Deck 6: Radiation Protection

Question 1

The best way to reduce patient radiation exposure is to:

A) expose routine radiographs.
B) determine the risk/benefit ratio prior to exposure.
C) develop office policy for the maximum number of exposures permissible per patient.
D) use evidence-based selection criteria for prescribing radiographs.

Answer 1

use evidence-based selection criteria for prescribing radiographs.

Question 2

Which of the following statements about the position indicating device (PID) is correct?

A) The shorter the PID, the less divergent the beam.
B) The longer the PID, the greater the radiation dose to the patient.
C) Pointed, closed-end plastic cone PIDs should no longer be used.
D) A recessed PID creates a shorter target-surface distance.

Answer 2

Pointed, closed-end plastic cone PIDs should no longer be used.

Question 3

Which film speed requires the least amount of radiation exposure to produce a diagnostic-quality image?

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

Answer 3

F

Question 4

The function of the collimator in the dental x-ray machine is to:

A) eliminate secondary sources of radiation.
B) reduce the size of the x-ray beam.
C) eliminate primary sources of radiation.
D) allow for faster exposure times.

Question 5

Each of the following statements regarding the technical ability of radiographers is correct EXCEPT one. Which one is the EXCEPTION?

A) They have the ability to communicate clear and concise instructions to the patient.
B) They possess a thorough understanding of how to produce quality images
C) They understand how to perform dental x-ray machine inspections
D) They participate in continuing education

Question 6

Which of the following will reduce radiation to the patient the most?

A) Fast film speeds.
B) Thyroid collars.
C) Image receptor holders.
D) Rectangular PIDs.

Question 7

Which of the following statements regarding x-ray equipment is FALSE?

A) A short (8 in/20.5 cm) PID delivers less radiation to the patient.
B) Total filtration is the sum of inherent and added filtration.
C) A filter placed in the path of the x-ray beam reduces patient radiation exposure.
D) An external collimator can be attached to the PID to achieve rectangular collimation.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

A) Processing errors increase patient radiation exposure by resulting in retake radiographs.
B) Following the time-temperature method of processing radiographs produces images of ideal quality.
C) Careful attention to chemical replenishment avoids retakes.
D) It is acceptable to increase the dose while underdeveloping the film if time is short.

Question 9

Each of the following protects the radiographer from radiation EXCEPT one. Which one is the EXCEPTION?

A) Wearing a personnel-monitoring device
B) Increased distance from the source of radiation
C) Standing behind protective shielding during exposure
D) Spending less time near radiation-producing equipment

Question 10

The federal performance standard for diagnostic x-ray equipment requires that all x-ray equipment meet each of the following radiation safety requirements EXCEPT one. Which one is the EXCEPTION?

A) Collimators may be round or rectangular.
B) Both inherent and added filtration is usually required.
C) Aluminum filters are required to remove long wavelength x-rays from the beam.
D) A pointed, closed-end PID is acceptable.

Question 11

Dental radiation exposure to the patient can be reduced by each of the following EXCEPT one. Which one is the EXCEPTION?

A) Using the fastest speed film currently available
B) Prescribing exams based on evidence-based selection criteria
C) Holding the image receptor in the patient's mouth
D) Restricting the size and shape of the x-ray beam

Question 12

The purpose of aluminum filtration is to:

A) absorb the penetrating short wavelengths that fog films unnecessarily.
B) reduce the radiation to the patient by reducing the volume of tissue exposed.
C) eliminate the sources of scatter or secondary radiation to the patient.
D) absorb the less penetrating long wavelengths to reduce radiation exposure.

Question 13

Each of the following statements regarding radiation protection measures for the patient is correct EXCEPT one. Which one is the EXCEPTION?

A) The oral health care team should embrace the ALARA concept.
B) Radiographs must be taken on all new patients.
C) Evidence-based selection criteria should be used when determining which patients need radiographs.
D) The radiographer should possess a working knowledge of appropriate exposure factors.

Question 14

Guidelines for prescribing radiographs are based on:

A) medical and dental histories.
B) clinical examination.
C) signs and symptoms.
D) All of the above.

Question 15

A less divergent x-ray beam will:

A) increase the radiation dose to the patient.
B) result in lower-quality radiographic images.
C) create a smaller diameter of exposure.
D) require added filtration.

Question 16

Which of the following statements regarding radiation monitoring is FALSE?

A) Area monitoring measures output of the x-ray machine.
B) A radiation monitoring service provides a reliable record of occupational radiation exposure.
C) Personnel monitoring devices protect the wearers from scatter radiation.
D) TLDs and OSLs are examples of personnel monitoring devices.

Question 17

Which of the following statements regarding protection measures for the operator during exposure is FALSE?

A) The ideal angle to stand from the path of the exiting x-ray beam is 180 degrees.
B) A drifting tube head should not be held in place by the radiographer or the patient.
C) The radiographer should stand at least 6 feet from the head of the patient.
D) A structural barrier provides adequate protection during exposure.

Question 18

The ALARA concept implies that:

A) any radiation dose that can be reduced without major difficulty, great expense, or inconvenience, should be reduced or eliminated.
B) if a radiation dose cannot be reduced without major difficulty, great expense, or inconvenience, then no radiographs should be exposed.
C) radiation dosages slightly above the acceptable level of risk are acceptable only in emergency treatment situations.
D) fewer radiographs should be taken only if a radiation dose cannot be reduced due to major difficulty, inconvenience, and great expense.

Question 19

A personnel monitoring device can NOT:

A) record the amount of radiation received.
B) measure the amount of radiation received.
C) protect the operator from receiving radiation.
D) indicate the type of radiation received.

Question 20

Which of the following statements regarding lead aprons is FALSE?

A) They are fabricated of 0.25-mm lead or lead-equivalent materials.
B) They should be folded and stored when not in use.
C) They provide a protective barrier against scatter radiation.
D) Their use is in keeping with the ALARA concept.

Question 21

Based on evidence-based selection criteria for keeping radiation exposure ALARA, an adult recall patient with no risk factors for caries would most likely be assessed for bitewing radiographs annually.

Question 22

Regulations governing the use of radiation-producing equipment include federal, state, and some local laws.

Question 23

Fast film requires less radiation for exposure and is essential for reducing radiation to the patient.

Question 24

The maximum permissible dose (MPD) for oral health care professionals is 50 mSv/year.

Question 25

The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission has developed dose limits for radiographers and patients.

Question 26

A rectangular PID requires a larger dose of radiation to produce a diagnostic-quality radiograph than a circular PID.

Question 27

Pure aluminum will not hinder the passage of high-energy x-rays.

Question 28

If the area of interest is imaged correctly on an adjacent radiograph, it is possible that an undiagnostic radiograph may not need to be retaken.

Question 29

Medical, dental, and therapeutic radiation is included in the MPD.

Question 30

Based on evidence-based selection criteria for keeping radiation exposure ALARA, a high level of caries experience or demineralization increases a patient's risk for future caries.

Question 31

Increasing the dose of radiation is a recommended method to compensate for weak processing solutions.

Question 32

Federal regulations require that the intraoral x-ray beam be collimated to a diameter of 3.75 inches
at the patient's skin.

Question 33

High-energy x-rays are the most harmful to the patient because they easily penetrate to the deep tissues of the body.

Question 34

Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) contain crystals that absorb energy when exposed to radiation.

Question 35

Guidance for deciding when, what type, and how many radiographs to expose on a patient have been developed and should be followed.

Question 36

Based on evidence-based selection criteria for keeping radiation exposure ALARA, a child recall patient with several risk factors for caries would most likely be assessed for bitewing radiographs every 6 to 12 months.

Question 37

The National Committee on Radiation Protection principle to keep exposure down, based on the idea
that all radiation, no matter how small the dose, may cause adverse biological effects, is called "ALARA."

Question 38

If the tube head support arm drifts from its appropriate position when taking a radiograph, the radiographer should ask the patient to hold the PID stable during the exposure.

Question 39

The bisecting technique should be the radiographer's first choice in exposing periapical radiographs.

Question 40

The best way to reduce patient risk from radiation exposure is to keep exposures ALARA.

Question 41

Should image receptor holding devices be recommended to reduce radiation exposure?

Question 42

Which intraoral technique should be the radiographer's first choice when exposing periapical radiographs?

Question 43

The sum of inherent and added filtration is called .

Question 44

What undesirable effect does collimation reduce?

Question 45

Currently, what film speed is recommended to reduce radiation exposure?

Question 46

Absorption of the long wavelength, less penetrating x-rays of the polychromatic beam occurs by passage of the beam through a sheet of aluminum called a .

Question 47

Should the patient wear a thyroid collar during panoramic radiography?

Question 48

Some dental x-ray machines appear to have a short PID when in fact the target surface distance is long. Why?

Question 49

What is the term given to the walls or partitions around the dental x-ray machine that protect the radiographer against scatter radiation?

Question 50

What are the three categories of methods for protecting oral health care personnel from radiation exposure?