Chapter 6: Radiation Protection

b

Each of the following statements regarding radiation protection measures for the patient is correct except one. Which one is the exception?

A) The oral health care team should embrace the ALARA concept.

B) Radiographs must be taken on all new patients.

C) Evidence-based selection criteria should be used when determining which patients need radiographs.

D) The radiographer should possess a working knowledge of appropriate exposure factors.

c

Each of the following statements regarding the technical ability of radiographers is correct except one. Which one is the exception?

A) Radiographers have the ability to communicate clear and concise instructions to the patient.

B) Radiographers possess a thorough understanding of how to produce quality images.

C) Radiographers understand how to perform dental x-ray machine inspections.

D) Radiographers participate in continuing education.

d

The federal performance standard for diagnostic x-ray equipment requires that all x-ray equipment meet each of the following radiation safety requirements except one. Which one is the exception?

A) Collimators may be round or rectangular.

B) Both inherent and added filtration is usually required.

C) Aluminum filters are required to remove long wavelength x-rays from the beam.

D) A pointed, closed-end PID is acceptable.

a

Which of the following statements regarding x-ray equipment is false?

A) A short (8 inch [20.5 cm]) PID delivers less radiation to the patient.

B) Total filtration is the sum of inherent and added filtration.

C) A filter placed in the path of the x-ray beam reduces patient radiation exposure.

D) An external collimator can be attached to the PID to achieve rectangular collimation.

c

Which of the following statements about the position indicating device (PID) is correct?

A) The shorter the PID, the less divergent the beam.

B) The longer the PID, the greater the radiation dose to the patient.

C) Pointed, closed-end plastic cone PIDs should no longer be used.

D) A recessed PID creates a shorter target-surface distance.

b

Which of the following statements regarding lead aprons is false?

A) They are fabricated of 0.25 mm lead or lead-equivalent materials.

B) They should be folded and stored when not in use.

C) They provide a protective barrier against scatter radiation.

D) Their use is in keeping with the ALARA concept.

c

Which film speed requires the least amount of radiation exposure to produce a diagnostic-quality image?

A) D speed film

B) E speed film

C) F speed film

D) G speed film

a

Each of the following statements regarding handheld x-ray devices is correct except one. Which one is the exception?

A) Handheld devices should be used over wall-mounted units.

B) Handheld devices should be certified by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

C) The radiographer must be familiar with the operating instructions supplied by the manufacturer.

D) The radiographer must remain within the backscatter ring shield protection zone.

a

hich of the following statements regarding protection measures for the operator during exposure is false?

A) The ideal angle to stand from the path of the exiting x-ray beam is 180 degrees.

B) A drifting tube head should not be used until corrected.

C) The radiographer should stand at least 6 feet from the head of the patient without a barrier present.

D) A structural barrier provides adequate protection during exposure.

c

Which of the following statements regarding radiation monitoring is false?

A) Area monitoring measures output of the x-ray machine.

B) A radiation monitoring service provides a reliable record of occupational radiation exposure.

C) Personnel monitoring devices protect the wearers from scatter radiation.

D) TLD (thermoluminescent dosimeter) and DIS (direct ion storage dosimeter) are examples of personnel monitoring devices.

c

Dental radiation exposure to the patient can be reduced by each of the following except one. Which one is the exception?

A) Using the fastest speed film currently available

B) Prescribing radiographs based on evidence-based selection criteria

C) Holding the image receptor in the patient's mouth

D) Restricting the size and shape of the x-ray beam

a

The ALARA concept implies that

A) any radiation dose that can be reduced without major difficulty, great expense, or inconvenience should be reduced or eliminated.

B) if a radiation dose cannot be reduced without major difficulty, great expense, or inconvenience, then no radiographs should be exposed.

C) radiation dosages slightly above the acceptable level of risk are acceptable only in emergency treatment situations.

D) fewer radiographs should be taken only if a radiation dose cannot be reduced due to major difficulty, inconvenience, and great expense.

d

The best way to reduce patient radiation exposure is to

A) expose routine radiographs.

B) determine the risk/benefit ratio prior to exposure.

C) develop office policy for the maximum number of exposures permissible per patient.

D) use evidence-based selection criteria for prescribing radiographs.

d

Guidelines for prescribing radiographs are based on

A) medical and dental histories.

B) clinical examination.

C) signs and symptoms.

D) all of the above.

b

The function of the collimator in the dental x-ray machine is to

A) eliminate secondary sources of radiation.

B) reduce the size of the x-ray beam.

C) eliminate primary sources of radiation.

D) allow for faster exposure times.

d

The purpose of aluminum filtration is to

A) absorb the penetrating short wavelengths that fog films.

B) reduce the radiation to the patient by reducing the volume of tissue exposed.

C) eliminate the sources of scatter or secondary radiation to the patient.

D) absorb the less penetrating long wavelengths to reduce radiation exposure

c

A less divergent x-ray beam will

A) increase the radiation dose to the patient.

B) result in lower quality radiographic images.

C) create a smaller diameter of exposure.

D) require added filtration.

d

Of the following, which will result in the greatest reduction in radiation the patient receives?

A) Fast film speeds

B) Thyroid collars

C) Image receptor holders

D) Rectangular PIDs

a

Each of the following protects the radiographer from radiation except one. Which one is the exception?

A) Wearing a personnel monitoring device

B) Increasing the distance from the source of radiation

C) Standing behind protective shielding during exposure

D) Spending less time exposing radiographs

c

A personnel monitoring device cannot

A) record the amount of radiation received.

B) measure the amount of radiation received.

C) protect the operator from receiving radiation.

D) indicate the type of radiation received.

a

The best way to reduce patient risk from radiation is to follow ALARA principles

a. True

b. False

a

Guidance from deciding when, what type, and how many radiographs to expose on a patient have been developed and should be followed

a. True

b. False

b

A rectangular PID exposes more radiation to the patient's face compared with a circular PID

a. True

b. False

a

Pure aluminum will not hinder the passage of high-energy x-rays

a. True

b. False

a

Fast film requires less radiation for exposure and is essential for reducing radiation to the patient

a. True

b. False

b

Increasing the dose of radiation is a recommended method to compensate for weak processing solutions

a. True

b. False

a

Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) contain crystals that absorb energy when exposed to radiation

a. True

b. False

a

The maximum permissible dose of (MPD) for oral health care professionals is 50 mSv/year

a. True

b. False

b

Medical, dental, and therapeutic radiation are included in the MPD

a. True

b. False

a

Regulations governing the use of radiation-producing equipment include federal, state, and some local laws

a. True

b. False

a

The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission has developed radiation protection guidelines referred to as the maximum permissible dose (MPD) for the protection of radiation workers and the general public

a. True

b. False

a

he National Committee of Radiation Protection principle to keep exposure down, based on the idea that all radiation, no matter how small the dose, may cause adverse biological effects, is called "ALARA"

a. True

b. Fasle

b

Federal regulations require that the intraoral x-ray beam be collimated to a maximum diameter of 3.75 inches at the patients skin

a. True

b. False

b

If the tube head arm drifts from its appropriate position when taking a radiograph, the radiographer should ask the patient to hold the PID stable during the exposure

a. True

b. False

a

If the area of interest is imaged correctly on an adjacent radiograph, it is possible that an undiagnostic radiograph may not need to be retaken

a. True

b. False

b

The bisecting technique should be the radiographer's first choice in exposing periapical radiographs

a. True

b. False

b

Based on evidence-based selection criteria for keeping exposure ALARA, an adult recall patient with no risk factors for caries would most likely be assessed for bitewing radiographs annually

a. True

b. False

a

Based on evidence-based selection criteria for keeping radiation exposure ALARA, a child recall patient with several risk factors for caries would most likely be assessed for bitewing radiographs every 6 to 12 months

a. True

b. False

a

Based on evidence-based selection criteria for keeping radiation exposure ALARA, a high level of caries experience or demineralization increases a patient's risk for future caries

a. True

b. False

b

High-energy x-rays are the most harmful to the patient because they easily penetrate to the deep tissues of the body

a. True

b. False