Dental Radiograph 1 (Review: Outcomes 1-10) Flashcards
(140 cards)
What is the importance of dental images?
In dentistry, dental images enable the dental professional to identify many conditions that may otherwise go undetected and to see conditions that cannot be identified clinically
- Many dental diseases and conditions have no clinical signs or symptoms and may go undetected without the use of dental images
Risk vs. Benefits of Dental Imaging
Dentists and Dental Hygienist should always weigh the benefits of dental images against increasing a patient’s exposure to radiation
What are the Uses of Dental Images?
- Detect lesions
- Confirm or classify suspected disease
- Localize lesions or foreign objects
- Provide information during dental procedures
- Evaluate growth and development
- Illustrate changes secondary to caries, periodontal disease, trauma
- Document the condition of a patient
- Aid in development of a clinical treatment plan
What are the roles of Dental Assistants in regards to Dental Radiography?
- DA’s must have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the importance and uses of dental imaging
- Dental imaging enables the dentist to see conditions that are not visible in the oral cavity
- DA’s must understand the fundamental concepts of atomic and molecular structure and have a working knowledge of ionizing radiation and the properties of x-rays
- Radiation used to produce dental radiographs has the capacity to cause damage to all types of living tissues
- Any exposure to radiation, no matter how small, has the potential to cause biologic changes to the operator and the patient
- DA’s must have a thorough understanding of the characteristics of radiation to minimize exposure to both the dental patient and operator
History surrounding the discovery of x-radiation:
Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen
- Discovered x-ray on Nov. 8, 1895
- x-rays were referred to as roentgen rays; radiology as roentgenology; radiographs as roentgenology
- He placed his wife’s hand on a photographic plate and exposed her to the rays for 15 minutes to show that he was able to permanently capture the outline of her bones
- This event was also recorded as the first radiograph of the human body
History surrounding the discovery of x-radiation:
Otto Walkhoff
- Produced the first recorded dental radiograph by exposing a photographic plate in his own mouth for 25 minutes
History surrounding the discovery of x-radiation:
Dr. C. Edmund Kells
- Credited with the first practical use of radiographs in dentistry in 1896
- Exposed his hands to x-rays every day, eventually lost his fingers, hands, and later his arm as a result of cancerous tumors
Radiograph
A picture (visible photographic record) on film produced by the passage of x-rays through an object or body
- Also called x-ray film
X-radiation (X-ray)
A beam of energy
Dental Radiograph
A photographic image produced on film by the passage of x-rays through teeth and related structures
Radiography
The art and science of making radiographs by the exposure of film to x-rays
Dental Radiographer
Any person who positions, exposes, and processes x-ray film
Image
A picture or likeness of an object
Image Receptor
A recording medium
Examples:
- x-ray film
- phosphor plate
- digital sensor
Imaging, dental
The creation of digital, print, or film representations of anatomic structure for the purpose of diagnosis
How do x-rays work?
When x-rays pass through the mouth, the teeth and bones absorb more of the ray than the gums and soft tissues
- teeth appear lighter on the final x-ray image (radiograph)
- areas of tooth decay and infection look darker because they don’t absorb as much of the x-ray
Explain the Production of X-radiation
- When the current travels to the x-ray tube, it creates an electron energy within the cathode
- High speed electrons are accelerated from the cathode to the anode. When they collide with positively charged matter, x-radiation is produced
- Electrons strike the target and their kinetic energy is converted to x-rays and heat
Exposure of x-ray films
Much like a camera, the x-ray film develops depending on the areas which were exposed to the x-rays
- White areas show the denser tissues (e.g. bones) that have absorbed the x-rays
- Black areas on an x-ray represent areas where x-rays have passed through soft tissues (e.g. organ, skin)
–> they cannot absorb the high-energy rays
List the properties of x-radiation
- They have a shorter wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum
- Requires high voltage to produce x-rays
- produced when high-velocity electrons collide with the metal plates, which gives them the energy as x-rays and themselves absorbed by the metal plate - They are used to capture the human skeleton defects
- They can travel in a straight line and do not carry an electric charge with them
- X-ray beams travels through the air and comes in contact with body tissues and produces an image on metal film
What are the biological effects of x-radiation?
Short-term & long-term effects
i. Short-term effects: Effects that are seen within minutes, day, or weeks after the latent period
- associated with LARGE AMOUNTS of radiation absorbed in a SHORT TIME
- e.g. exposure to a nuclear accident or the atomic bomb
- Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS): short-term effect; includes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss, hemorrhage
- Not applicable to dentistry
ii. Long-term effects: Effects that appear after years, decades, or generations
- associated with SMALL AMOUNTS of radiation absorbed repeatedly over a LONG PERIOD
- repeated low levels of radiation exposure are linked to the induction of cancer, birth abnormalities, and genetic defects
Genetic vs. Somatic Radiation
i. Genetic effects are not seen in the irradiated person, but are passed on to future generations
- genetic damage CANNOT be repaired
- reproductive cells (e.g. ova, sperm) are terms genetic cells
ii. Somatic cells are all the cells in the body except the reproductive cells
- damaged tissues, but is not passed down (in other words, these changes are not transmitted to future generations)
Exposure to radiation has a cumulative effect over a lifetime
What are the radiation effects on tissues and organs?
- In dentistry, some tissues and organs are designated as “critical” because they are exposed to more radiation than others during imaging procedures
- Critical organ = an organ that, if damaged, diminishes the quality of a person’s life
- Critical organs exposed during dental imaging procedures in the head & neck region:
1. Thyroid gland
2. Bone marrow
3. Skin
4. Lens of the eye
ALARA Concept
As Low As Reasonably Achievable
- Every possible method of reducing exposure to radiation should be employed
- Our goal is to minimize the amount of radiation received by the patient and maximize the benefits
What are the 2 types of radiation monitoring?
- Equipment monitoring
- Dental x-ray machines must be monitored for leakage radiation - Personnel monitoring (Dosimeter)
- A radiation monitoring badge (dosimeter) can be worn at waist level when taking images
- It is mailed along with a control badge to the monitoring company once a month for evaluation