Radiation

Question 1

What type of waves are X-Rays?

Answer 1

Electromagnetic waves

A form of energy

Travel in a straight line

They are short waves which means they can cause more damage

Invisible

Question 2

An unaltered X-ray is…

Answer 2

When the beam hits the matter and a little of the beam is absorbed.

Question 3

A scattered X-ray is…

Answer 3

When the beam hits the atoms of the matter and release their energy in different directions.

Question 4

A absorbed X-ray is…

Answer 4

When the beam hits the matter and a lot of the beam is absorbed.

Question 5

What is radiopaque and how does it appear on an X-ray?

Answer 5

Metals (crowns, fillings etc)

Enamel

They appear white on X-rays.

Question 6

What appears grey on X-rays?

Answer 6

Dentine and bone

Question 7

What is radiolucent and how does it appear on X-rays?

Answer 7

Appear almost black

Soft tissues (gums, pulp etc)

Question 8

Hazards of radiation…

Answer 8

Damages tissue

Can damage/alter DNA/chromosomes causing mutations and death of the cell

Question 9

What can a high X-ray dose cause?

Answer 9

Skin can appear reddened and inflamed similar to sunburn

Distraction of the immune system calls
Leukaemia

Radiation sickness

Death

Question 10

What does ALARP stand for?

Answer 10

As low as reasonably possible

Question 11

What does ALARA stand for?

Answer 11

As low as reasonably achievable

Question 12

Principals of ALARA/P

What percentage can this reduce scatter by?

Answer 12

Use of fast film - f speed

Short exposure time

Rectangular collimator tube

Can help reduce scatter by 40%

Question 13

Who does IRR protect and how do you comply to IRR

Answer 13

Protects staff and classified workers

Appoint a legal person

Appoint RPA

Appoint RPS

Question 14

Who does IR(ME)R protect?

Answer 14

Protects safety of patients

Question 15

Role of RPA

Answer 15

They are outside the practice

Must do certified checks every 3 years

Make a contingency plan

Carry out risk assessments that are reviewed every 3 years

Question 16

What is the controlled area and safety zone?

Answer 16

Controlled area - 1.5m

Safety zone- 2m

Question 17

Role of RPS

Answer 17

Inside the practice

Train staff

Drawing up and updating the local rules

Question 18

Who is the referrer?

Answer 18

The dentist who refers the patient for radiation exposure

Question 19

Who is the IRMER practitioner?

Answer 19

A dentist or specialist dental radiographer who takes the responsibility for justifying the taking of the X-ray

Question 20

Who is the operator?

Answer 20

Any staff member who carries out part or all of the practical duty’s involved with the exposure and processing of the X-ray

This can include a trainee dental nurse.

Question 21

What must the local rules contain?

Answer 21

Contingency plan
Dose levels
Safety of pregnant staff
Name of RPA/RPS

Question 22

Advantages of digital X-rays?

Answer 22

Radiation levels reduced

No chemicals required

Viewing make quicker

Question 23

Disadvantages of digital X-rays

Answer 23

Images can be manipulated/altered

Legal problems can arise from editing an X-ray

Expensive equipment

Question 24

What makes up a dental film packet?

Answer 24

Black paper

Film

Black paper

Foil

Plastic wrapping

Question 25

What is a PA X-rays and what does it help to detect?

Answer 25

Periapical - shows whole tooth Dental caries Abscess Root fracture Bone levels

Question 26

What does a horizontal bitewing detect?

Answer 26

interproximal caries restoration overhangs caries under existing restorations occlusal caries

Question 27

What does vertical bitewings detect?

Answer 27

Bone levels Periodontal pockets

Question 28

What does anterior occlusal X-rays detect?

Answer 28

Impacted canines Supernumerary Palatal Cysts Large intraoral film

Question 29

What does DPT stand for?

Answer 29

Dental panoramic tomograph

Question 30

What does OPG stand for?

Answer 30

Orthopantomograph

Question 31

What view does a lateral oblique X-ray show and what it detect?

Answer 31

Side image of upper and lower jaw on ONE SIDE ONLY detecting unerupted or impacted third molars

Question 32

What does a cephalostat show and what is it used for?

Answer 32

Shows side image of whole skull Used to monitor jaw growth and complicated orthodontics

Question 33

What is an intensifying screen?

Answer 33

A sheet inside the extra oral cassettes that glows when exposed to radiation They give off a blue light so their is less radiation and a shorter exposure time.

Question 34

List the chemicals used in manual film processing

Answer 34

Developer - alkaline, produces latent image, solution oxides in the air Fixer - acidic, fixes the image onto the film Water - used for rinsing off chemicals

Question 35

What temperature range should the chemicals be in?

Answer 35

18-22

Question 36

What is a step wedge used for?

Answer 36

To do daily tests on the chemicals

Question 37

What is a grade 1 X-ray?

Answer 37

No errors at all Minimum of 70% of all exposures

Question 38

What is a grade 2 X-ray?

Answer 38

Diagnostically expectable Some errors Maximum of 20% of all exposures

Question 39

What is a grade 3 X-ray?

Answer 39

Unacceptable quality Unable to use Maximum of 10% of all exposures

Question 40

How are X-rays disposed?

Answer 40

As non infectious hazardous waste

Question 41

Why would you get a blank film?

Answer 41

X-ray not switched on

Question 42

Why would you get a fogged (black) film?

Answer 42

Exposed to light before exposure

Question 43

What is coning?

Answer 43

Where the film isn’t lined up to the collumator

Question 44

What causes elongation?

Answer 44

Collumator angle is too shallow and produces a long image

Question 45

What causes foreshortening?

Answer 45

Collumator angle too steep and produces squat image Squashed, stunted

Question 46

What does a DPT/OPG help to detect?

Answer 46

Jaw fractures Presence or position of teeth Ortho or wisdom tooth assessment Fracture of the neck of the condyle