Oral Radiology Unit 3

to place in an appropriate setting, as for display or study?

mount

the placement of radiographs in a supporting structure or holder?

film mounting

refers to how teeth are arranged within the dental arches?

anatomic order

what film mount is preferred because it masks the light around each radiograph?

opaque

to minimize extraneous viewbox light, each window of a film should contain a?

radiograph

who can mount films?

any trained dental professional w/knowledge of normal anatomic landmarks

in most dental offices, mounting films is the responsibility of the?

dental radiographer

the dental radiographer should always mount films immediately after?

processing

area for mounting films should consist of?

clean, dry, light-colored work surface in front of illuminator or viewbox

why is the use of a film mount strongly recommended?

quicker & easier to view/interpret

easily stored & accessible

decrease error in determining right/left sides

decrease handling of film/damage to emulsion

mask illumination immediately adjacent to individual radiographs

the dental radiographer should _____ the film mount before the films are mounted?

label

what do you label on a film mount?

patient’s name

date of exposure

DDS name

radiographers name

what labelings are essential?

patient’s name

date of exposure

what labelings are useful/helpful?

DDS name

radiographer’s name

it is important to note the _______ when mounting bite-wing radiographs?

Curve of Spee

the anterior-posterior anatomic curvature of the occlusal surfaces of the teeth; beings at tip of lower canine & follows buccal cusps of posterior teeth to anterior border of ramus?

Curve of Spee

the curve of the maxillary arch is?

rounded or convex

the curve of the mandible arch is?

caved in or concave

what are the two methods used to mount films?

labial

lingual

both labial and lingual film mounting rely on identification of the?

embossed dot

small, raised bump, seen in one corner of each intraoral film packet; used to determine film orientation?

identification dot

the film is positioned in the packet such that the raised side of the dot faces the?

x-ray beam

after processing, the films should be placed in film mount so that all the embossed dots are either?

raised (labial) or depressed (lingual)

preferred method of mounting dental radiographs & is recommended by ADA?

labial mounting

in labial mounting the radiographs are viewed as if the viewer is?

looking directly at the patient

can be used as an alternative method; some practitioners still use this; this system is not recommended?

lingual mounting

in lingual mounting the radiographs are viewed as if?

dental radiographer is inside patient’s mouth looking out

for mounting radiographs use clean, dry hands, and hold each radiographs by the?

edges

for mounting radiographs ____ before mounting them?

sort

for mounting radiographs, use a _____ order for mounting films?

definite

for mounting radiographs, mount bite-wing radiographs with the Curve of Spee directed?

upward toward the distal

for mounting radiographs recognize differences between maxillary & mandibular teeth; maxillary anterior teeth have larger ______ and longer ______ than mandibular anterior teeth?

larger crowns

longer roots

for mounting radiographs, remember that most mandibular molars have ___ roots, whereas most maxillary molars have ___ roots?

2 roots

3 roots

for mounting radiographs, recognize that most roots curve toward the?

distal

“examining or inspecting”?

viewing

examination of dental radiographs?

film viewing

who can view films?

any trained dental professional w/knowledge of normal anatomic landmarks

although all members of the dental team may interpret dental radiographs, it is the responsibility of the _____ to establish a final or definitive interpretation & diagnosis?

dentist

explanation of what is viewed on a dental radiograph?

interpretation

what equipment is required for film viewing?

adequate light source (viewbox)

magnification (magnifying glass)

a light source or illuminator required to view dental radiographs accurately and assist in interpretation of images?

viewbox

the viewing area of the illuminator/viewbox should be large enough to accommodate a variety of?

mounted films

unmounted extraoral films

the light from the viewbox should be of uniform?

intensity & evenly diffused

if the screen of the viewbox is not completely covered by the mounted radiographs, the harsh light around the mounted films must be masked to?

reduce glare

intensify detail/contrast of images

the use of a pocket sized ______ is useful in interpretation; aids the viewer in evaluating slight changes in density & contrast in images?

magnifying glass

the dental radiographer should view radiographs immediately after?

mounting

films are best viewed by dental radiographer on a viewbox in a room with?

dimmed lighting

when interpreting dental radiographs, an area free of distractions with subdued lighting provides optimal conditions; such conditions are typically present only in a?

medical facility

since optimal viewing conditions are typically present only in a medical facility, most films are examined on the viewbox at?

chairside

the dental radiographer must use this recommended viewing sequence to examine films for each of the following?

unerupted, missing, impacted teeth

dental caries; size & shape of pulp cavity

bony changes; level of alveolar bone & calculus

roots & periapical areas

after film viewing, the dental professional must not any findings in the?

patient record

a _______ is included in the patient record and can be used to record significant findings?

standard diagram

to view of CMS, start with the films on the?

upper left side - upper right - lower right - lower left - left to right bitewings

the dental radiographer must remember that only _________ images are useful?

diagnostic

images that has been properly placed, exposed, processed, or retrieved; errors in any of these areas may result in nondiagnostic images?

diagnostic images

receptor errors that result in nondiagnostic images include?

unexposed

overexposed

underexposed

film accidentally exposed to light

may occur with digital sensors or film?

unexposed receptor

image appears clear?

unexposed film receptor

image appears blank or white with no anatomic structures recorded?

unexposed digital sensor receptor

cause of unexposed receptor?

receptor not exposed to x-radiation

w/film or sensors - fail to turn on machine, electrical fail, x-ray unit malfunction,, failure to align PID

w/digital imaging systems - fixed time interval “times out”

correction for unexposed receptor?

make sure x-ray is turned on

listen for audible exposure signal

PID is aligned

be aware of time interval

error occurs only w/film; image appears black?

film exposed to light

cause of film exposed to light?

film exposed to white light

correction for film exposed to light?

do not unwrap film packet in room w/white light

check darkroom for light leaks

turn off all lights in darkroom before unwrapping

this error may occur w/digital sensors or film; image appears dark or high in density?

overexposed receptor

cause of overexposed receptor?

receptor exposed to too much radiation; excessive exposure time, kV or ma

correction for overexposed receptor?

check exposure time, kV & mA

if patient is small - reduce factors

with digital imaging, an overexposed image may not need to be retaken if it can be improved by using the __________ to adjust the brightness & contrast?

image enhancement software

this error may occur w/digital sensors or film; image appears light or low in density?

underexposed receptor

cause of underexposed receptor?

exposed to too little radiation; inadequate factors

correction for underexposed receptor?

check exposure time & factors

for large patient - increase exposure time & factors

w/digital imaging, an underexposed image may not need to be retaken if it can be improved by using the _______ to adjust the brightness & contrast?

image enhancement software

periapical technique errors include problems with?

receptor placement

angulation

beam alignment

the edge of the periapical receptor must be placed parallel to the?

incisal or occlusal surfaces of teeth & extend 1/8 inch beyond

a nondiagnostic periapical image may result from?

improper placement of receptor

inadequate coverage of apical region

dropped receptor corner

this error may occur with digital sensors or films & paralleling or bisecting technique; no apices are seen on image & excessive margin of receptor edge appears as radiolucent band?

absence of apical structures

cause of absence of apical structures?

receptor not positioned to cover apical regions of teeth

correction for absence of apical structures?

teeth must be firmly in contact w/bite block

ask patient to smile w/lips open to view teeth

make sure no more than 1/8 inch extends

it is important to note that some digital sensors have a smaller recording dimension than film, which may result in the absence of the tooth apices; to compensate for this issue when using a digital sensor you need to?

increase VA

this error may occur w/digital sensors or film & paralleling or bisecting technique; occlusal plane appears tipped or tilted?

dropped receptor corner

cause of dropped receptor corner?

edge of receptor not parallel to incisal-occlusal surfaces of teeth

corner may slip if patient is not firmly closed on bite-block

correction for dropped receptor corner?

make sure edge of receptor is parallel to incisal-occlusal surfaces of teeth

tell patient to bite firmly on bite-block

term used to describe the alignment of the central ray of the x-ray beam in the horizontal & vertical planes?

angulation

angulation is varied by moving the _____ in either a horizontal or vertical direction?

PID

refers to the positioning of the PID in a horizontal, or side to side plane?

horizontal angulation

refers to the positioning of the PID in a vertical, or up and down, plane?

vertical angulation

can be defined as the area where the contact area of one tooth is superimposed over the contact area of an adjacent tooth?

overlapped contacts

this error may occur w/digital sensors or film & paralleling or bisecting technique; contact area of one tooth is superimposed over the contact area of an adjacent tooth?

overlapped contacts (incorrect HA)

cause of overlapped contacts?

central ray not directed through interproximal spaces

correction for overlapped contacts?

direct central ray through proximal contacts of teeth

the use of ____ & ______ beam alignment devices minimizes errors in HA?

Rinn XCP & BAI

this error may occur w/digital sensors or film & bisecting technique when beam alignment device is NOT used; teeth appear short w/blunted roots on image?

foreshortened images (incorrect VA)?

cause of foreshortened images?

VA was too excessive (too steep)

correction for foreshortened images?

don’t use steep VA w/bisecting technique

the use of ______ beam alignment device minimizes errors in VA?

Rinn BAI

this error may occur w/digital sensors or film & bisecting technique when beam alignment device is NOT used; teeth appear long & distorted on image?

elongated images (incorrect VA)

cause of elongated images?

VA was insufficient (too flat)

correction for elongated images?

do not use flat VA w/bisecting technique

if the PID is misaligned and the x-ray beam is not centered over the receptor, a _____ results?

partial image

appears as a clear or white unexposed area on a dental image and may occur with a rectangular or round PID?

cone-cut