LO1 LS3 - Define Terms Used in Dental Radiography

LO1 LS3 (Term 1) - Information taken from MDA textbook, RDGR 161 PP, Brightspace content

ampere

a unit of electric current

anode

positive electrode in the X-ray tube

atom

basic unit of matter

bremsstrahlung radiation “braking radiation”

the sudden deceleration of electrons as they interact with highly positively charged nuclei

cathode

negative electrode in the X-ray tube

central ray

x-rays at the center of the beam

contrast

differences in degrees of blackness on an image

control panel

portion of the X-ray unit that contains the master switch, the indicator light, the selector buttons, and the exposure button

density

overall darkness or blackness of an image

dental radiography

technique used to expose an image of the teeth and adjacent structures by exposure to X-radiation

digital imaging

filmless method of capturing an image and displaying it by using an image receptor, an electronic signal, and a computer to process and store the image

distortion

change in the size of an image caused by incorrect angulation

dose (of radiation)

amount of energy absorbed by tissues

dosimeter

device used to detect and measure an accumulated dosage of radiation

energy

the effect of radiation emitted from the tubehead

extension arm

flexible arm that is attached to the X-ray tubehead

genetic effects

effects of radiation that are passed on to future generations through genetic cells

image

film-based or digitally produced recording of anatomic structures

image receptor

recording instrument for an image, normally film, phosphor storage plate, or a digital sensor

intensity

total energy of the X-ray beam

ion

electrically charged particle

ionization

process by which electrons are removed from atoms, causing the harmful effects of radiation in humans

ionizing radiation

a type of energy released by atoms that travel in the form of electromagnetic waves resulting in harmful effects

kilovoltage peak (kVp)

highest voltage of X-ray tube used during an exposure

latent (LAY-tent) period

time between exposure to ionizing radiation and appearance of image

lead apron

device used to protect the reproductive and blood-forming tissues from scatter radiation

magnification

proportional enlargement of an image

master switch, indicator light, selector buttons, exposure button

components of control panel

matter

anything that occupies space and has form or shape

milliampere (mil-ee-AM-peer) (mA)

one one-thousandth (1/1000) of an ampere; a unit of measurement used to describe the intensity of an electrical current

penumbra (puh-NUM-bruh)

blurred or indistinct area that surrounds an image

personal radiation monitoring badge

device that measures exposure of personnel to ionizing radiation by measuring the intensity of visible light emitted from a crystal in the detector when heated; the intensity of light emitted depends on the radiation exposure

photon

minute (tiny) bundle of pure energy that has no weight or mass

primary beam

most penetrating beam produced at the target of the anode

primary radiation

same as primary beam

quality (of x-ray beam)

mean energy or penetrating ability of the X-ray beam

quantity (of x-ray beam)

number of X-rays produced in the dental unit; the quantity of X-rays produced is controlled by milliamperage

radiation

forms of waves of energy emission through space or material

radiograph

image produced on photosensitive film by exposing the film to radiation and then processing it

radiology

branch of medicine that uses imaging technology to diagnose and treat disease

scatter radiation

form of secondary radiation that occurs when an X-ray beam has been deflected from its path by interaction with matter

secondary radiation

x-radiation that is created when the primary beam interacts with matter

sensor

solid-state image receptor that contains a silicon chip with an electric circuit

sharpness

measure of how well an image reproduces the fine details or outline of an object

somatic

effects result of radiation that cause illness and are responsible for poor health (such as cancer, leukemia, and cataracts) but are not passed on to offspring

thyroid collar

flexible lead shield that is placed securely around the neck

tubehead

part of the X-ray unit that contains the X-ray tube, the high-voltage and low-voltage transformers, and insulating oil

tungsten target

focal spot in the anode

X-ray

form of electromagnetic radiation that can penetrate most objects including the body

examples of electromagnetic radiation

visible light, radar, radio and television waves

electromagnetic radiation

the process of wavelike energy (without mass) that travels through space or objects

human-made or occur

electromagnetic radiation may be ______ or _____ naturally

radiation

the emission and propagation of energy through space in forms of waves or particles

radiograph

an image produced by exposure to ionization radiation that produces a two-dimensional image of a three-dimensional object

radiography

the science of making a radiograph, by exposure of film/receptor to x-rays

radiology

a broader term for the science of x-rays and other high-energy radiation and particularly the use of radiation for the diagnosis and treatment of disease

atom

contains energy and is the basic form of matter

matter

is anything that occupies space and is made up of atoms grouped together to form molecules

energy

is the ability to do work

atomic structure

an atom consists of a central nucleus and orbiting electrons

nucleus

is made up of particles called protons and neutrons

electrons

are negatively charged tiny particles that have little mass and travel around the nucleus in paths known as orbits or shells

binding energy

the pull that keeps electrons stuck in their paths around the center of an atom

ionization

the production of ions, or the process of converting an atom into ions

what occurs in the ionization process

an electron is removed from an atom and the atom becomes the positive ion and the ejected electron becomes the negative ion

form of energy

x-rays are a ____ ___ ____ that can penetrate matter and are a type of electromagnetic radiation

ionizing or non-ionizing

common characteristics of electromagnetic radiation: may be classified as ______ or _______

high-energy

common characteristics of electromagnetic radiation: only ______ radiations are capable of ionization

what is electromagnetic radiation made of

small particles of photons that travel in straight lines through space with a wavelike motion

light

the particulate nature of ____ isn’t very well understood

greater

the shorter the wavelength of the x-ray, the ____ is its energy

matter more easily

high energy of short wavelengths = electromagnetic radiation can penetrate ____ ____ ____ than longer wavelengths. So, shorter wavelengths are useful in dentistry.

wavelength

the distance between the crest (peak) of one wave and the crest of the next

frequency

the number of wavelengths that pass a given point in a certain amount of time

higher

the shorter the wavelength, the _____ the frequency