2025/2026
Added Filtration - Answers The placement of aluminum discs in the path of the x-ray beam
between the port seal of the tube head and the PID.
ALARA - Answers The oral health care team has an ethical responsibility to embrace the ALARA
(as low as reasonably achievable) concept, recommended by the International Commission on
Radiological Protection to minimum radiation risks.
Aluminum equivalent - Answers Total filtration is the sum of the inherent and added filtration
expressed in millimeters of aluminum equivalent.
Area Monitoring - Answers This procedure involves making an on -site survey to measure the
output of the dental x-ray unit, to check for possible high-level radiation areas in the operatory,
and to determine if any radiation at any given area.
Collimation - Answers This piece equipment controls the size and shape of the useful beam.
Selection Criteria - Answers Guidelines developed by an expert panel of health care
professionals by Public Health Service and adopted by the American Dental Association to
assist in the dentist in deciding criteria for which patients need x-rays, decided case by case,
evidence based.
Dosimeter - Answers Used for personal monitoring device worn by health care professional
such as a film badge.
Exposure factors - Answers Operating the dental x-ray machine includes selecting appropriate
kilovolt age, milliamprage, and time for the patient and the area to be imaged.
Film/image receptor holder - Answers Eliminates having the patient hold the receptor in the oral
cavity with the fingers unnecessarily exposing the patient's finger.
Filter - Answers Usually aluminum placed in the pathways to remove a high percentage of the
soft x-rays ( longer wavelengths) and reduce patient radiation dose.
Filtration - Answers Any material the x-ray beam passes through filters the beam, this is built
into the tube head or it may be added.
Inherent Filtration - Answers Filtration built into the machine by the manufacturer. This includes
the glass of the x-ray tube, the insulating oil, and the material that seals the port.
Total Filtration - Answers The sum of the inherent and added filtration expressed in millimeters
of aluminum equivalent.
Scatter Radiation - Answers Sometimes called secondary radiation, that has been deflected
from its path by impact during its passage through matter.