Chapter 6
This principle means using the least amount of radiation necessary to achieve the maximum diagnostic results.
What is ALARA?
Dental professionals should ideally be this far away from the x-ray tube head when making an exposure.
What is 6 feet (2 meters)?
The primary purpose of infection control procedures in the dental office is to prevent this.
What is infectious disease transmission?
In this technique, the image receptor and long axis of the tooth must be parallel, while the central ray is directed perpendicular to both.
What is the paralleling technique (right-angle technique)?
In this technique, the film packet is placed as close to the tooth as possible without bending the film.
What is the bisecting-angle technique?
This type of radiation is produced when the primary x-ray beam interacts with matter, such as the patient's face.
What is secondary (scatter) radiation?
According to the NCRP recommendation in this chapter, this is the maximum permissible annual whole-body radiation dose for occupationally exposed dental professionals.
What is 50 mSv (5,000 mrem) per year?
This infection control protocol requires dental professionals to treat every patient in the same manner, regardless of their medical history or clinical condition.
What are universal precautions?
A typical adult full-mouth survey consists of this many periapical and bitewing images.
What are 14 periapicals and 4 bitewings?
In the bisecting technique, the central ray is directed perpendicular to this imaginary line.
What is the imaginary bisecting line?
This type of collimation is considered the single most effective factor in reducing radiation exposure to the patient's skin.
What is rectangular collimation?
This personal monitoring device is worn by dental professionals to measure occupational radiation exposure and is typically processed at the end of a specified reporting period.
What is a film badge?
Because digital radiographic sensors come into contact with mucous membranes, they are classified as this type of device.
What are semi-critical devices?
If the vertical angulation is too great, the teeth may appear shortened and the incisal edges or crowns may be cut off.
What is foreshortening?
Not enough vertical angulation produces this distortion and may cut off the root tip.
What is elongation?
Each time a radiograph is retaken because of poor technique, the patient receives this.
What is unnecessary additional radiation exposure?
This person is responsible for determining the type and frequency of dental radiographs for a patient.
Who is the dentist
This should be placed over surfaces such as the PID, control panel, exposure button, and computer keyboard before the patient is seated to help prevent cross-contamination.
What is a plastic barrier?
This error occurs when the x-ray beam is not directed properly through the contacts, causing adjacent teeth to overlap.
What are overlapping contacts?
This type of projection is used to localize objects or pathology in the buccolingual dimension and visualize areas that may not be seen on periapical films.
What is an occlusal projection?
These are descriptions of clinical conditions, signs, symptoms, and historical data used to identify patients most likely to benefit from a particular radiographic examination.
What are selection criteria?
When a patient is concerned about radiation exposure, dental professionals should explain that these are prescribed based on the patient's immediate dental health needs, risk factors, and radiation history.
What are dental radiographs?
Unlike disinfection, this process destroys all pathogens, including highly resistant bacteria and spores.
What is sterilization?
This occurs when part of the image receptor is not covered by the x-ray beam, producing a clear, unexposed area on the image.
What is a cone cut?
A patient has a small mouth or low palatal vault, making it difficult to position the receptor parallel to the teeth. Which technique may be easier to use?
What is the bisecting technique?