IOWA DENTAL BOARD STUDY GUIDE 2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS SCORED A+
✔✔Briefly describe the steps to be followed in processing films that were protected by
barrier packs. - ✔✔Glove; remove all films from barrier pack and let drop on work
surface, being careful not to touch the films with contaminated gloves; Once all films are
out of barriers, remove gloves and wash hands, process films
✔✔How does the procedure differ if the films were not in barrier packs? - ✔✔Glove
under safe light conditions; remove actual film from film pack, not touching film as it falls
from film packets; let film packets fall on covered work surface; Once all films are out of
film packets, remove gloves, wash, dry, and process films
✔✔Briefly describe how films that were not protected by a barrier are processed using a
daylight loader. - ✔✔With clean hands, place cup with films and gloves in loader; close
lid
Insert hands and glove; remove film packet and let drop into clean cup; after all films
have been removed, unglove and process films
✔✔Where can barriers be used during radiographic procedures? - ✔✔Control panel;
tube head; chair; chair switches; films; counters; doorknobs; light switches
✔✔What makes the film packet light-tight? - ✔✔Packet itself
Black paper in packet
✔✔Describe each component of the film packet. - ✔✔Film: contains chemicals that are
sensitive to radiation
Lead foil: packet back, behind film; prevents x-rays from striking back of fim
Black paper: front and back; surrounds film; creates light-tight environment
Film packet: front and back; surrounds film; creates light-tight environment
✔✔What are three types of intraoral exposures and what is seen on each? -
✔✔Periapical: entire tooth and surrounding structures
Interproximal AKA bitewing: shows crowns and alveolar crests of both arches
Occlusal: shows either upper or lower arch on one film
✔✔How are film speeds identified? What is the fastest dental speed? - ✔✔Speeds are
identified by letters.
Fastest dental speed is speed F; aka Kodak Insight
✔✔Describe the method used to indicate film size. What film size is considered
"standard"? - ✔✔Sizes are identified by numbers
Size 2 is considered standard
, ✔✔What film sizes are used for each type of intraoral exposure? - ✔✔Periapical: 0, 1,
and 2
Interproximal: 0, 1, 2, and 3
Occlusal: 4 (size 2 on small child)
✔✔How does intraoral film packaging differ from extraoral film packaging? - ✔✔Intraoral
films are packaged individually; extraoral films are boxed without individual packaging
✔✔What is the relationship of extraoral film to the area being exposed? - ✔✔The film is
on the side being exposed
✔✔Panoramic - 5x12" or 6x12" - ✔✔Teeth of maxilla and mandible with surrounding
structures
✔✔Lateral jaw - 5x7" - ✔✔The left or right half of the jaw (maxillary and mandibular
arches of either side)
✔✔Temporomandibular joint 5x7" or 8x10" - ✔✔Usually shows six views; fully opened,
at rest, and closed on both right and left sides
✔✔Posteroanterior 8x10" - ✔✔Frontal view of skull
✔✔Cephalometric 8x10" - ✔✔Profile of skull
✔✔How can you tell if one or two films are in the film packet? - ✔✔Written on the back
of the packet-safety one film or safety two film
✔✔How should unused dental film be stored? - ✔✔Away from radiation; cool; dry area;
refrigerate; stack side by side, not on top of each other (especially extraoral film);
expiration date visible
✔✔Once films exit the processor, how are they identified? - ✔✔Patient's name and date
including year; offices may use additional identifiers such as dentist's name, patient
number, number of films
✔✔What is the purpose of processing film? - ✔✔Turn the latent image into a visible
image
✔✔What is the latent image? - ✔✔Image formed when x-rays strike the film
✔✔What routine steps should be performed at the start of each day for automatic
processor? - ✔✔Check solution level and solution freshness
Turn on water if necessary and make sure water is circulating
Allow time for chemicals to heat to approximately 82 degrees F
AND ANSWERS SCORED A+
✔✔Briefly describe the steps to be followed in processing films that were protected by
barrier packs. - ✔✔Glove; remove all films from barrier pack and let drop on work
surface, being careful not to touch the films with contaminated gloves; Once all films are
out of barriers, remove gloves and wash hands, process films
✔✔How does the procedure differ if the films were not in barrier packs? - ✔✔Glove
under safe light conditions; remove actual film from film pack, not touching film as it falls
from film packets; let film packets fall on covered work surface; Once all films are out of
film packets, remove gloves, wash, dry, and process films
✔✔Briefly describe how films that were not protected by a barrier are processed using a
daylight loader. - ✔✔With clean hands, place cup with films and gloves in loader; close
lid
Insert hands and glove; remove film packet and let drop into clean cup; after all films
have been removed, unglove and process films
✔✔Where can barriers be used during radiographic procedures? - ✔✔Control panel;
tube head; chair; chair switches; films; counters; doorknobs; light switches
✔✔What makes the film packet light-tight? - ✔✔Packet itself
Black paper in packet
✔✔Describe each component of the film packet. - ✔✔Film: contains chemicals that are
sensitive to radiation
Lead foil: packet back, behind film; prevents x-rays from striking back of fim
Black paper: front and back; surrounds film; creates light-tight environment
Film packet: front and back; surrounds film; creates light-tight environment
✔✔What are three types of intraoral exposures and what is seen on each? -
✔✔Periapical: entire tooth and surrounding structures
Interproximal AKA bitewing: shows crowns and alveolar crests of both arches
Occlusal: shows either upper or lower arch on one film
✔✔How are film speeds identified? What is the fastest dental speed? - ✔✔Speeds are
identified by letters.
Fastest dental speed is speed F; aka Kodak Insight
✔✔Describe the method used to indicate film size. What film size is considered
"standard"? - ✔✔Sizes are identified by numbers
Size 2 is considered standard
, ✔✔What film sizes are used for each type of intraoral exposure? - ✔✔Periapical: 0, 1,
and 2
Interproximal: 0, 1, 2, and 3
Occlusal: 4 (size 2 on small child)
✔✔How does intraoral film packaging differ from extraoral film packaging? - ✔✔Intraoral
films are packaged individually; extraoral films are boxed without individual packaging
✔✔What is the relationship of extraoral film to the area being exposed? - ✔✔The film is
on the side being exposed
✔✔Panoramic - 5x12" or 6x12" - ✔✔Teeth of maxilla and mandible with surrounding
structures
✔✔Lateral jaw - 5x7" - ✔✔The left or right half of the jaw (maxillary and mandibular
arches of either side)
✔✔Temporomandibular joint 5x7" or 8x10" - ✔✔Usually shows six views; fully opened,
at rest, and closed on both right and left sides
✔✔Posteroanterior 8x10" - ✔✔Frontal view of skull
✔✔Cephalometric 8x10" - ✔✔Profile of skull
✔✔How can you tell if one or two films are in the film packet? - ✔✔Written on the back
of the packet-safety one film or safety two film
✔✔How should unused dental film be stored? - ✔✔Away from radiation; cool; dry area;
refrigerate; stack side by side, not on top of each other (especially extraoral film);
expiration date visible
✔✔Once films exit the processor, how are they identified? - ✔✔Patient's name and date
including year; offices may use additional identifiers such as dentist's name, patient
number, number of films
✔✔What is the purpose of processing film? - ✔✔Turn the latent image into a visible
image
✔✔What is the latent image? - ✔✔Image formed when x-rays strike the film
✔✔What routine steps should be performed at the start of each day for automatic
processor? - ✔✔Check solution level and solution freshness
Turn on water if necessary and make sure water is circulating
Allow time for chemicals to heat to approximately 82 degrees F
