Iowa Dental Board Radiography Exam Questions with Correct Answers Latest 2025
What two agencies oversee dental radiography? What is the function of each with respect to dental
radiography? - Answers Iowa Department of Public Health: state radiation control agency, inspects
facilities;
Iowa Dental Board: ensures that dental assistants meet minimum training standards; issues qualification
in dental radiography
Under what conditions can a dental assistant take radiographs? - Answers Assistant must have added
qualified in dental radiography or be on trainee status
Dentist must order the films
Dentist must provide supervision
Under what conditions can a dental assistant trainee take radiographs? - Answers Dentist must order
films
Dentist must provide personal supervision of trainee
What three things are required to obtain radiography qualification from the Board? - Answers Course of
study that includes clinical training, examination, and an application with fee
When is the radiography qualification renewed? What are the renewal requirements? - Answers
Renewed with registration is renewed - by August 31 of odd-numbered years
What are the renewal requirements for dental radiography? - Answers Renewal requires proof of 2
hours of continuing education in dental radiography and renewal fee
Name two possible penalties for violating dental radiography requirements. - Answers Disciplinary
action by the dental board
Criminal charges or civil action
A dentist should always prescribe radiographs every six months to review a patient's dental condition. -
Answers False
A certified dental assistant does not need to obtain a separate radiography qualification from the Board
to take x-rays. - Answers False
Dental assistant trainees can train in dental radiography during the trainee period. - Answers True
The Iowa Dental Board inspects dental radiography machines. - Answers False
What are the parts of the control panel? What is the function of each part? - Answers Timer: controls
how long electrons move-length of exposure
, mA setting: determines the number of electrons available
kVp setting: determines the force of electron movement
A source of electrons is needed to create x-rays. What else is needed to create x-rays? - Answers Motion
to the electrons
Something to stop the electrons
What determines the number of electrons that will be used? - Answers mA and time
What role does kinetic energy play in the creation of x-rays? - Answers Electrons in motion possess
kinetic energy; Kinetic energy from electrons in motion is converted into heat and x-rays when the
electrons are stopped
What does the force of electron movement have to do with the x-rays that are created? - Answers Force
of movement determines force of x-ray
The greater the movement force, the more powerful the x-rays
Which x-ray has more penetrating power, one that was created with a kVp of 60 or an x-ray that was
created with a kVp of 80? - Answers 80 kVp
What is the function of the PID? - Answers Aim the central rays - used to aim the x-rays
If the patient moves during the exposure, which film quality is affected? - Answers Detail, aka definition
What should you do to lighten the film's density? - Answers Decrease the mA or decrease time
If the dentist looks at some films and tells you she wants more shades on the next film, what would you
adjust? - Answers Increase the kVp to increase the number of shades (high kVp yields long scale
contrast)
Name four factors of a diagnostically acceptable radiograph. - Answers Proper density, contrast and
detail; shows entire area and surrounding structures
Where would you look to find the collimator? - Answers Base of the PID
Name possible causes of poor detail on an x-ray. - Answers Movement of the patient, film, or tube head
during exposure; length of the PID
Density - Answers Film blackening (the amount of light transmitted through a film)
Contrast - Answers The visual differences between shades ranging from black to white in adjacent areas
of the radiographic film
Detail - Answers The sharpness and clarity of the outline of the structure on the image shown on the
film
What two agencies oversee dental radiography? What is the function of each with respect to dental
radiography? - Answers Iowa Department of Public Health: state radiation control agency, inspects
facilities;
Iowa Dental Board: ensures that dental assistants meet minimum training standards; issues qualification
in dental radiography
Under what conditions can a dental assistant take radiographs? - Answers Assistant must have added
qualified in dental radiography or be on trainee status
Dentist must order the films
Dentist must provide supervision
Under what conditions can a dental assistant trainee take radiographs? - Answers Dentist must order
films
Dentist must provide personal supervision of trainee
What three things are required to obtain radiography qualification from the Board? - Answers Course of
study that includes clinical training, examination, and an application with fee
When is the radiography qualification renewed? What are the renewal requirements? - Answers
Renewed with registration is renewed - by August 31 of odd-numbered years
What are the renewal requirements for dental radiography? - Answers Renewal requires proof of 2
hours of continuing education in dental radiography and renewal fee
Name two possible penalties for violating dental radiography requirements. - Answers Disciplinary
action by the dental board
Criminal charges or civil action
A dentist should always prescribe radiographs every six months to review a patient's dental condition. -
Answers False
A certified dental assistant does not need to obtain a separate radiography qualification from the Board
to take x-rays. - Answers False
Dental assistant trainees can train in dental radiography during the trainee period. - Answers True
The Iowa Dental Board inspects dental radiography machines. - Answers False
What are the parts of the control panel? What is the function of each part? - Answers Timer: controls
how long electrons move-length of exposure
, mA setting: determines the number of electrons available
kVp setting: determines the force of electron movement
A source of electrons is needed to create x-rays. What else is needed to create x-rays? - Answers Motion
to the electrons
Something to stop the electrons
What determines the number of electrons that will be used? - Answers mA and time
What role does kinetic energy play in the creation of x-rays? - Answers Electrons in motion possess
kinetic energy; Kinetic energy from electrons in motion is converted into heat and x-rays when the
electrons are stopped
What does the force of electron movement have to do with the x-rays that are created? - Answers Force
of movement determines force of x-ray
The greater the movement force, the more powerful the x-rays
Which x-ray has more penetrating power, one that was created with a kVp of 60 or an x-ray that was
created with a kVp of 80? - Answers 80 kVp
What is the function of the PID? - Answers Aim the central rays - used to aim the x-rays
If the patient moves during the exposure, which film quality is affected? - Answers Detail, aka definition
What should you do to lighten the film's density? - Answers Decrease the mA or decrease time
If the dentist looks at some films and tells you she wants more shades on the next film, what would you
adjust? - Answers Increase the kVp to increase the number of shades (high kVp yields long scale
contrast)
Name four factors of a diagnostically acceptable radiograph. - Answers Proper density, contrast and
detail; shows entire area and surrounding structures
Where would you look to find the collimator? - Answers Base of the PID
Name possible causes of poor detail on an x-ray. - Answers Movement of the patient, film, or tube head
during exposure; length of the PID
Density - Answers Film blackening (the amount of light transmitted through a film)
Contrast - Answers The visual differences between shades ranging from black to white in adjacent areas
of the radiographic film
Detail - Answers The sharpness and clarity of the outline of the structure on the image shown on the
film
