Iowa Dental Board – Radiography Latest Update Graded A+

Iowa Dental Board – Radiography Latest Update Graded A+ Absorbed Dose the amount of energy deposited in any form of matter be any form of radiation; measured by the gray (GY) and the rad Acute Exposure large, single exposure to radiation; person develops symptoms of acute radiation syndrome ALARA "as low as reasonably achievable"; using the least amount of radiation to gain the maximum amount of benefit Archive historical; films with archive value will not diminish in quality over time; archive quality is affected by processing and film age Artifact a blemish or image in the radiograph that is not present in the actual object Atom the smallest particle of an element that has properties of that element. Atoms are extremely minute and are composed of a number of subatomic particles Barrier Envelope Packet clear, plastic "baggie" that film can be placed in during exposure; prevents film from becoming contaminated with saliva Barriers any material that is used to prevent the transmission of infective pathogens Central rays (CR) the central portion of the primary beam of radiation Cephalometric lateral and posteroanterior extraoral head films Cephalostat a device used to stabilize the patient's head in a plane that is parallel to the film and at right angles to the central rays of the x-ray beam Charged-coupled device a CCD is a solid-state detector used in many electronic devices. A CCD used in radiography is an image receptor found in the intraoral sensor, which converts x-rays into electrons Chronic exposure low level exposures to radiation over a long period of time Collimator a diaphragm, usually lead, designed to restrict the dimensions of the useful beam; looks like a lead washer Cone cut term used to describe a blank area on a radiograph where the PID (position indicating device) did not cover the entire film Contrast the visual differences between shades ranging from black to white in adjacent areas of the radiographic film; increased kilovoltage results in the production of a radiograph with a long-scale contrast (many variations in shade) Control panel section of the x-ray machine that houses the timer, milliammeter, and kVp selector Convex outward even curve Coulombs/kg a unit of electrical charge; measurement of radiation exposure in air Daylight loader a light-shielded compartment attached to an automatic processor so films can be unwrapped in a room with white light Definition the sharpness and clarity of the outline of the structure on the image shown on the film Density film blackening (the amount of light transmitted through a film); the simplest way to increase or decrease the density of a radiograph is to increase or decrease the milliamperage and exposure time Detail the point-by-point delineation of the minute structures visible in the shadow images on the radiograph; sharpness or how well the smallest details of an object are reproduced on a dental radiograph Digital imaging a method of making a radiographic image using a computer Disinfect a term used to describe those efforts made to reduce the disease-producing microorganisms to an acceptable level Dose equivalent a term used for radiation protection purposed to compare the biological effects of the various types of radiation. Measured in rems and sieverts Edentulous without teeth; areas of the jaw with no teeth Electron a small negatively charged particle of an atom containing much energy and little mass; electrons are found in orbits around the nucleus Exposure a measurement of ionization produced in ait by x-ray or gamma radiation: the units of measurement for exposure are the Roentgen and coulombs/kg Extension arm flexible arm from which the tube head of the x-ray machine is suspended; houses wires that connect the tube head and the control panel Film badge a monitoring device containing a special type of film, which when properly developed and interpreted, gives a measurement of the exposure received during the time the badge is worn Film speed the amount of exposure of light required to produce a given image density; the faster the film, the less time needed to expose it; speeds available for dental use are D and F, with F being faster then D Filters absorbing material, usually aluminum, placed in the path of the beam of radiation to remove low energy (soft) x-rays Frequency the number of crests of a wavelength passing a given point per second; indicates the energy of a radiation; the higher the frequency the more powerful the radiation and the shorter the wavelength` Genetic reproductive body cells Genetic effects radiation effects upon the genes and hence upon future generations Genetic exposure radiation exposure to genetic tissues (reproductive cells) Gray a unit for measuring absorbed dose; one gray equals 100 rad Interproximal film a radiograph that shows the crowns of the both upper and lower teeth on the same film; taken to diagnose interproximal caries and view the height of the alveolar crest; AKA bitewing Ion an electrically charged particle, either negative or positive Ionization the formation of ion pairs; breaking an atom apart by freeing one or more electrons; x-rays have the ability to ionize atoms Kinetic energy the energy possessed by a mass because of its motion kVp kilovoltage peak; the highest voltage acheived during x-ray production; the voltage force that causes Latent image the invisible image produced when film is exposed to x-rays; remains invisible until the film is processed Latent period the time between exposure to radiation and the first clinically observable symptoms Lateral jaw survey an extraoral exposure of either side of the patient's face that produces an image of both the mandible and the maxilla on the same film mA the milliampere is one thousands of an ampere; determines the number of electrons available Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging that uses external magnets and a person's internal magnetic fields to create an image on a computer Midsagittal plane an imaginary vertical line or plane passing through the center of the body that divides it into a right and left side Milliameter a device on the control panel of many x-ray machines for determining and controlling the number of milliamperes of electric current; the mA and time control the number of electrons available to create x-rays MPD maximum permissible dose; the maximum accumulated dose of radiation that may be received over a period of time Neutron Subatomic particle; no electrical charge; located in the nucleus Nucleus the small central part of an atom; houses protons and neutrons Occlusal film radiographs produced by placing the film along the incisal or occlusal plane and having the patient stabilize it by gently biting down on it Occlusal plane the plane between the maxillary and the mandibular teeth; forms a slight upward curve known as the Curve of Spee Outer canthus (of the eye) the outer corner of the eye Output the amount of radiation that an x-ray machine produces, calculated in coulombs/kg per second (roentgens per sec), measured at the open end of the PID Panoramic film radiograph that uses a fixed position of the x-ray source, object, and film to produce a radiograph of the entire dentition and surrounding structures on a single film Pathogen a disease-causing microorganism Periapical a radiograph that shows the entire tooth or teeth and surrounding tissues; Peri means "a round" and apical is the root end of the tooth Personal protective equipment (PPE) personal barriers worn to prevent contamination; gloves, mask, eyewear, and gowns Position indicating device (PID) any device attached to the tube head to direct the useful beam of radiation. It can be long or short, cylindrical or rectangular Posteroanterior a radiograph of the head in which the x-ray film is in front of the face and the x-ray machine is behind that patient; the x-ray beam is directed at the occipital bone passes through the skull from the back to the front Primary beam the original undeflected useful beam of radiation; useful beam Proton a subatomic particle of the atom; the proton is contained in the nucleus and has a positive electrical charge Quality administrative procedures a written plan that includes a monitoring and maintenance schedule, staff responisble for quality control procedures, a log of tests and results, and a log of retakes; the plan should be reviewed periodically RAD a special unit of absorbed dose equal to 0.01 joule per kilogram of tissue; for x-rays, the rad is approximately numerically equivalent to the roentgen; the RAD has been replaced by the Gray (Gy) Radiolucent the portion of the processed radiograph that is dark because the exposed structure lacks density; also refers to a substance that resists the passage of radiation Radiopaque that portion of the radiograph that appears light; also refers to a substance that resists the passage of radiation REM a unit used to measure the dose equivalent; used to compare the biological effects of various types of radiation; the rem has been replaced by the Sievert (Sv) Roentgen (R) the special unit of exposure to radiation measured in air; the Roentgen has been replaced by coulombs/kg Scatter radiation radiation that has been deflected from its path by impact during its passage through matter. This form of secondary radiation is scattered in all directions by the tissues of the patient's head during exposure to x-radiation; travels to all parts of the patient's body and all areas of the dental operatory Secondary radiation radiation given off by any matter irradiated with x-rays. This form of radiation is created at the instant the primary beam interacts with matter and gives off its energy, forming new and less powerful wavelengths. Sievert (Sv) a unit for measuring the dose equivalent Soft x-rays rays of low energy and long wavelengths that have little penetrating power. These have no value in producing dental radiographs and are removed from the beam by filtration Somatic all body cells except the reproductive cells Specific exposure exposure to a particular area of the body; in dental radiography the specific areas of exposure are the teeth and surrounding structures Stepwedge a device consisting of increments of absorber through which a radiographic exposure is made on film to determine the amounts of radiation reaching the film by measurements of the film density; used in quality control tests to determine when to change the solutions and if the output of the machine is consistent Sterilize the total destruction of spores and disease-producing microorganisms Temporomandibular Joint survey an extraoral film used to show in profile the ariculation of the head of the mandibular condyle with the glenoid fossa of the temporal bone and the surrounding structures Timer a device that can be set to predetermine the duration of the interval that the current flows through the x-ray machine to produce x-rays; time and mA determine the quantity of x-rays produced TLD a monitoring device containing crystalline compounds that store energy when struck by x-rays to determine the amount of radiation exposure Tube head section of the x-ray machine that houses the components needed to create x-rays; attached to extension arm by a yoke; PID attaches to tube head Ultrasound sound waves at very high frequencies that move in different velocities in tissues with different densities; used to outline shapes of organs and tissues; imaging method that does not use x-rays to produce the image Universal precautions a method of infection control in which blood and certain body fluids are treated as if known to be infectious for blood borne pathogens Wavelength the distance between the high points or crests of an x-ray, the shorter the wavelength the more powerful the x-ray; determines the enrgy and penetrating power of radiation Whole body exposure exposure of the whole body to radiation; occurs in the sun or during a nuclear event Yoke the curved portion of the x-ray machine that can revolve 360 degrees horizontally where it is connected to the extension arm. The tube head is suspended within the yoke and can be rotated vertically within it