FAULTY RADIOGRAPHS- Terms and Defintions

Films with errors should be avoided due to the following
reasons:

● Poor radiographs contribute to a loss of diagnostic information

● Loss of professional and patient time

● Expose the patient to unnecessary radiation

● Waste of film (money)

Causes:

• The majority of the errors produced can be categorized into three groups:

1. Processing Errors

2. Technique and Projection Errors

3. Exposure Errors

Processing Error can be Divide into 2 Which are?

1. Chemical Errors

2. Film Handling Errors

Chemical Errors(LDBR|BBWY)

1. Light image

2. Dark image

3. Blank image

4. Reticulation

5. Black spot or patch

6. Black line

7. White spot or patch

8. Yellowish brown discoloration

Light Radiographs processing errors

1. Underdeveloped

2. Depleted Developer Solution

3. Diluted or Contaminated Developer

4. Excessive Fixation

Dark Radiographs processing errors

1. Overdevelopment

● Temperature too high

2. Developer concentration too high

3. Inadequate fixation

4. Exposure to light

5. Improper safelighting

Reticulation

-When the film is subjected to a sudden temperature change between the developer and water.

-It appears as cracked film.

Black spots or patches

Developer contamination before immersion into the developer solution

Black Line

• Developer contamination processing hanger clips

• Dirty roller in automatic processor

White spot or patch

• Contamination of fixer before immersion

Yellowish or Brown Discoloration

• Exhausted solution or insufficient fixing

• Expired or dirty solution

Film Handling Errors(WD|FOF|SSS)

1. Writing lines

2. Developer cut-off

3. Fixer cut-off

4. Overlapped film

5. Fingernail artifact

6. Smudge

7. Scratched film

8. Static electricit

Writing Lines

Appear on the radiograph due to writing on the film packet with ballpoint or lead pencil It may appear black or white

Finger Nail Artifact

Black or white crescent shape mark due to rough handling of film

Developer cut off

A straight blank white border due to underdeveloped portion. The film may not be completely immersed

Fixer cut off

A straight black border. The film may not be completely immersed in fixer solution

Overlapped film

Film that overlap in developer are white, while that overlap in fixer are black

Smudge (fingerprint)

When the film touched by the fingers contaminated with developer or fixer

Scratched film

White lines appear on the film due to careless handling of the film.

Static Electricity

• Thin black branching lines

• Occurs when two surfaces are rubbed together against each other vigorously, this creates an electric charge with visible light emitted which is capable of exposing the x-ray film, thus leading to ionization of AgBr crystals at this area.

• Occur most frequently during periods of low humidity

Technique and Projection errors can be divided into two

1. Patient preparation error

2. Film placement artifact

Patient preparation error:

● Radiopaque artifact

● Blurred image

● Pressure mark

Film placement artifact:(DR|DAC|DABD)

1. Double image

2. Reversed film

3. Dot artifact

4. Apices cut off

5. Crown not shown

6. Dropped film corner

7. Area of interest not shown

8. Blackline

9. Distortion

Projection Errors

● Incorrect vertical angulation.

● Incorrect horizontal angulation

● PID alignment artifact

Radiopaque artifact

Dental appliances, body piercings, jewelry & eye glasses left in the mouth during exposure will appear as radiopaque artifacts superimposed over the dental image.

Correction: all these items should be removed before placing the film

Blurred image

Movement of the film, patient or X-ray tube head during exposure will result in a blurred image. Correction: the operator should explain for the patient & remind him to remain motionless during exposure.

Pressure Mark

Pressure from the incisal edge & cusps of the teeth (mostly in the pediatric occlusal radiograph). May appear black or white. Correction: ask the patient to bite gently.

Double Image

When an exposed film is exposed the resulting film will have 2 superimposed images

Reversed Film

Low Density with herring bone, tire track or dotted pattern, as a result of directing the X-ray through the lead foil side of the film back

Dot Artifact

The identification(embossed) dot produces a circular radiolucent artifact on the final radiograph. This may interfere with interpretation of the apical areas of teeth.

Apices Cut off

Occur when the film is not positioned apically enough to record the entire tooth

Crown now shown

There is no enough film extending occlusally.

Dropped Film Corner

The film edge is not placed parallel to the occlusal surface of the teeth.

Area of interest not shown

This is the result of not placing the film to Cover all the teeth in the area of interest and not centralizing the film over the area of interest

Black Line

Due to excessive bending of the film prior to its placement inside the patient’s mouth(pressure causes ionization of silver halide upon processing will be darker).

Distortion

Due to bending of the film to eliminate the patient’s discomfort specially in lower premolar area and upper central incisor.

Incorrect Vertical Angulation

It will lead to:

● Elongated image due to insufficient vertical angulation(too flat), or

● Shortened Image due to excessive vertical angulation(too steep)

Incorrect Horizontal Angulation

Is the appearance of the interproximal of adjacent teeth over each other. This is due to Improper Horizontal Angulation due tue improper alignment of the Centric Relation through the contact points I.e. Not Parallel to interproximal surfaces

PID alignment artifact

If the PID is misaligned and the x-ray is not centered over the film, a partial image is seen on the resultant radiograph, this partial image is called cone-cut. It appear as clear area with curved outline. - Hindi naexposed yung buong film

Exposure Errors

1. Blank Image

2. Low Density Image

3. High Density Image

4. Image with high and low contrast

Blank Image

A film that did not receive radiation will have no image and will appear clear.

Low Density Faint Image

Sometimes caused by regulation, yung mga hindi napipindot ng maayos. E.g. Minsan nagmamadali ang nakaproject is central incisors pero ang kukunin is premolars

High Density Image