Deck 5: Radiation Protection

Question 1

On some dental x-ray machines, only the ____ can be altered; the other parameters are preset by the manufacturer.

A) kilovoltage peak
B) exposure time
C) PID length
D) milliamperage

Answer 1

exposure time

Question 2

A circular collimator produces a cone-shaped beam that is ____ inch(es) in diameter.

A) less than 1
B) 1.25
C) 2.75
D) 5.0

Answer 2

2.75

Question 3

A film badge:

A) Is worn at waist level by the patient.
B) Is worn at waist level by the operator.
C) Is clipped to the shirt pocket of the operator.
D) Is clipped to the shirt pocket of the patient.

Answer 3

Is worn at waist level by the operator.

Question 4

____ is an example of a patient protection technique used before x-ray exposure.

A) Proper film processing
B) Proper prescribing of radiographs
C) A lead apron
D) A thyroid collar

Question 5

The thyroid collar:

A) Is recommended for all intraoral films.
B) Is recommended for all extraoral films.
C) May exist as a separate shield or as part of the lead apron.
D) Both a and c.

Question 6

Radiation monitoring can be used to protect the dental radiographer and includes monitoring of:

A) Equipment
B) Personnel
C) Both equipment and personnel
D) Drywall for residual radiation

Question 7

Which type of PID would be most effective in reducing patient exposure?

A) Conical
B) 16-inch round PID
C) 8-inch rectangular PID
D) 16-inch rectangular PID

Question 8

Which of the following occurrences during and after x-ray film exposure reduce(s) the amount of x-radiation a patient receives?

A) Artifacts caused by improper film handling
B) Retakes
C) Proper film processing
D) Nondiagnostic films

Question 9

The collimator:

A) Is always round.
B) Restricts the size and shape of the x-ray beam.
C) Is a solid piece of aluminum.
D) Is fitted within the copper stem beneath the molybdenum cup.

Question 10

The primary dictum of operator protection guidelines is that the operator must:

A) Remain in the room with the patient while the film is being exposed.
B) Avoid the primary beam.
C) Hold the film in the patient's mouth with their own finger.
D) Hold the tubehead during x-ray exposure.

Question 11

____-speed film is currently the fastest intraoral film available.

A) D
B) E
C) F
D) G

Question 12

To avoid the primary beam, the dental radiographer must be positioned at a ____-degree to ____-degree angle to the beam.

A) 0; 45
B) 45; 90
C) 90; 135
D) 135; 180

Question 13

A rectangular collimator:

A) Restricts the beam more than a circular collimator.
B) Restricts the beam less than a circular collimator.
C) Significantly reduces patient exposure.
D) Both a and c

Question 14

Radiation legislation varies greatly from state to state. For example, in some states a dental radiographer must successfully complete a radiation safety examination before he or she may expose dental x-rays.

A) Both statements are true.
B) Both statements are false.
C) The first statement is true; the second statement is false.
D) The first statement is false; the second statement is true.

Question 15

Added filtration in the dental x-ray tubehead:

A) Refers to the placement of tungsten discs in the path of the x-ray beam between the collimator and the tubehead seal.
B) Filters out shorter-wavelength x-rays from the x-ray beam.
C) Results in a lower-energy beam.
D) Results in a more penetrating useful beam.

Question 16

Which of the following types of position-indicating devices (PIDs) do not produce scatter radiation?

A) Rectangular
B) Conical
C) Round
D) Both a and c

Question 17

The "Guidelines for Prescribing Dental Radiographs" state that:

A) Dentulous adults should have posterior bite-wing examinations at 12- to 36-month intervals.
B) The recommendations do not need to be altered because of pregnancy.
C) Edentulous adults should have posterior bite-wing examinations at 12- to 36-month intervals.
D) Both a and b.

Question 18

State and federal laws require that dental x-ray machines operating above 70 kVp have a minimum total (inherent plus added filtration) of ____ mm of aluminum filtration.

A) 1.5
B) 2.0
C) 2.5
D) 5.0

Question 19

The lead apron:

A) Is recommended for intraoral films.
B) Is not recommended for extraoral films.
C) Is an option; use is not mandated by any state or federal law.
D) Is used to protect the thyroid gland.

Question 20

Inherent filtration in the dental x-ray tubehead:

A) Includes filtration that takes place when the primary beam passes through the glass window of the x-ray tube, the insulating oil, and the tubehead seal.
B) Includes the placement of aluminum discs in the path of the x-ray beam between the collimator and the tubehead seal.
C) Alone meets the standards regulated by state and federal law.
D) Is equivalent to approximately 5.0 mm of aluminum.

Question 21

According to the current recommendations (2003) of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, the current MPD for occupationally exposed persons is ____/year.

A) 500 millirem
B) 5.0 rem
C) 50 rem
D) 5000 rem

Question 22

The acronym for the permitted lifetime accumulated dose is:

A) MPD-maximum permissible dose
B) MPD-maximum possible dose
C) MAD-maximum accumulated dose
D) MAD-maximum allowed dose

Question 23

The ALARA concept states that all radiation must be kept:

A) As long as readily achievable.
B) As low as reasonably allowable.
C) As low as reasonably achievable.
D) As long as reliably achievable.

Question 24

According to the current recommendations (2003) of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, the current MPD for an occupationally exposed pregnant women is the same as that for:

A) An occupationally exposed nonpregnant women.
B) An occupationally exposed man.
C) An occupationally exposed child under 18.
D) A nonoccupationally exposed person.