Radiography Flashcards
7 cards from real ADAP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Radiography flashcards as text
What is the ALARA principle in dental radiography?
Answer: As Low As Reasonably Achievable
ALARA stands for As Low As Reasonably Achievable and guides practitioners to minimize radiation exposure while still obtaining diagnostic-quality images.
Which of the following is a characteristic of a digital radiographic sensor compared to traditional film?
Answer: Provides an immediate image on a computer monitor
Digital sensors display the radiographic image almost instantly on a computer monitor, eliminating darkroom processing time.
What is the function of the fixer solution in traditional film processing?
Answer: Removes unexposed silver halide crystals and hardens the emulsion
Fixer removes unexposed and undeveloped silver halide crystals from the emulsion and hardens the gelatin, making the image permanent and stable.
Which radiographic error results from the X-ray beam not being centered on the receptor, cutting off part of the image?
Answer: Cone cutting
Cone cutting occurs when the PID (position-indicating device) is misaligned and the X-ray beam misses part of the receptor, leaving a clear unexposed area on the processed image.
What does milliamperage (mA) control in an X-ray unit?
Answer: The quantity (number) of X-rays produced per unit time
Milliamperage controls the amount of current flowing through the X-ray tube filament, which determines the number of electrons available to produce X-rays (quantity).
A radiograph appears too light (low density). Which adjustment would most directly correct this?
Answer: Increase the mA or exposure time
Increasing mA or exposure time increases the number of X-ray photons reaching the receptor, resulting in greater density and a darker image.
What is the primary purpose of the thyroid collar used during dental radiography?
Answer: Shield the thyroid gland from ionizing radiation
The thyroid collar is a lead shield attached to or separate from the lead apron, specifically designed to protect the highly radiosensitive thyroid gland.