Radiation safety is one of four expanded duties dental assistants can immediately obtain with their permit. It allows assistants to take routine patient X-rays that are assessed and evaluated by the practice’s resident dentist(s).

Assistants wishing to pursue radiation safety cannot be on-the-job-trained; they must take an online or live course through the Oklahoma Dental Foundation, pass an online certification test and, complete a minimum number of X-rays approved by a supervising dentist. The certification test requires knowledge of:

• Basic principles of X-ray generation
• Equipment orientation
• Imaging sensors
• Image development
• Radiation safety

Dental Depot Academy includes radiation safety in its curriculum. While in the program, students will take a preparatory online radiation safety course through the ODF. Once the course is completed, students will be required to take the certification test at the OSU-OKC testing facility in Oklahoma City. Course and testing center fees are included in the program tuition.

Students will be notified by the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry if they passed the test, after which they will be required to complete 200 X-rays. As part of Dental Depot Academy, students will have the opportunity to meet this requirement through the program and earn their radiation safety certification.