LO 5 Flashcards
What is film processing?
- Steps that produce a visible image on a dental radiograph
- Converts latent image to visible image
- Preserves the image so it is permanent
______ absorb x-radiation during x-ray exposure
Silver halide crystals
______ is the pattern of stored energy on exposed film
Latent image
What is the process from latent to visible image?
- Film is placed in developer solution - silver halide crystals that were exposed to x-rays turn into black metallic silver
- Black metallic silver creates dark areas on radiogrpah - radiolucency
- Unexposed silver halide crystals unaffected by developer
- Fixer solution removes unexposed silver halide crystals to create white (radiopaque) areas
- Fixer solution also fixes image to film plate
- Film plate then washed in water to remove any traces of chemicals
- Fully dried before touching
Describe the visible image of the dental radiograph
- Made of black, white, and grey areas - shows contrast of various densities
- Radiolucent areas - appear black, readily permitted passage of x-ray beam
- Radiopaque - appears white, resisted passage of x-ray beam
Development ______ the film emulsion while fixation _______ the film emulsion
- Softens
- Hardens
When working with an automatic film processor, what is important to keep in mind?
- Solutions should be replenished daily
- Solutions fully changed every 3-4 weeks (every 2 weeks in a really busy office)
- Normal use defines as 30 intraoral films per day
Describe the darkroom
- A completely darkened environment within which x-ray film can be handled and processed to produce diagnostic radiographs
- Must be properly designed and equipped - no white light can enter
Describe the lighting situation in the darkroom
- Needs to be light tight
- Can be no light leaks
- Needs room lighting for procedures not associated with processing film
- Safe lighting - long wavelengths of res-orange portion of the visible spectrum
Describe safelighting
- Lamp with low wattage bulb (7.5 or 15 watts)
- Light equipped with safelight filter - removes short wavelengths in the blue/green portion of spectrum
- Safelight at least 4 feet from working area
Describe an automatic processor
- Automated all film processing steps - may be limited to certain sizes of film and may require a dark room
- Daylight loader - may be used in a room with white light
How do you properly use processing solutions?
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for storage, mixing, and use
- Know that solutions deteriorate with - exposure to air, continued use, chemical contamination
What should you keep in mind about developer solution?
- It is depleted from evaporation and removal of small amounts
- Exhausted developer does not fully develop the latent image and produces non-diagnostic radiographs with reduced density and contrast
What should you keep in mind about fixer solution?
- Depleted from evaporation and removal of small amounts
- Exhausted fixer doesn’t stop chemical reaction enough to maintain film clarity
- Films turn a yellow-brown, transmit less light, and lose diagnostic quality
Why is automatic film processing typically preferred over manual processing?
- Less time required
- Time/temp automatically controlled
- Less equipment
- Less space needed
Describe the component parts of the automatic processor
- Uses a roller transport system to move x-ray film through various stages
- Processor housing
- Film feed slot
- Roller film transporter
- Developer compartment
- Fixer compartment
- Water compartment
- Drying chamber
- Replenisher pump
- Film recovery slot
What are the steps of automatic processing?
- Prepare darkroom or daylight loader
- Prepare films
- Insert each unwrapped film into the film feed slot
- Retrieve processed radiographs
What is the routine care and maintainance of the automatic processor?
- Need cleaning and replenishment schedule (may require daily or weekly cleaning)
- Use “cleaning film” in the system to clean the rollers (panorex film)
- Check levels of processing solutions daily and replenish as needed