Has anyone taken a solid course that goes past the basics and digs into exposure parameter selection (e.g., 70 kVp vs 60 kVp), rectangular collimation, and reducing repeats with proper sensor handling? I’m updating training for 4 assistants before Q1 and want CE that covers ALARA/ALADA, thyroid shielding, handheld NOMAD use, and QA like monthly step‑wedge constancy checks.
We cut repeats fast by standardizing per-room technique charts and a 3‑minute monthly step‑wedge check with a target mean gray value ±10%, which made 60 vs 70 kVp choices and rectangular collimation automatic. For CE that goes this deep, Don Tyndall’s UNC courses cover NOMAD and QA well: Ceib Phillips, PhD, MPH - UNC School of Dentistry — want my chart/template?
I got the biggest gain by having the team “lock the NOMAD into tooth‑group presets” and banning on‑the‑fly kVp tweaks; with rectangular collimation plus XCP rings, cone cuts fell and repeats dropped. Small caveat: pedo bitewings sometimes need a tiny time nudge. If you want a quick CE that reinforces this, the Image Gently dental page is solid: https://www.imagegently.org/Dental-Imaging.
For CE that goes past basics, the OSAP/DALE Foundation Dental Radiography & Safety Certificate hit ALARA/ALADA, thyroid shields, handheld NOMAD protocols, and QA in solid depth: https://www.dalefoundation.org/certificates/osap-dental-radiography-and-safety-certificate. On the floor, teaching assistants to “park the cable” under the patient’s thumb and adding a thin foam bumper to the distal edge of the sensor on maxillary molars cut our motion/gag repeats a lot. Small caveat on 60 vs 70 kVp — sensor brand and filtration matter, so confirm with your monthly step‑wedge before you lock a standard.