Chapter 39: Common Exposure & Processing Errors

Distortion

Bend or curve on the palate and canine area

Elongation

Image appears stretched from insufficient vertical angulation

Foreshortening

Image appears shortened due to excessive vertical angulation

Overlapping

The cone is angled towards the mesial or distal, causing incorrect horizontal angulation and the adjacent teeth appear fused or overlapped

Cone Cutting

Only part of the film is exposed because the x-ray beam missed part of the film

Clear Film/Absence of Image

No image on the film; film may not have been exposed

What do you do to prevent clear film/the absence of image? (3)

Check that the machine was on, film was placed in developer before fixer, and the water bath temperature is correct

Double Exposure

Film is exposed twice causing two images to be seen

What can you do to prevent double exposure? (1)

Keep exposed and unexposed films separate from each other

Blurred Image

Movement of the patient’s head, tubehead, or x-ray film in the patient’s mouth

What can you do to prevent a blurred image?

Make sure that the patient and film hold still and that the tubehead doesn’t drift

Underexposed Film

Light with a thin image

What should you do to prevent underexposed or overexposed film?

Check the mAs, kVs, and exposure times

Overexposed Film

Dark image and is too dark

Film Artifact

Image found on x-ray other than normal anatomy/pathology

Radiopaque Film Images

Structures that are dense and resist passages of x-rays

How do radiopaque film images appear?

Light or white

Radiolucent Film Images

Area that is less dense and permits x-ray beam to pass through

How do radiolucent film images appear?

As dark areas on an x-ray

What do radiolucent film images represent?

A void or lesion

Backward Film

Film is placed in the mouth backwards or reversed

What is the herringbone pattern?

A tire track pattern on the foil that is seen on the sides of the processed x-ray when the film is backwards or reversed

Light Film

Underprocessed

What causes light film? (4)

Developing time too short, temperature too low, solution too weak, or incomplete fixing process

Dark Film

Overdeveloped

What causes dark film? (3)

Temperature too high, solution too strong, or left in solution too long

Fogged Film

Gray appearance with lost image detail or contrast

What is fogged film caused by? (3)

Improper storage conditions, outdated films, or light leaks

What is a partial image caused by?

Result of image placement in the processing tanks when solutions are low

What is spotted film caused by? (2)

Films aren’t handled carefully or area around the processing tanks aren’t clean

What are the types of spotted film errors? (5)

Water spots, fixer spots, developer spots, yellow-brown spots, and static electricity

Water Spots

When water touches unprocessed film and leaves a clear area

Fixer Spots

White spots on the film from contact with fixer

Developer Spots

Dark spots caused by contact with developer

Yellow-Brown Spots

Yellow-brownish stains caused by improper or insufficient washing or rinsing of the film

Static Electricity

Black branching lines on the film

Torn/Scratched Film

White area or mark caused by the emulsion being torn/scratched when the film is roughly handled

Air Bubbles on the Film

Round white spots caused by the film not being agitated when placed in the processing solutions

Reticulation

Film looks dry with tiny cracks from exposure to a high temperature then low temperature causing the emulsion to swell then shrink

Streaks

Unclean rollers when using automatic processers causing film to pick up debris