EFDA Radiography & Infection Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which film speed is recommended to minimize patient radiation dose in dental radiography?
- A-speed (slowest)
- C-speed
- D-speed
- F-speed (fastest) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: F-speed (fastest)
F-speed (Insight) film requires the least radiation exposure to produce a diagnostic image, significantly reducing patient dose compared to slower film speeds.
Question 2: What is the proper technique for handling contaminated radiographic film packets after exposure?
- Drop the film from the packet directly onto a clean surface (Correct answer)
- Wipe the outside of the packet with disinfectant before opening
- Place contaminated packets directly in the processor
- Soak packets in cold sterilization solution
Correct answer: Drop the film from the packet directly onto a clean surface
The 'drop technique' involves opening the contaminated packet with gloved hands and dropping the uncontaminated inner film onto a clean surface, preventing cross-contamination.
Question 3: Elongation of a radiographic image is caused by:
- Excessive vertical angulation
- Insufficient vertical angulation (Correct answer)
- Excessive horizontal angulation
- Insufficient horizontal angulation
Correct answer: Insufficient vertical angulation
Elongation occurs when the vertical angulation is too flat (insufficient), causing the X-ray beam to strike the tooth and film at an angle that stretches the image.
Question 4: Which instrument should be sterilized rather than disinfected between patient uses?
- Lead apron
- X-ray tube head
- Reusable film-holding device (Correct answer)
- Control panel buttons
Correct answer: Reusable film-holding device
Reusable film-holding devices are semi-critical instruments that contact mucous membranes and must be sterilized (or receive high-level disinfection) between uses.
Question 5: What type of radiation produces the greatest risk for dental patients during X-ray exposure?
- Primary radiation
- Secondary radiation
- Scatter radiation (Correct answer)
- Leakage radiation
Correct answer: Scatter radiation
Scatter radiation, which is deflected in all directions from the patient's tissues, represents the greatest source of unintended exposure during dental radiographic procedures.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a critical dental instrument requiring sterilization?
- X-ray head position indicator device (PID)
- Amalgam condenser (Correct answer)
- Dental light handle
- Radiograph viewbox
Correct answer: Amalgam condenser
Amalgam condensers are critical instruments that penetrate soft tissue or bone and must be sterilized between patient uses.
Question 7: In the paralleling technique, the film/sensor must be positioned:
- Against the lingual surface of the teeth
- Parallel to the long axis of the tooth (Correct answer)
- At a 45-degree angle to the tooth
- Perpendicular to the occlusal plane
Correct answer: Parallel to the long axis of the tooth
In the paralleling technique, the film or sensor is placed parallel to the long axis of the tooth to produce a geometrically accurate, undistorted image.
EFDA Radiography & Infection Control 3
Which film speed is recommended to minimize patient radiation dose in dental radiography?