments
Before attempting the laboratory experiments, you must understand the concept behind the experiment and its objective. These will be defined at the beginning of each experiment. By understanding the concept and the objective, the labs will be much easier to complete and will be done more completely and accurately. After reviewing the purpose of the lab, the assigned reading and the necessary equipment will be listed. Once you complete and gather these, you are prepared to complete the parts of the experiment using the right radiologic materials and techniques. After completing the films, you will need to answer the questions by analyzing the results of your experiment. You will also check your accuracy and learn how you could have improved the quality of your results.
Overall, the aim of this course is to teach you vital concepts not to burden you with extensive laboratory procedures and lengthy write-ups. It is your responsibility to insure that you get adequate time with the equipment, and it is your supervisor's responsibility to assist you in understanding the labs. If you feel frustrated with a procedure or a question, you should relax for a moment and know that many students will encounter the same types of issues. Try again to solve the problem yourself, and if you cannot, then approach your clinical supervisor for assistance. Make notes of difficult questions, and you will find that at the end of the experiment, the questions will be much easier to answer. If a question still remains, your supervisor should be able to assist you.
Required Texts
AADMRT Online will provide pages from:
Quinn B. Carroll, Fuchs's Principles of Radiographic Exposure, Processing and Quality Control, 6th edition (Springfield: Charles C. Thomas, 1998)
Welcome students and future limited permit dental laboratory x-ray technicians. This laboratory course will prove to be a vital component on your way to becoming a successful x-ray technician. This course is designed for students preparing to take the dental laboratory limited permit exam in California and meets the state educational requirements for Radiation Protection and General Radiographic Laboratories. This course will provide you with a minimum of 15 hours of training in radiation protection and 10 hours of general radiographic training.
To complete this course, you must be concurrently enrolled in Principles of Radiologic Technology - Limited Permit (800) or have completed that course before enrolling in the laboratory component. If you have questions regarding these details, please contact us.
Furthermore, there are 2 versions of this course, one for facilities that use conventional x-ray film, and one for facilities that use digital technology. You have been provided both booklets. It is mandatory that you complete at least one version; however, if your lab is able to do both conventional and digital films, then you are encouraged to complete both for a complete and more thorough understanding of the material and concepts. With your supervisor leading you step by step through this series of experiments and you concurrently completing the coursework, you will improve your understanding of x-rays, applied techniques, and radiation safety procedures. Furthermore, these labs will give you practice in refining your radiologic skills, such as distance compensations, artifact recognition, and kVp selection. All of this will allow you to apply this knowledge and practice when encountering new situations on the job.
Doing the Experiments
Before attempting the laboratory experiments, you must understand the concept behind the experiment and its objective. These will be defined at the beginning of each experiment. By understanding the concept and the objective, the labs will be much easier to complete and will be done more completely and accurately. After reviewing the purpose of the lab, the assigned reading and the necessary equipment will be listed. Once you complete and gather these, you are prepared to complete the parts of the experiment using the right radiologic materials and techniques. After completing the films, you will need to answer the questions by analyzing the results of your experiment. You will also check your accuracy and learn how you could have improved the quality of your results.
Overall, the aim of this course is to teach you vital concepts not to burden you with extensive laboratory procedures and lengthy write-ups. It is your responsibility to insure that you get adequate time with the equipment, and it is your supervisor's responsibility to assist you in understanding the labs. If you feel frustrated with a procedure or a question, you should relax for a moment and know that many students will encounter the same types of issues. Try again to solve the problem yourself, and if you cannot, then approach your clinical supervisor for assistance. Make notes of difficult questions, and you will find that at the end of the experiment, the questions will be much easier to answer. If a question still remains, your supervisor should be able to assist you.
Required Texts
AADMRT Online will provide pages from:
Quinn B. Carroll, Fuchs's Principles of Radiographic Exposure, Processing and Quality Control, 6th edition (Springfield: Charles C. Thomas, 1998)
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Essential Laboratory Supplies and Equipment
The following supplies and equipment are necessary for most of the experiments. (This equipment is the minimum that any office should have). Each experiment also lists the materials that you need to complete it properly.
At other points during the experiments, you may need some additional supplies. You should make it a point to gather these items initially, so you will have them on hand when the time comes. These may include but are not limited to:
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Course Organization
This course has been designed to give you hands-on insight to accompany the didactic training. Most of the course will coincide with what you are learning in the 800 portion. Please complete all of your labs. When you are completely done, upload them to Jerry Peck. Your written assignments are located directly behind the experiment in the course guide. Answer sheets are supplied for you; however, if you are interested in typing up your results, please contact the class instructor for an electronic form. Also provided will be a cover sheet and a checklist to insure that everything is completed as required. As you complete the experiment, fill out the answer sheet (or sheets), then look at the checklist to be sure that you have all required documents. For many labs, you will need to follow this procedure:
Schedule your study times. This laboratory course does require some self discipline.
Follow the course outline as you complete the 800 units. You will find a suggested rate to finish all 16 labs. Please try to maintain this pace as it will prove to be most helpful for you. Once a week or every other week, you should set aside a few hours. Your studies can't be rushed at the end; it must be spread out over the time that has been allotted to you.
Read and review the text. Before you begin working on the lab, read and review the pages in the listed book. Use the glossary to look up any unfamiliar terms.
Plan ahead. There is an estimate of allotted time that you need to complete the labs and analyze your results. These should only be used as a rough estimate, depending on equipment, experience, and confidence; your personal results could be longer or shorter. Use the guidelines to determine how many labs you can finish in one sitting. Also, be sure to bring all required supplies and equipment with you when you plan to finish the lab.
For some experiments, you must gather or utilize your results from previous experiments. Make sure you look ahead before you start the lab to insure that you have all the data that you need.
When you submit your radiographs or CDs, they will not be returned to you. As you are using digital equipment, you may upload your radiographs to Box.com. This way, if you need to reproduce your results, you will be able to.
Evaluation
For this portion of the course, there are no letter grades, midterms, finals, and/or failing marks. Your supervisor will be monitoring your progress for the labs.
Before You Begin
Set a study schedule and follow it. Double-check your supplies and equipment. Upload your experiments to AADMRT Cloud when they are entirely complete. The only way to be given credit is to have your experiments on file. You may now begin Experiment 1 on your equipment! Best of luck!!!
This course has been designed to give you hands-on insight to accompany the didactic training. Most of the course will coincide with what you are learning in the 800 portion. Please complete all of your labs. When you are completely done, upload them to Jerry Peck. Your written assignments are located directly behind the experiment in the course guide. Answer sheets are supplied for you; however, if you are interested in typing up your results, please contact the class instructor for an electronic form. Also provided will be a cover sheet and a checklist to insure that everything is completed as required. As you complete the experiment, fill out the answer sheet (or sheets), then look at the checklist to be sure that you have all required documents. For many labs, you will need to follow this procedure:
- Warm-up the tube, as necessary
- Take the directed number of films
- Fill out the answer sheet. The questions are based on your
- Recorded results or ask you to use the demonstrated concepts.
- Collect and label your films.
Schedule your study times. This laboratory course does require some self discipline.
Follow the course outline as you complete the 800 units. You will find a suggested rate to finish all 16 labs. Please try to maintain this pace as it will prove to be most helpful for you. Once a week or every other week, you should set aside a few hours. Your studies can't be rushed at the end; it must be spread out over the time that has been allotted to you.
Read and review the text. Before you begin working on the lab, read and review the pages in the listed book. Use the glossary to look up any unfamiliar terms.
Plan ahead. There is an estimate of allotted time that you need to complete the labs and analyze your results. These should only be used as a rough estimate, depending on equipment, experience, and confidence; your personal results could be longer or shorter. Use the guidelines to determine how many labs you can finish in one sitting. Also, be sure to bring all required supplies and equipment with you when you plan to finish the lab.
For some experiments, you must gather or utilize your results from previous experiments. Make sure you look ahead before you start the lab to insure that you have all the data that you need.
When you submit your radiographs or CDs, they will not be returned to you. As you are using digital equipment, you may upload your radiographs to Box.com. This way, if you need to reproduce your results, you will be able to.
Evaluation
For this portion of the course, there are no letter grades, midterms, finals, and/or failing marks. Your supervisor will be monitoring your progress for the labs.
Before You Begin
Set a study schedule and follow it. Double-check your supplies and equipment. Upload your experiments to AADMRT Cloud when they are entirely complete. The only way to be given credit is to have your experiments on file. You may now begin Experiment 1 on your equipment! Best of luck!!!