IOWA DENTAL BOARD RADIOGRAPHY EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
What two agencies oversee dental radiography? What is the function of each with respect to dental
radiography? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅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? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅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? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Dentist
must order films
Dentist must provide personal supervision of trainee
What three things are required to obtain radiography qualification from the Board? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Course of study that includes clinical training, examination, and an application with fee
When is the radiography qualification renewed? What are the renewal requirements? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Renewed with registration is renewed - by August 31 of odd-numbered years
What are the renewal requirements for dental radiography? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Renewal requires
proof of 2 hours of continuing education in dental radiography and renewal fee
Name two possible penalties for violating dental radiography requirements. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅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. -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅False
A certified dental assistant does not need to obtain a separate radiography qualification from the Board
to take x-rays. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅False
Dental assistant trainees can train in dental radiography during the trainee period. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅True
The Iowa Dental Board inspects dental radiography machines. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅False
What are the parts of the control panel? What is the function of each part? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅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? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Motion to the electrons
Something to stop the electrons
What determines the number of electrons that will be used? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅mA and time
What role does kinetic energy play in the creation of x-rays? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅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? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅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? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅80 kVp
What is the function of the PID? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Aim the central rays - used to aim the x-rays
If the patient moves during the exposure, which film quality is affected? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Detail,
aka definition
What should you do to lighten the film's density? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅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? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Increase the kVp to increase the number of shades (high kVp yields long
scale contrast)
Name four factors of a diagnostically acceptable radiograph. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Proper density,
contrast and detail; shows entire area and surrounding structures
Where would you look to find the collimator? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Base of the PID
Name possible causes of poor detail on an x-ray. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Movement of the patient,
film, or tube head during exposure; length of the PID
Density - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Film blackening (the amount of light transmitted through a film)
Contrast - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅The visual differences between shades ranging from black to white in
adjacent areas of the radiographic film
Detail - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅The sharpness and clarity of the outline of the structure on the image
shown on the film
ANSWERS
What two agencies oversee dental radiography? What is the function of each with respect to dental
radiography? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅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? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅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? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Dentist
must order films
Dentist must provide personal supervision of trainee
What three things are required to obtain radiography qualification from the Board? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Course of study that includes clinical training, examination, and an application with fee
When is the radiography qualification renewed? What are the renewal requirements? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Renewed with registration is renewed - by August 31 of odd-numbered years
What are the renewal requirements for dental radiography? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Renewal requires
proof of 2 hours of continuing education in dental radiography and renewal fee
Name two possible penalties for violating dental radiography requirements. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅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. -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅False
A certified dental assistant does not need to obtain a separate radiography qualification from the Board
to take x-rays. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅False
Dental assistant trainees can train in dental radiography during the trainee period. - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅True
The Iowa Dental Board inspects dental radiography machines. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅False
What are the parts of the control panel? What is the function of each part? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅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? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅Motion to the electrons
Something to stop the electrons
What determines the number of electrons that will be used? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅mA and time
What role does kinetic energy play in the creation of x-rays? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅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? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅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? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅80 kVp
What is the function of the PID? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Aim the central rays - used to aim the x-rays
If the patient moves during the exposure, which film quality is affected? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Detail,
aka definition
What should you do to lighten the film's density? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅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? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Increase the kVp to increase the number of shades (high kVp yields long
scale contrast)
Name four factors of a diagnostically acceptable radiograph. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Proper density,
contrast and detail; shows entire area and surrounding structures
Where would you look to find the collimator? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Base of the PID
Name possible causes of poor detail on an x-ray. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Movement of the patient,
film, or tube head during exposure; length of the PID
Density - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Film blackening (the amount of light transmitted through a film)
Contrast - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅The visual differences between shades ranging from black to white in
adjacent areas of the radiographic film
Detail - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅The sharpness and clarity of the outline of the structure on the image
shown on the film
