radiology need to know Flashcards
what radiographs should be used to view retained roots?
periapical
OPT if poor pt cooperation
what is the bisecting angle technique?
- x-ray beam at 90 degrees to line bisecting angle formed by the long axis of the tooth and the plane of film packet
- image receptor and object partly in contact but not parallel
- receptor and object close together except at paices
- can be done without film holders
what is the parallel technique?
- image receptor and object parallel but not in contact
- divergent x-ray beam
- image receptor and object some distance apart-potential for undesirable magnification
- use long spacer cone to reduce magnification- 30cm
what is the purpose of the coin test?
to determine how long films can be exposed to safelight
what is the ideal projection geometry?
- image receptor and object in contact and parallel
- parallel beam of x-ray beam perpendicular to object plane and image receptor
- image size identical to oject size
in an oblique radiograph, what lines are used for references and what are their positions?
maxilla- 1cm above ala-traguc line
mandible- through lower border of mandible
what are the oblique occlusal guideline vertical angles?
- upper anterior- 60 degrees
- upper occlusal centred on canine- 55 degrees
- upper occlusal centred on premolar- 50 degrees
- upper occlusal centred on molar- 45 degrees
- lower occlusal- 40 degrees to occlusal plane
- lower occlusal centred laterally- 35 degrees to occlusal plane
when would you use a mandibular true occlusal?
- detection of submandibular duct calculi
- assessment of bucco-lingual position of unerupted teeth- unless advanced imaging indicated
- evaluation of pathological bucco-lingual expansion
- horizontal displacement of fractures
why is rectangular collimation preferred?
has a greater dose reduction than circular
what are the 2 curves in bitewing radiographs?
- curve of spee
- curve of monson
describe the curve of spee
- has antero-posterior direction
- curves up posteriorly
- produces a happy smile
describe the curve of monson
- has a bucco-lingual direction
- influences x-ray technique e.g. bitewings and panoramic radiography
what is cervical burnout?
- relative lower x-ray absorption on mesial/distal aspect of teeth, between edge of enamel and adjacent to crest of alveolar ridge
- these areas appear relatively radiolucent with ill-defined margins
- may mimic root surface caries
what do panoramic radiographs show?
- all teeth
- structures above and below the teeth
- structures superficial and deep to the teeth (provided they are close)
What is another term for the coin test?
Safelight testing
Explain the coin test
In the dark, place coins at intervals on an extra-oral film
Cover completely with card
Turn on safelights
Uncover each coin at intervals of 30 seconds, leaving the last coin covered
Process and observe which coin can be seen first
What causes ghost images?
When there is horizontal distortion if the patient is in the incorrect position to the focal plane
Name typical ghost images
Earrings
Metal restoration
Sodt tissue calcification
Soft palate
Hyoid bone
Dentures and fixed appliances
What are indications for an OPT?
When you require a full view of the dentition and surrounding structures including the TMJ and condyles
Fractures and evaluation of trauma
3rd molar relationship to ID canal on lowers
Bone loss in generalised periodontal disease
Large lesions that wouldn’t be seen on occlusal, bitewings or periapical
Retained/unerupted teeth and development of dentition
Developmental and acquired anomalies
TMJ evaluation
Inability to tolerate intra-oral radiographs
Name 3 positioning faults that can occur on a radiograph
- Speed of beam through the teeth and image receptor through the beam must be synchronised to produce an accurate image
- Patients canine must be synchronised behind the canine guide line which means it is closer to the x-ray source than the machine expects- cases speed of beam to be slower through the teeth as it is closer to the rotation centre- causes horizontal magnification
- Patients canine in front of the canine guide line means it is further from the x-ray source than the machine expects- causes speed of beam to be faster through teeth as it is further from the rotation centre- image reduced horizontally
Name 2 forms of bone loss that can be seen on a radiograph
Horizontal
Vertical
Describe horizontal bone loss
Most common pattern of bone loss
Occurs when the path of inflammation is to the alveolar bone crest
Perpendicular to the tooth surface
Describe vertical bone loss
Less common pattern of bone loss
Occurs when the pathway of inflammation travels directly into the PDL spaces and occurs intra-orally
Name 3 characteristics of a ghost image
- Will be present higher due to vertical beam angulation of bra
- Horizontally magnified
- Usually further forward due to change in antero-posterior position
Give 3 ways you can reduce the radiographic dose to the patient
- Use of rectangular collimator combined with a beam-aiming device and film holder which reduces x-ray dose by 30%
- Reducing the area irradiated and therefore volume irradiated will also reduce the number of scattered photons produced as well as patients dose
- High tube kVp which produces higher energy photons meaning the photoelectric interactions and the contract between different tissues is reduced, meaning the dose absorbed by the patient also reduces
Describe the Compton effect
- X-ray photon interacts with loosely bound over shell electrons
- The photon energy is much greater than the electron binding energy
- The electron is ejected, taking some of the photon energy as kinetic energy causing a recoil electron- this gives off an atom that is positively charged
- Photon has lower energy after collision- now a scatter photon
What factors affect the probability of Compton scatter occurring
- Proportional to density of material
- Independent of atomic number
- Not related to photon energy
Describe the photoelectric effect
- X-ray photon interacts with inner shell electron- generally the k shell which has the highest energy
- This photon has energy higher than the binding energy of the electron which makes the x-ray photon disappear
- The difference in energy between the 2 levels is emitted as light and heat
- Most of the energy used to overcome binding energy of the electron remainder gives electron kinetic energy meaning the electron is ejected as a photon -results in complete absorption of photon energy meaning the photon does not reach the film and preventing any interaction with component of the image receptor
- Images appear white if all photos are involved
- Images appear grey if some photons are involved
What factors affect the occurrence of the photoelectric effect
- Atomic number
- Photon energy
- Density of material
What metal is used to absorb the jets generated during x-ray production?
- Lead is used to prevent leakage
- Lead film is for photoelectric absorption which absorbs scatter x-rays to prevent image degradation and its 2nd function is to absorb some of the primary beam
Name other metals used in x-ray production, other than lead
- Zinc- prevents leakage in shielding
- Aluminium and zinc- used for final spectrum of x-ray energy filtration
How are x-rays produced?
Produced when fast-moving electrons are brought rapidly to a stop
What are the 2 types of collimator used?
Rectangular
Circular
What is the maximum beam diameter of collimators?
60mm at the patient end with spacer cone
what plane should be horizontal to the floor whilst taking an OPT?
frankfort plane
what x-ray would you take for a patient who cannot tolerate bitewings?
OPT on setting 4
where is the Frankfort plane located?
lower border of orbit to the upper border of external auditory meatus
what are the limitations of a panoramic radiograph?
- horizontal distortion
- long exposure time not suitable for nervous pts or pts with additional needs
- big shoulders
- positioning difficulties
what is image processing?
the series of actions by which the invisible latent image is converted into a visible permanent image
why are films processed in a dark room?
to prevent light from affecting the films
what are the chemical processing steps when developing films?
- development
- rinse
- fixation
- washing
- drying
what is attenuation?
- reduction in the number of photons within th ebeam
- occurs as a result of absorption and scatter
- affects number of photons reaching film
how can you reduce the effects of scatter on the image?
- increase the pt-film distance- obliquely travelling scattered photons miss the film
- lead foil within the film packet prevents back scattered photons from oral tissues reaching film
- collimation
what is the radiographic baseline?
outer canthus of the eye to centre of external auditory meatus
what is the difference between true and oblique lateral radiography?
oblique occlusal comes at an angle
what is IRMER?
ionising radiation medical exposure regulations
when would you use setting 4 on an OPT?
- if focussing intraorally
- this programme reduces overlap between teeth allowing easier interprox caries detection
when would you use setting 1 on an OPT?
- if you want to see extra and intra oral
- allows vision of eaxtra oral features such as TMJ and body of mandible
list oral implications of radiotherapy
xerostomia due to damage of salivary glands
increase risk of osteoradionecrosis
mucositis
radiation caries affecting incisal edges and cervical margins
limited opening due to trismus
hypogeusia
what position fault causes anterior teeth to appear magnified on a radiograph?
canine is positioned behind the canine guidance line
what position fault causes one side of the posterior region to appear wider than the other on a radiograph?
patient’s head rotated slightly in the OPT machine
in an OPT, what part of the maxillary sinus is immediately above premolars?
inferior border
in an OPT, what part of the maxillary sinus is immediately above the third molar?
posterior border
what x-ray would you use to determine working length?
periapical
what x-ray would you take for extraction of 48, with no sign of 38?
- OPT of right side only, on setting 4
give features of a ghost image
image is always higher
the image is horizontally magnified
on theopposite side
can interfere with diagnosis