Radiography & Infection Control Flashcards

Which film speed is recommended to minimize patient radiation dose in dental radiography?

Answer: F-speed (fastest)

F-speed (Insight) film requires the least radiation exposure to produce a diagnostic image, significantly reducing patient dose compared to slower film speeds.

What is the proper technique for handling contaminated radiographic film packets after exposure?

Answer: Drop the film from the packet directly onto a clean surface

The 'drop technique' involves opening the contaminated packet with gloved hands and dropping the uncontaminated inner film onto a clean surface, preventing cross-contamination.

Elongation of a radiographic image is caused by:

Answer: Insufficient vertical angulation

Elongation occurs when the vertical angulation is too flat (insufficient), causing the X-ray beam to strike the tooth and film at an angle that stretches the image.

Which instrument should be sterilized rather than disinfected between patient uses?

Answer: Reusable film-holding device

Reusable film-holding devices are semi-critical instruments that contact mucous membranes and must be sterilized (or receive high-level disinfection) between uses.

What type of radiation produces the greatest risk for dental patients during X-ray exposure?

Answer: Scatter radiation

Scatter radiation, which is deflected in all directions from the patient's tissues, represents the greatest source of unintended exposure during dental radiographic procedures.

Which of the following is an example of a critical dental instrument requiring sterilization?

Answer: Amalgam condenser

Amalgam condensers are critical instruments that penetrate soft tissue or bone and must be sterilized between patient uses.

In the paralleling technique, the film/sensor must be positioned:

Answer: Parallel to the long axis of the tooth

In the paralleling technique, the film or sensor is placed parallel to the long axis of the tooth to produce a geometrically accurate, undistorted image.