Radiography

Question 1

When X-rays are absorbed by the enamel they appear light grey/white what is this known as ?

Answer 1

Radiopaque

Question 2

When X-rays pass through the enamel they appear dark grey to black what is this known as ?

Answer 2

Radiolucent

Question 3

What are the X-ray guidelines?

Answer 3

• Must be clinically Justified
• (ALARP)
• Controlled zone
• QA (Quality assurance)

Question 4

What is ALARP and what is its requirement?

Answer 4

Ensures the regulation of a low dosage so patients are kept safe

(Clinical Justifications and Optimisation)

Fast films, Short exposure time, Rectangular collimator

Question 5

What are the hazards associated with ionizing radiation?

Answer 5

Mutation of chromosomes

Question 6

What is the need of Quality assurance (QA) in a dental practice?

Answer 6

Ensures the regulation of sys maintenance = produces consistently high quality dental images

Uses a scoring sys that must be 70% to be scored excellent

Question 7

What does IRR17 stand for? What does relate to?

Answer 7

• Ionsing Radiation Regulations 2017
• Aims to protects staff by the introduction of 3-point-risk-based assessment of regulatory control
• Enforced by the HSE

Question 8

What does IR(ME)R 2017 stand for? What does relate to?

Answer 8

• Ionsing Radiations (Medical Exposure) Regulation
• Aims to protect patients from unjustified radiations exposure with guidelines/principles E.g, ALARP
• Enforced by the CQC

Question 9

What does RPS stand for? and what is their role?

Answer 9

• Radiation protection supervisor

- In charge of supervising the use and maintenance of radiography equipment in a dental practice

Question 10

What does RPA stand for? What are the qualifications and responsibilities of an RPA ?

Answer 10

• Radiation protection advisor
• Certificate of competence
• Gives advice on actions and regulations a practice must follow to be compliant

Question 11

What are the key features of the ionising radiation regulations (local rules)?

Answer 11

• Name of designated RPS,RPA & MPE
• Identified control area 1.5M from the head of the machine + Warning of ionising radiation
• Instructions in the event of machine malfunctions
• Indicator of exposure time E.g, audible buzzer

Question 12

What is an Intra-oral? + Example?

Answer 12

Taken within the oral cavity.

for a precise area

E.g., Bite wing, anterior occlusal, periapical

Question 13

What is an extra-oral? + Example?

Answer 13

Taken outside the oral cavity

A larger more overall dental imagine supplied cassettes

E.g., DPT, lateral oblique, lateral skull radiograph

Question 14

List the layers of an intra-oral x-ray film packet?

Answer 14

• Tube side wrapping
• Black paper
• Film with mounting pimple
• Black paper
• Lead foil
• Tube sie wrapping

Question 15

List the layers of an extra-oral cassette?

Answer 15

• Cassette case
• Base of intensifying screen
• Rare earth coating
• X-ray film
• Rare earth coating
• Base intensifying screen

Question 16

What is the layout of Manual processing?

Answer 16

Dark-end room using red safety lamp 
- Developer Tank (lid prevents oxidation contains alkaline developing fluid )
- Wash 
- Fixer tank 
- Wash 
Using a bath maintained at 18-22c

Question 17

3 types of Collimator angulations faults?

Answer 17

Elongation - Stretched imagine

Foreshortening - Squashed image

coning - partial exposure of the film

Question 18

Fault: Black spots

Reasons for Fault?

Answer 18

Films splashed with fixer before developing

Question 19

Fault: Black line across film

Reasons for Fault?

Answer 19

Bent or folded during processing

Question 20

Fault: Brown or green stains

Reasons for Fault?

Answer 20

Inadequate fixing due to old solution

Question 21

Fault: Crazed pattern on film

Reasons for Fault?

Answer 21

Film dried to quickly over a strong heat source

Question 22

Fault: Presence of crystals on film

Reasons for Fault?

Answer 22

Insufficient washing after fixing

Question 23

What is the fault If the developing solution is to concentrated/ film is overdeveloped?

Answer 23

The film will appear dark

Question 24

If the film is placed in the fixer before the developer what happens to the film ?

Answer 24

Image is destroyed film appears blank

Question 25

What would cause a film to appear partially blank ?

Answer 25

film is partially immersed in developer solution

Question 26

If a film is processed in a room/machine that’s is not light tight (exposed before processing) what is the fault?

Answer 26

Fogged film

Question 27

if the film is underdeveloped that what would the fault be?

Answer 27

Faint imagine

Question 28

What is the result of inadequate fixing time on a film?

Answer 28

Fading image

Question 29

If the Film becomes contaminated with solutions spillages what will the fault be?

Answer 29

Visible Artefacts

Question 30

What is the correct storage method for any unexposed x-ray films to preserve their quality?

Answer 30

Away from:

• Radiation
• Heat
• Liquid

In sock rotation