Key Terms Flashcards
Key Terms for Entire RHS Exam
triangle (geometry term)
- in geometry, a figure formed by connecting three points not in a straight line by three straight-line segments
- has three angles
lead apron
a flexible lead shield used to protect the patient’s reproductive and blood-forming tissues from scatter radiation
millampere (mA)
a unit of measurement used to describe the intensity of an electrical current
vertical angulation
the positioning of the position-indicating device in a vertical plane
superior
describes an area that is higher on a vertical axis
lateral jaw projection- ramus of the mandible
an extraoral projection used to image the ramus of the mandible in order to evaluate impacted third molars, large lesions, and fractures that extend into the ramus of the mandible
occupational exposure
contact with blood or other infectious materials involving the skin, eye, or mucous membranes that results from procedures performed by the dental professional
storage phosphor imaging
an indirect method of obtaining a digital image in which the image is recorded on phosphor-coated plates and then placed into an electronic processor, where a laser scans the plate and produces an image on a computer screen
enamel
- the outermost layer of the crown of the tooth (appears radiopaque)
- the densest structure in the human body
pathogen
a microorganism capable causing disease
periapical cyst / radicular cyst
a lesion characterized by an epithelial-lined cavity or sac located around the apex of a nonvital tooth that results from pulpal death (appears radiolucent)
intraoral receptor
an image receptor is placed inside the mouth during x-ray exposure to examine teeth and supporting structures
dentino-enamel junction (DEJ)
the junction between the dentin and enamel of a tooth
maxillary torus / torus palatinus
a nodular mass of bone along the midline of the hard palate
self-determination
the legal rights of an individual to make choices about the care they receive, including the opportunity to consent to or refuse treatment
bit-depth image
the number of possible gray-scale combinations for each pixel
nondeciduous teeth
permanent teeth that do not replace a primary/deciduous tooth (permanent first, second, and third molars)
tubercle (anatomic term)
a rounded prominence of bone (appears radiopaque)
extraoral
outside the mouth
process (anatomic term)
a marked prominence or projection of bone (appears radiopaque)
mount
to place in an appropriate setting for display or study
radiation
a form of energy carried by waves or streams of particles
orbit (anatomic term)
the bony cavity that contains the eyeball
sigmoid notch / mandibular notch (anatomic term)
a curved depression located between the mandibular condyle and the coronoid process of the mandible
panoramic
a wide view
exposure light
a component of the dental x-ray machine control panel that provides a visible signal when x-rays are produced
object-receptor distance
- the distance from the object being imaged *(tooth)) to the image receptor influences image magnification
- less image magnification results when the tooth and the image receptor are as close as possible, and more magnification results when the tooth and receptor are far apart
hamulus / hamular process (anatomic term)
a small, hooklike projection of bone that extends form the medial pterygoid plate of the sphenoid bone (appears radiopaque)
leakage radiation
any radiation, with the exception of the primary beam, that is emitted from the dental x-ray tubehead
posteroanterior projection
an extraoral projection of the skull used to evaluate facial growth, trauma, diseases, and developmental abnormalities
pulpal sclerosis
a diffuse calcification of the pulp chamber and pulp canals of teeth that results in a pulp cavity of decreased size (appears radiopaque)
gray (Gy)
a unit for measuring absorbed dose
internal oblique ridge (anatomic term)
a linear prominence of bone located on the internal surface of the mandible that extends downward and forward from the ramus (appears radiopaque)
milliamperage
in dental imaging, the quantity (number) of x-ray emitted from the tubehead
nasopharyngeal air space (anatomic term)
refers to the airspace portion of the pharynx located posterior to the nasal cavity (on a panoramic image, appears as a diagonal radiolucency located superior to the radiopaque shadow of the soft palate and uvula)
underexposed image
an exposure error that results in a light image due to inadequate exposure time, kilovoltage or milliamperage, or a combination of these factors
ionizing radiation
radiation that is capable of producing ions by removing or adding an electron to an atom
mandibular torus / torus mandibularis
a bony growth seen along the lingual aspect of the mandible
proton
a positively-charged particle with a mass of one
filament circuit
- regulates the flow of the electrical current to the filament of the x-ray tube using 3-5 volts
- controlled by the milliamperage settings
cancellous bone / trabecular bone
the soft, spongy bone located between the two layers of dense cortical bone (appears radiolucent)
panoramic image
an image that shows the wide view of the maxilla and the mandible surrounding structures
maxillary teeth
teeth located in the maxilla or upper arch
metallic restoration
- restorations that completely absorb x-rays; as a result, little to no radiation contacts the receptor (appears radiopaque)
- (ex: amalgam, gold)
cell metabolism
the physical and chemical processes of a cell that determine the response of the cell to radiation exposure
collimation
the restriction of the size and shape of the x-ray beam in order to reduce patient exposure
total dose
the quantity of radiation received, or the total amount of radiation energy absorbed
edentulous zone
an area where teeth are no longer present
short-scale contrast
- a term describing an image with predominately areas of black and white
- results from the used of a lower kilovoltage range
filament circuit / low-voltage circuit
- the circuit that regulates the flow of electrical current to the filament of the x-ray tube
- controlled by the milliamperage settings
Waters projection
an extraoral projection used to evaluate the maxillary sinus area
kinetic energy
the energy of motion
external root resorption
a regressive alteration of root structure that occurs along the periphery of the root surface
dentition
the character of a set of teeth, including their number, kind, and location/arrangement
leaded-glass housing
a portion of the glass housing of the x-ray tube that includes lead that prevents x-rays from escaping in all directions
electricity
- the energy used to make x-rays
- used as a source of power
angle (geometry term)
in geometry, a figure formed by two lines diverging from a common point
exposure incident
a specific incident involving contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that results from procedures performed by the dental professional
internal root resorption
the destruction of dentin around the pulp cavity within the crown or root of a tooth (appears radiolucent)
furcation area
the area between the roots of multi-rooted teeth
sharpness
- refers to the capability of the image receptor to reproduce the distinct outlines of an object
- influenced by focal spot size and movement
ionization
- the production of ions
- the process of converting an atom into an ion, resulting in the formation of a positive atom and a dislodged negative ion
avulsion
the complete displacement of a tooth from alveolar bone
x-radiation
a high-energy radiation produced by the collision of a beam of electrons with a metal target in the x-ray tube
cortical bone / compact bone
the dense outer layer of bone (appears radiopaque)
nucleon
part of an atomic nucleus (ex: protons, neutrons)
submandibular fossa / mandibular fossa (anatomic term)
a depressed area of bone located on the internal surface of the mandible inferior to the mylohyoid ridge (appears radiolucent)
lateral cephalometric projection
an extraoral image that is used to determine facial growth and development, trauma, disease, and developmental abnormalities
rule of isometry (geometry term)
a geometric principal that states that “two triangles are equal if they have two equal angles and share a common side”
direct current (DC)
a current in which electrons flow in one direction
dose rate
the rate at which exposure to radiation occurs and the absorption takes place (determined by dose/time)
alveolar bone loss
a loss of bone that surrounds and supports teeth in the maxilla and mandible
inverse square law
- a rule that states that “the intensity of radiation is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source of radiation”
- as distance is increased, the radiation intensity at the object is decreased, and vice versa
atom
- a tiny, invisible particle that is the fundamental unit of matter
- the smallest part of an element that has the properties of that element
condensing osteitis / chronic focal sclerosing osteomyelitis
a well-defined radiopacity seen below the apex of a nonvital tooth that has a history of long-standing pulpitis (appears radiopaque)
horizontal bone loss
bone loss that occurs in a plane parallel to the cemento-enamel junction of adjacent teeth
incipient
small, or beginning to exist or appear
inherent filtration
portions of the x-ray tubehead that serve to filter low-energy x-rays, including the glass window of the x-ray tube, the insulating oil, and the tubehead seal
imaginary bisector
- an imaginary plane that divides in half the angle formed by the image receptor and the long axis of the tooth
- creates two equal angles and provides a common side for the two imaginary equal triangles
anterior teeth
central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines/cuspids
free radical
an uncharged, neutral atom or molecule that exists with a single, unpaired electron in its outermost shell
contact areas
the areas where adjacent tooth surfaces touch each other
beam alignment device
- a device used to align the position-indicating device in relation to tooth and image receptor
- positions the intraoral image receptor in the mouth and retains the image receptor in position during exposure
- helps stabilize the image receptor in the mouth and reduces the chances of movement, thus reducing the patient’s exposure to x-radiation
endodontic patient
a patient who has undergone endodontic therapy
somatic effects
radiation injuries that produce changes in somatic cells and produce poor health in the irradiated individual (ex: the induction of cancer, leukemia, or cataracts)
interpersonal skills
skills the promote good relationships between individuals
genetic cells
- cells that contain genes
- reproductive cells (ex: ova, sperm)
mandibular topographic occlusal projection
a type of occlusal projection used to examine the anterior teeth of the mandible
vertical bone loss / angular bone loss
bone loss that does not occur in a plane parallel to the cemento-enamel junctions of adjacent teeth
angulation
the alignment of the central x-ray beam in the horizontal and vertical planes
mandibular teeth
teeth located in the mandible or lower arch
facial / labial
the tooth surface towards the cheek/lips on anterior teeth
bite-wing tab / bite loop / bite tab
a heavy paperboard tab or loop fitted around an intraoral image receptor during exposure
high contrast
a term describing an image with many very dark areas and very light areas and few shades of gray
sterilize
the use of a physical or chemical procedure to destroy all pathogens, including highly resistant bacterial and fungal spores
anode
- the positive electrode in the x-ray tube
- consists of a wafer-thin tungsten plate embedded in a solid copper rod
- converts electrons into x-ray photons
quality factor (QF)
a factor used for radiation protection purposes that account for the exposure effects of different types of radiation
intraoral imaging examination
a dental imaging inspection of teeth and intraoral adjacent structures
inter-radicular
between the roots of adjacent teeth
electron
a tiny, negatively charged particle found outside the nucleus in the atom
dental radiographer
any person who positions, exposes, and processes dental x-ray image receptors
interproximal examination
an intraoral inspection used to examine the crowns of both maxillary and mandibular teeth on a single image
long axis of a tooth
an imaginary line that divides a tooth longitudinally into two equal halves
rampant caries
caries that affect numerous teeth in the dentition (appears radiolucent)
pulp stones
calcifications found in the pulp chamber or pulp canals of teeth (appear radiopaque)
recurrent caries / secondary caries
caries located adjacent to a pre-existing restoration (appears radiolucent)
gutta percha
rubberlike material used in endodontic therapy to fill the pulp canals and pulp chamber (appears radiopaque)
molecule
- two or more atoms joined together by chemical bonds
- the smallest amount of a substance that possesses its characteristic properties
ALARA concept
a concept of radiation protection that states that all exposure to radiation must be kept to a minimum, or “as low as reasonably achievable”
matter
anything that occupies space and has mass
caries
tooth decay caused by microorganisms (appears radiolucent)
radioactivity
the process by which certain unstable atoms or elements undergo spontaneous disintegration, or decay, in an effort to attain a more balanced nuclear state
panoramic imaging
an extraoral technique used to examine the upper and lower jaws on a single image
general radiation / bremsstrahlung radiation / braking radiation
a form of radiation that occurs when speeding electrons slow down because of their interaction with the tungsten target in the anode
exposure sequence
a defined order to place and expose intraoral receptors
intrusion
the abnormal displacement of teeth into bone
disability
a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of an individual’s major life activities
cone-cut
a clear, unexposed area on a dental image that occurs when the position-indicating device is misaligned and the x-ray beam is not centered over the image receptor
ramus (anatomic term)
vertical portion of the mandible that is found posterior to the third molar
distortion
- a geometric characteristic that refers to a variation in the true size and shape of the object being imaged
- influenced by object-receptor alignment and the vertical angulation of the x-ray beam
cumulative effects
the additive effects of repeated radiation exposure
ground glass appearance / orange-peel appearance
a term used to describe a radiopacity viewed on a dental image that resembles pulverized glass
tooth-bearing areas
regions of the maxilla and mandible in which the 32 teeth of the human dentition are normally located
sagittal plane
- a vertical plane that divides the body into right and left sides (the sides do not need to be equally divided)
- runs perpendicular to the ground
voltage
in dental imaging, the measurement of force that refers to the potential difference between two electrical charges
sterilization
the act of sterilizing
primary radiation / primary beam / useful beam
the penetrating x-ray beam produced at the target of the anode and exits the tubehead
malpractice
improper or negligent conduct or treatment
filtration
the use of absorbing materials (ex: aluminum) for removing low energy x-rays from the primary beam
occlusal incipient caries
- caries located on the occlusal surface of posterior teeth
- cannot be seen on a radiograph
maxillary tuberosity (anatomic term)
a rounded prominence of bone that extends posterior to the third molar region (appears radiopaque)
psychogenic stimuli
stimuli originating from the mind
three-dimensional volume rendering
a three-dimensional shape that is created from two-dimensional images
radiograph
an image or picture produced on a receptor by exposure to ionizing radiation
pulp canal obliteration
the calcification, or deposition, of hard tissue within the pulp cavity, causing no visible pulp chamber or canals on the dental image
unilocular coriticated
describes a radiolucency on a dental image that exhibits one compartment with a well-defined outer border
pixel / picture element
in digital electronic images, digital information is contained in, and presented as, discrete units of information
Compton electron
- an outer-shell electron that is ejected from its orbit during Compton scatter
- carries a negative charge
anatomic order
the order in which teeth are arranged within the dental arches
high-level disinfectant
- chemicals classified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as “sterilants-disinfectants”
- used to disinfect heat-sensitive, semicritical dental instruments
impulse
in dental imaging, a measure of exposure time
soft palate (anatomic term)
the fleshy, movable posterior portion of the roof of the mouth separating the mouth and the phaynx
occlusal caries
caries located on the chewing surfaces of posterior teeth (appears radiolucent)
kilovolt (kV)
the unit of measurement for voltage
Compton scatter
one of the interactions of x-radiation with matter in which the x-ray photon collides with a loosely bound, outer-shell electron and gives up part of its energy to eject the electron from its orbit, causing the x-ray photon to lose its energy and continue in a different direction a lower energy level
neutral atom
an atom that contains an equal number of protons and electrons
statute of limitations
a period during which a patient may bring a malpractice action against a dentist or an auxillary
midsagittal plane
an imaginary line or plane passing through the center of the body that divides it into right and left halves
field of view (FOV)
- the area that can be captured when performing imaging procedures
- with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging, the region of interest of the patient anatomy
trauma
injury produced by an external force
x-rays
a beam of energy that has the power to penetrate substances and record image shadows on image receptors
apex
the area of a tooth that allows for blood vessels and nerves to enter the tooth and maintain the vitality of the tooth
image receptor placement
the specific area where the image receptor must be positioned before exposure
spine (anatomic term)
a sharp, thornlike projection of bone (appears radiopaque)
velocity
in dental imaging, the speed of a wave
focal spot size
the size of the tungsten target of the anode
real image
in panoramic imaging, the image that is recorded when a structure is located between the receptor and the moving rotation center
ion pair
one positive and one negative ion, that results when an electron is removed an atom in the ionization process, causing the atom to become the positive ion and the ejected electron becomes the negative ion
periodontal abscess
a lesion that originates in a soft tissue pocket and is characterized by the accumulation of pus and destruction of bone (appears radiolucent)
open contacts
on a dental image, appears as a thin radiolucent line between adjacent tooth surfaces
endodontics
the branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the dental pulp
exposure
a measure of ionization produced in air by x-radiation or gamma radiation
mylohyoid ridge (anatomic term)
a linear prominence of bone located on the internal surface of the mandible that extends from the molar region downward and forward to the lower border of the mandible (appears radiopaque)
bisect
to divide into two equal parts
anterior nasal spine (anatomic term)
a sharp projection of the maxilla located at the anteroinferior portion of the nasal cavity (appears radiopaque)
lingula (anatomic term)
a small, tongue-shaped projection of bone seen adjacent to the mandibular foramen (appears radiopaque)
negative vertical angulation
the positioning of the position-indicating device below the occlusal plane that directs the central ray upward
mandible
the lower jaw
cervical burnout
a radiolucent artifact seen on dental images between the cemento-enamel junction and the alveolar bone
occlusal examination
a type of intraoral examination used to inspect large areas of the maxilla or mandible in one image
infraorbital foramen (anatomic term)
a hole or opening in bone found inferior to the border of the orbit (on a panoramic image, appears radiolucent)
somatic cells
all cells in the body, with the exception of reproductive cells
particulate radiation
tiny particles of matter that possess mass and travel in straight lines and at high speeds (ex: electrons, beta particles, alpha particles, protons, and neutrons)
rectification
the conversion of alternating current to direct current
overlapped contacts
on a dental image, the area where the contact area of one tooth is superimposed over the contact areas of an adjacent tooth
photon
a bundle of energy with no mass or weight that travels as a wave at the speed of light and moves through space in a straight line
antiseptic
a substance that inhibits the growth of bacteria
tungsten target
a portion of the anode in the x-ray tube that serves as a focal spot and converts bombarding electrons into x-ray photons
nucleus
the central, positively charged core of an atom, composed of protons and neutrons
primary teeth / deciduous teeth
baby teeth
multiplanar reconstruction (MPR)
the reconstruction of raw data into images when imported into viewing software to create three anatomic planes of the body
critical organ
an organ that, if damaged, diminishes the quality of an individual’s life
ion
- an electrically unbalanced particle
*an atom that gains or loses an electron
interproximal caries
caries located between two adjacent teeth (appears radiolucent)
angle of the mandible (anatomic term)
- the area of the mandible where the body meets the ramus
- the corner portion formed by the junction of the posterior and lower borders on the ramus
inverted Y
a landmark viewed on dental images above the maxillary canine that represents the intersection of the anterior border of the maxillary sinus and the lateral wall of the nasal fossa (appears radiopaque)
respiratory hygiene / cough etiquette
an infection prevention measure designed to limit the transmissions of disease spread by respiratory pathogens via droplet or airborne routes
maxillary pediatric occlusal projection
a type of occlusal projection used to examine the anterior teeth of the maxilla used in children 5 years or younger
personal protective equipment (PPE)
equipment worn by dental professionals to protect themselves from hazards, including protective attire, gloves, masks, and eyewear
radioresistant cell
a cell that is resistant to radiation (ex: bone, muscle, and nerve cells)
lingual foramen (anatomic term)
a small opening or hole in bone surrounded by the genial tubercles and located at the midline of the internal surface of the mandible (appears radiolucent)
positive vertical angulation
the positioning of the position-indicating device above the occlusal plane that directs the central ray downward
dose-response curve
a curve that can be used to correlate the damage of tissues with the amount of radiation received
radiation absorbed dose (rad)
a unit for measuring absorbed dose
generalized bone loss
bone loss that occurs evenly throughout the dental arches
radiopacity / radiodensity
an area on a dental image appearing radiopaque (light/white) due to resisting the passage of the x-ray beam and limiting the amount of x-rays that reach the image receptor
x-ray beam angulation
one of the influencing factors for image distortion that refers to the direction of the x-ray beam
bite-wing image
intraoral image that is used to examine the interproximal surfaces of teeth
quality of the x-ray beam
- the mean energy or penetrating ability of the x-ray beam
- controlled by the kilovoltage
neutron
an electrically neutral or uncharged particle
lamina dura (anatomic term)
the wall of the tooth socket that surrounds the root of a tooth (appears radiopaque)
palate (anatomic term)
the roof of the mouth
dentin
the tooth layer found between the enamel and surrounding the pulp cavity (appears radiopaque)
periapical examination
a type of intraoral imaging examination used to view the entire tooth (crown and root) and supporting bone
dental radiograph
a photographic image produced on a receptor by the passage of x-rays through teeth and related structures
intersecting
cutting across or through
mandibular notch (anatomic term)
a scooped-out concavity of bone located distal to the coronoid process on the ramus of the mandible
inferior nasal conchae (anatomic term)
wafer-thin, curved plates of bone that extend from the lateral walls of the nasal cavity (appears radiopaque)
tongue (anatomic term)
a movable muscular organ attached to the floor of the mouth
diatorics
metal retention pins that are included in anterior porcelain denture teeth
radiography
the art and science of making radiographs by the exposure of receptors to x-rays
indirect digital imaging
a method of obtaining a digital imaging from a sensor after exposure to x-rays by using a scanner to convert information into a digital form so that it can be viewed on a computer monitor
quality administration
the management of the quality assurance plan in the dental office
occlusal
the chewing surfaces of posterior teeth
interproximal
between two adjacent surfaces
sinus (anatomic term)
a hollow space, cavity, or recess in bone (appears radiolucent)
nonstochastic effects of radiation
effects of radiation that have a threshold and increase in severity with increasing absorbed dose
articular eminence (anatomic term)
a rounded projection of the temporal bone located anterior to the glenoid fossa (appears radiopaque)
ridge (anatomic term)
a linear prominence of bone (appears radiopaque)
luxation
the abnormal displacement of teeth
distal
the tooth surface away from the midline of the mouth
movement
motion of the image receptor or patient during image exposure that results in an image with decreased sharpness
low-level disinfectant
- chemical germicides classified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as “hospital disinfectants”
- recommended for general housekeeping purposes
isometry (geometry term)
equality of measurement