Intro to Radiology Flashcards
What are types of medical imaging relevant to dentistry
Plain radiography
Panoramic radiography
Cone beam computed tomography
(all use x-rays)
What other imaging is used in medicine?
Sialography
CT
MRI
Ultrasound
Radionyclide imaging
How do radiographs work?
X-ray beam passes through an object before interacting a receptor
Beam is altered by the materials it passes through, resulting in a pattern of different shades of grey on the final image
What structures are effectivity imaged in radiographs?
Particularly effective at displaying mineralised structures
Primarily teeth & bone
Useful since majority of dental pathology results in demineralisation
What is radiolucent and what is radiopaque?
“Radiolucent”
Darker areas on image
Less attenuation of X-rays
“Radiopaque”
Lighter areas on image
rays
More attenuation of X-rays
What are x-rays?
man made form of electromagnetic radation
imperceptible to human senses
electrons accelerated to a very high speed & made to collide with a block of metal
Why are x-rays labelled damaging?
X-rays are a form of ionising radiation
They have sufficient energy to remove electrons from atoms to create charged particles (i.e. ions)
Ionisation can lead to tissue damage
This can be used to benefit patients (e.g. radiotherapy) but can also have negative consequences (e.g. skin burns, hair loss, death, carcinogenesis)
What are the two regulations released in 2017?
IRR 2017
ionising radiation regulations 2017 designed to protect staff
IR(ME)R 2017
ionising radiation (medical exposure) regulations 2017 designed to protect patients
What are the common justifications for radiographs?
Assessing for dental caries if it can’t be excluded clinically
Investigating presence of dental infection around symptomatic teeth
Confirming presence of unerupted teeth to aid orthodontic planning
What guidance is avaliable?
Guidance Notes for Dental Practitioners on the Safe Use of X-ray equipment (2020)
