Radiation Safety for Patients and
Operators Exam Questions and
Answers 100% Pass
Which of the following best describes acute exposures to radiation?
Genetic
Chronic
Short-term
Leukemia - ✔✔Short term
If you decreased the distance and left the exposure factors the same, what impact would
this have on your dental? - ✔✔The image would be darker because the density
increases
What is the least sensitive to radiation exposure? - ✔✔Nerve cells
Which of the following is a true statement regarding pediatric exposures to radiation?
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,Uncooperative children require panoramic exposures.
Pediatric patients do not require images.
Immature tissues of pediatric patients are less susceptible to radiation than adult
patients.
A child may be seated in a parent's lap for exposures. - ✔✔A child may be seated in a
parent's lap for exposures.
When is a lead apron used?
When performing a panoramic image
When producing a full mouth series
When performing a periapical exam
All of the above - ✔✔All the above
When x-ray exposure time is increased, there is __________density of the dental image. -
✔✔increased
If you increased mA and left the other exposure factors the same, what impact would
this have on your dental image? - ✔✔The image would be darker because the density
increases.
What is an acceptable emission from the tubehead? - ✔✔Primary radiation
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,When the dental assistant becomes the patient, where is the radiation-monitoring badge
placed? - ✔✔Leave it in a radiation-safe area outside of the radiology cubicle.
Why is a rectangular PID preferred over a circular PID when exposing dental images? -
✔✔Limits the amount of radiation the patient receives
What steps should be followed when exposing a panoramic image? - ✔✔Instruct the
patient to close the lips on the bite block and to swallow once and then place the tongue
against the roof of the mouth to maintain that position during exposure
The purpose of the intensifying screen in a panoramic cassette is to reduce -
✔✔radiation exposure.
Which of the following is not a patient protection measure that can be used before any
x-radiation exposure occurs? - ✔✔Use of a lead apron
Which is an x-ray beam containing many different wavelengths of varying intensities? -
✔✔Polychromatic x-ray
You noticed that your patient moved just as you pressed the exposure button. What
affect will that have on your dental image? - ✔✔Alteration in image sharpness
Which of the following causes cellular damage from x-radiation? - ✔✔Ionization
What type of illumination is allowed in the darkroom while opening a film packet? -
✔✔Safelight
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, Which statement is correct regarding filtration of the x-ray tubehead?
It refers to the placement of tungsten disks in the path of the x-ray beam between the
collimator and the tubehead seal.
It filters out shorter wavelength x-rays from the x-ray beam.
It results in a lower energy beam.
It results in a more penetrating, useful beam. - ✔✔It results in a more penetrating,
useful beam.
What represents the maximum permissible dose (MPD) for the general public? - ✔✔0.1
rem per year
What is the purpose of the receptor-holding device? - ✔✔It stabilizes the receptor
position in the mouth and reduces the chance for movement.
The collimator - ✔✔Restricts the size and shape of the x-ray beam
Your last patient was an average size male. You next patient is a slender 12 year old girl.
What adjustment would you make, if any to the control panel when exposing dental
images? - ✔✔Decrease the exposure time, leave the kV, and the mA the same
What factor is used to measure the penetrating power of radiation? - ✔✔Wavelength
You have added an extension to your PID. The length of the PID is changing from 16 to
12 inches. How does this affect the intensity of the x-ray beam? What adjustment will
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Operators Exam Questions and
Answers 100% Pass
Which of the following best describes acute exposures to radiation?
Genetic
Chronic
Short-term
Leukemia - ✔✔Short term
If you decreased the distance and left the exposure factors the same, what impact would
this have on your dental? - ✔✔The image would be darker because the density
increases
What is the least sensitive to radiation exposure? - ✔✔Nerve cells
Which of the following is a true statement regarding pediatric exposures to radiation?
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,Uncooperative children require panoramic exposures.
Pediatric patients do not require images.
Immature tissues of pediatric patients are less susceptible to radiation than adult
patients.
A child may be seated in a parent's lap for exposures. - ✔✔A child may be seated in a
parent's lap for exposures.
When is a lead apron used?
When performing a panoramic image
When producing a full mouth series
When performing a periapical exam
All of the above - ✔✔All the above
When x-ray exposure time is increased, there is __________density of the dental image. -
✔✔increased
If you increased mA and left the other exposure factors the same, what impact would
this have on your dental image? - ✔✔The image would be darker because the density
increases.
What is an acceptable emission from the tubehead? - ✔✔Primary radiation
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,When the dental assistant becomes the patient, where is the radiation-monitoring badge
placed? - ✔✔Leave it in a radiation-safe area outside of the radiology cubicle.
Why is a rectangular PID preferred over a circular PID when exposing dental images? -
✔✔Limits the amount of radiation the patient receives
What steps should be followed when exposing a panoramic image? - ✔✔Instruct the
patient to close the lips on the bite block and to swallow once and then place the tongue
against the roof of the mouth to maintain that position during exposure
The purpose of the intensifying screen in a panoramic cassette is to reduce -
✔✔radiation exposure.
Which of the following is not a patient protection measure that can be used before any
x-radiation exposure occurs? - ✔✔Use of a lead apron
Which is an x-ray beam containing many different wavelengths of varying intensities? -
✔✔Polychromatic x-ray
You noticed that your patient moved just as you pressed the exposure button. What
affect will that have on your dental image? - ✔✔Alteration in image sharpness
Which of the following causes cellular damage from x-radiation? - ✔✔Ionization
What type of illumination is allowed in the darkroom while opening a film packet? -
✔✔Safelight
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, Which statement is correct regarding filtration of the x-ray tubehead?
It refers to the placement of tungsten disks in the path of the x-ray beam between the
collimator and the tubehead seal.
It filters out shorter wavelength x-rays from the x-ray beam.
It results in a lower energy beam.
It results in a more penetrating, useful beam. - ✔✔It results in a more penetrating,
useful beam.
What represents the maximum permissible dose (MPD) for the general public? - ✔✔0.1
rem per year
What is the purpose of the receptor-holding device? - ✔✔It stabilizes the receptor
position in the mouth and reduces the chance for movement.
The collimator - ✔✔Restricts the size and shape of the x-ray beam
Your last patient was an average size male. You next patient is a slender 12 year old girl.
What adjustment would you make, if any to the control panel when exposing dental
images? - ✔✔Decrease the exposure time, leave the kV, and the mA the same
What factor is used to measure the penetrating power of radiation? - ✔✔Wavelength
You have added an extension to your PID. The length of the PID is changing from 16 to
12 inches. How does this affect the intensity of the x-ray beam? What adjustment will
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