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•The portion of the processed radiograph that is dark or black.

•A structure that appears black on film lacks density.

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•The portion of the processed radiograph that appears white.

•A structure that appears white on film is dense and absorbs or resists passage of the x-ray beam.

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appears radiolucent, or dark, because the dental x-rays pass through freely.

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Enamel (Arrow 1),
Dentin ( Arrow 2),
Bone ( Arrow 3),
resist the passage of x-rays and appear radiopaque, or white.

*To ensure that differences are noticeable, both contrast and density must be optimized*

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-Proper density and contrast

-Sharp outlines

-Same shape and size as the object radiographed

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It is the overall darkness or blackness of a dental radiograph.

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The relative transparency depends on distribution of black silver particles in the emulsion.

Influencing factors:
-Kilovoltage

-Milliamperage

-Exposure time- Control Panel – not selecting correct setting

-Subject thickness – Max vs Mand; anterior vs posterior teeth, enamel vs dentin etc.,

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There are normal differences in bone densities are obvious between the mandible and maxilla.

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Maintenance schedule should be followed for the film developer, because old solutions will compromise the quality of the films

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Contrast is the difference in degrees of blackness between adjacent areas.

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- When kV is low, the result is low density and high contrast.

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When kV is high, the result is very high density with very low contrast.

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-A dental image that does not have very dark and very light areas but instead has many shades of gray

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-A dental image that has very dark areas and very light areas

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-Short-scale contrast (high contrast):

-A radiograph with only two densities, black and white

-Occurs with machines functioning at low kVp

-Short-scale contrast (an image that shows only two densities)

-Long-scale contrast (low contrast):

-A radiograph with many densities, many shades of gray

-Occurs with machines functioning at high kVp

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-A typical stepwedge is constructed of aluminum steps in 2-mm increments.

-An aluminum stepwedge can demonstrate short-scale and long-scale contrast.

-The stepwedge consists of uniform layered thicknesses of an x-ray absorbing material.

-Different densities appear on the dental radiograph.

-The stepwedge is used to demonstrate corresponding film densities and contrast scales.

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-Sharpness is the capability of the x-ray receptor to reproduce the distinct outlines of an object.

-A certain lack of image sharpness is present in every radiograph; it is called the penumbra.*

-Sharpness is also known as detail, resolution, and definition.

Influenced by three factors:

-Focal spot size:

-The smaller the focal spot, the sharper the image appears.

-Film composition- Analog film:

•The emulsion of faster film contains larger crystals that produce less image sharpness – may affect sharpness

Movement:

-Movement causes a loss of image sharpness.
-Name some sources of movement

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-Results from the divergent paths of the x-ray beam as they radiate from the focal spot

Influencing factors:

-Target-receptor distance

-A longer PID and target-receptor distance results in less image magnification.

Object-receptor distance:

•An increase in object-receptor distance results in an increase in image magnification.

•The closer the film is to the tooth, the less image enlargement there will be on the film.

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A variation in the true size and shape of the object being radiographed (A distorted image may appear too long or too short)

-Results from unequal magnification of different parts of the same object because of improper receptor alignment or angulation of the x-ray beam

Influencing factors:

-Object-film alignment

-The object and film must be parallel to each other or there will be distortion.

X-ray beam angulation:

-The x-ray beam must be directed perpendicular to the tooth and film.

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Receptor:
-This can occur with digital sensors or film.

Appearance:

-The image appears clear

Cause:

-Failure to turn on the x-ray machine
-Electrical failure

-Malfunction of the x-ray machine

Correction

-Make certain the x-ray machine is turned on and listen for the audible exposure signal.

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Receptor:
-Occurs only with film

Appearance:

-The image appears black.

Cause:

-The film was exposed to white light.

Correction:

-Do not unwrap in a room with white light.

-Check the darkroom for light leaks.

-Turn off all lights in the darkroom except the safelight.

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Receptor:

-May occur with digital sensors or film

Appearance:

-Image appears dark or high in density.

Cause:

-Excessive exposure time, kilovoltage, milliamperage (too low)

Correction:

-Check settings and reduce as needed before exposing receptor.

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Receptor:

-May occur with digital sensors or film

Appearance:

-The image appears light or low in density.

Cause:

-The receptor was underexposed.(wrong setting)

Correction:

-Check the exposure time,(too short) kilovoltage, and milliamperage (too low) settings on the x-ray machine before exposing the receptor.

-PID is not approximating patient’s face; or incorrect receptor distance could be the problem

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-Periapical technique errors include problems with receptor placement, angulation, and beam alignment.

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Receptor placement problems:

-Correct receptor placement

-Incorrect receptor placement

-Absence of apical structures

-Dropped film corner

Angulation problems:

-Incorrect horizontal angulation

-Incorrect vertical angulation

PID alignment problems:

-Cone-cut with beam alignment device

-Cone-cut without beam alignment

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-Each periapical receptor must be positioned in a certain way to show specific teeth and related anatomic structures.

-The edge of the periapical receptor must be placed parallel to the incisal/occlusal surfaces and extend ⅛ inch beyond the incisal/ occlusal surfaces.

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Receptor:

-May occur with digital sensors or film

Appearance:

-No apices appear on the receptor.

Cause:

-The receptor was not positioned in the patient’s mouth to cover the apical regions of the teeth.

Correction:

-Make certain no more than ⅛ inch of the receptor edge extends beyond the incisal-occlusal surfaces of the teeth.

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Receptor:

-May occur with digital sensors or film

Appearance:

-The occlusal plane appears tipped or tilted.

Cause:

-The edge of the receptor was not placed parallel to the incisal-occlusal surfaces of the teeth.

Correction

-Make certain the edge of the receptor is placed parallel to the incisal-occlusal surfaces of the teeth.

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Angulation:
-Describes the alignment of the central ray of the x-ray beam in the horizontal and vertical planes

-Can be varied by moving the PID in either a horizontal or vertical direction

-Horizontal angulation: refers to the positioning of the PID in a horizontal, side-to-side plane

-Vertical angulation: refers to the positioning of the PID in a vertical, up-and-down plane

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Receptor:

-May occur with digital sensors or film

Technique:

-May occur with paralleling or bisecting technique

Appearance:

-Overlapped contacts

Cause:

-The central ray was not directed through interproximal spaces.

Correction:

-Direct the x-ray beam through interproximal regions.

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Receptor:

-May occur with digital sensors or film

Technique:

-May occur with the bisecting technique when beam alignment is not used

Appearance:

-Short teeth with blunted roots

Cause:

-Excessive vertical angulation (too steep)

Correction:

-Do not use excessive vertical angulation with the bisecting technique.

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Receptor:

-May occur with digital sensors or film

Technique:

-May occur with the bisecting technique when a beam alignment device is not used

Appearance:

-Long, distorted teeth

-This is the most common error.

-Too little vertical angulation.

-The occlusal plane is not parallel to the floor.

-The film is not against the tissue.

-Poor film placement.

Cause:

-The vertical angulation was insufficient. (too flat)

Correction:

-Use adequate vertical angulation with the bisecting technique.

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-If the PID is misaligned and the x-ray beam is not centered over the receptor, a partial image results.

-A cone-cut image appears as a clear or white unexposed area on a dental image and may occur with a rectangular or round PID.

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Cause:

-The PID was not directed at the center of the receptor.

Correction:

-Make the x-ray beam is centered over the receptor and the entire receptor is covered by the diameter of the PID

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Receptor placement problems:

-Correct receptor placement

-Incorrect receptor placement

Angulation problems:

-Incorrect horizontal angulation

-Incorrect vertical angulation

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PID alignment problems:

-Cone-cut with beam alignment device

-Cone-cut without beam alignment device

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Premolar bite-wing:

-The resulting image shows both the maxillary and mandibular premolars and distal contact areas of both canines.

Molar bite-wing:

-The resulting image shows both the maxillary and mandibular molars.

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Incorrect Receptor Placement of Premolar Bite-Wing 

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Incorrect Receptor Placement of Premolar Bite-Wing 

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Receptor:

-May occur with digital sensors or film

Technique:

-May occur with bite-wing technique when a beam alignment device or bite-tab is used

Appearance:

-Distal surfaces of the canines should be visible

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-The molar bite-wing must be centered over the mandibular second molar.

-To ensure accuracy, the front edge of the receptor needs to be aligned with the midline of the mandibular second premolar.

Cause:

-The bite-wing receptor was positioned too far anteriorly in the mouth.

Correction:

-Make certain the anterior edge of the bite-wing receptor is positioned at the midline of the mandibular second premolar.

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-Incorrect horizontal angulation results in overlapped interproximal contacts, and incorrect vertical angulation results in distorted images.

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Receptor:

-May occur with digital sensors or film

Technique:

-May occur with the bite-wing technique when a beam alignment device or bite-tab is used

Appearance:
Overlapped contacts on the image

Cause:

-The central ray was not directed through the interproximal spaces.

Correction:

-Direct the x-ray beam through the interproximal spaces.

-If the overlapping is more pronounced in the posterior half of the image, the PID was pointed too much from the mesial toward the distal.

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Distorted Image: Incorrect Vertical Angulation

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Distorted Image: Incorrect Vertical Angulation

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Receptor:

-May occur with digital sensors or film

Technique:

-May occur with the bite-wing technique when a bite-tab is used

Appearance:

-Image appears distorted

Cause:

-The vertical angulation was incorrect.

Correction:

-Always use a +10-degree vertical angulation with the bite-wing technique

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Position Indicating Device (PID) Alignment Problems

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Position Indicating Device (PID) Alignment Problems

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-If the PID is misaligned and the x-ray beam is not centered over the receptor, a partial image results

Cause:

-The PID was not properly aligned with the beam alignment device or the receptor.

Correction:

-Make certain the PID and the aiming ring are aligned or the x-ray beam is centered over the receptor

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Receptor:

-May occur with indirect digital sensors or film

Technique:

-May occur with the paralleling, bisection, or bite-wing techniques

Appearance:

-Images appear stretched (on a film) and distorted (on PSP receptors).

-Bending cannot occur with wired digital sensors.

Cause:

-Improper handling; receptor damaged

Correction:

-Check receptor placement before exposure

-A receptor may be bent because of the curvature of the hard palate, or as the result of rough and excessive handling.

-Cotton rolls can be used with the paralleling technique, or the bisecting technique can be used.

-Use of a beam alignment device is helpful in preventing bending.

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Receptor:

-May occur with indirect digital sensors or film

Technique:

-May occur with paralleling, bisecting, or bite-wing technique

Appearance:

-A thin radiolucent line appears on the image.

-Creasing cannot occur with wired digital sensors.

Cause

-Improper handling; receptor creased; film emulsion cracked

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-Correction

-Do not overmanipulate the receptor.

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-Once a plate receptor is creased, a permanent artifact occurs and appears on each resultant image.

-Damaged plate receptors must be replaced.

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Receptor:

-May occur with digital sensors

Technique:

-May occur with paralleling, bisecting, or bite-wing technique

Appearance:

-Debris on the surface of sensor may cause permanent radiopaque artifacts or radiolucent scratch marks on the sensor.

Cause:

-Sensors not handled carefully or wiped between uses; debris/dirt accumulates on the surface of sensor

Correction:

-Extreme care must be used when handling sensors.

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Receptor:

-May occur with digital sensors or film

Technique:

-May occur with the bisecting technique when finger-holding method is used

Appearance:

-The patient’s finger appears on the image.

Cause:

-The patient’s finger was positioned in front of the receptor.

Correction:

-Make certain the patient’s finger is placed behind the receptor.

-Never allow the patient to hold a receptor during exposure.

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Receptor:

-May occur with indirect digital sensors or film

Technique:

ØMay occur with the paralleling, bisecting, or bite-wing techniques

Appearance:

-A double image appears on the image.

Cause

-The receptor was exposed twice in the patient’s mouth.

Correction:

-Always separate exposed and unexposed receptors.

-This is a serious technique error and results in two retakes, one for each area previously exposed.

-Once a receptor has been exposed, place it in a designated area.

-PSP receptors must be totally erased before reuse to avoid a remnant image left on the plate.

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Receptor:

-May occur with digital sensors or film

Technique:

-May occur with the paralleling, bisecting, or bite-wing techniques.

Appearance:

-Blurred images appear on the image.

Cause:

-The patient moved during exposure of the receptor.

Correction:

Instruct the patient to remain still while the receptor is being exposed

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Receptor:

-May occur with digital sensors or film

Technique:

-May occur with paralleling, bisecting, or bite-wing techniques

Appearance:

-Light images with a herringbone pattern appear on the image.

Cause

-The receptor was placed backward in the mouth and then exposed.

Correction

ØAlways place the white side of the receptor adjacent to the teeth.