Iowa Dental Board – Radiography
ACTUAL UPDATED QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
Absorbed Dose - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅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 - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅large, single exposure to radiation; person
develops symptoms of acute radiation syndrome
ALARA - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅"as low as reasonably achievable"; using the least
amount of radiation to gain the maximum amount of benefit
Archive - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅historical; films with archive value will not diminish
in quality over time; archive quality is affected by processing and film age
Artifact - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅a blemish or image in the radiograph that is not
present in the actual object
Atom - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅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 - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅clear, plastic "baggie" that film can be
placed in during exposure; prevents film from becoming contaminated with saliva
Barriers - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅any material that is used to prevent the transmission of
infective pathogens
Central rays (CR) - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅the central portion of the primary beam of
radiation
Cephalometric - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅lateral and posteroanterior extraoral head films
Cephalostat - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅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 - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅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 - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅low level exposures to radiation over a long
period of time
Collimator - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅a diaphragm, usually lead, designed to restrict the
dimensions of the useful beam; looks like a lead washer
, Cone cut - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅term used to describe a blank area on a radiograph
where the PID (position indicating device) did not cover the entire film
Contrast - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅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 - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅section of the x-ray machine that houses the
timer, milliammeter, and kVp selector
Convex - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅outward even curve
Coulombs/kg - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅a unit of electrical charge; measurement of
radiation exposure in air
Daylight loader - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅a light-shielded compartment attached to an
automatic processor so films can be unwrapped in a room with white light
Definition - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅the sharpness and clarity of the outline of the
structure on the image shown on the film
Density - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅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 - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅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 - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅a method of making a radiographic image
using a computer
Disinfect - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅a term used to describe those efforts made to reduce
the disease-producing microorganisms to an acceptable level
Dose equivalent - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅a term used for radiation protection purposed
to compare the biological effects of the various types of radiation. Measured in rems and
sieverts
Edentulous - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅without teeth; areas of the jaw with no teeth
Electron - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅a small negatively charged particle of an atom
containing much energy and little mass; electrons are found in orbits around the nucleus
Exposure - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅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 - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅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
ACTUAL UPDATED QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
Absorbed Dose - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅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 - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅large, single exposure to radiation; person
develops symptoms of acute radiation syndrome
ALARA - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅"as low as reasonably achievable"; using the least
amount of radiation to gain the maximum amount of benefit
Archive - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅historical; films with archive value will not diminish
in quality over time; archive quality is affected by processing and film age
Artifact - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅a blemish or image in the radiograph that is not
present in the actual object
Atom - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅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 - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅clear, plastic "baggie" that film can be
placed in during exposure; prevents film from becoming contaminated with saliva
Barriers - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅any material that is used to prevent the transmission of
infective pathogens
Central rays (CR) - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅the central portion of the primary beam of
radiation
Cephalometric - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅lateral and posteroanterior extraoral head films
Cephalostat - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅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 - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅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 - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅low level exposures to radiation over a long
period of time
Collimator - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅a diaphragm, usually lead, designed to restrict the
dimensions of the useful beam; looks like a lead washer
, Cone cut - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅term used to describe a blank area on a radiograph
where the PID (position indicating device) did not cover the entire film
Contrast - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅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 - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅section of the x-ray machine that houses the
timer, milliammeter, and kVp selector
Convex - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅outward even curve
Coulombs/kg - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅a unit of electrical charge; measurement of
radiation exposure in air
Daylight loader - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅a light-shielded compartment attached to an
automatic processor so films can be unwrapped in a room with white light
Definition - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅the sharpness and clarity of the outline of the
structure on the image shown on the film
Density - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅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 - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅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 - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅a method of making a radiographic image
using a computer
Disinfect - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅a term used to describe those efforts made to reduce
the disease-producing microorganisms to an acceptable level
Dose equivalent - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅a term used for radiation protection purposed
to compare the biological effects of the various types of radiation. Measured in rems and
sieverts
Edentulous - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅without teeth; areas of the jaw with no teeth
Electron - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅a small negatively charged particle of an atom
containing much energy and little mass; electrons are found in orbits around the nucleus
Exposure - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅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 - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅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
