BASIC CONCEPTS

Refer to the following tables in the Answer Key: Table 4-1 (Intraoral Projection or Technique Errors), Table 4-2 (Intraoral Exposure and Manual Processing Errors), and Table 4-3 (Automatic Processor Troubleshooting Guide).

Although digital imaging is here to stay, digital exposure errors are pretty much the same as those in radiographic imaging. However, there are some differences. Digital imaging also gives rise to problems unique to the new technology. Digital imaging and the problems will be covered in Chapter 5. There is one certainty with digital imaging: there are no darkroom (processing) problems! It is estimated that some 7% to 15% of dental offices in the USA use digital imaging in 2004.

TECHNIQUE ERRORS IN ADULT DENTATE PATIENTS

FIGURE 4-1 It looks like ole Bob got a radiograph taken.

1. What happened here?

FIGURE 4-2 Here we see a bone not usually found in intraoral images.

1. What happened here?

2. What term describes this situation?

FIGURE 4-3 Note the partial image of the teeth.

1. What technique error was made here?

FIGURE 4-4 These two films (A and B) were part of a full-mouth survey developed in an automatic processor.

1. What happened to these two films?

2. How can this be corrected?

FIGURE 4-5

1. Why do the 1st premolar roots appear “fuzzed out”?

2. When may this error be used to advantage?

FIGURE 4-6

1. Would you call this an acceptable premolar periapical radiograph?

2. In any case, how could you increase the area of periapical coverage?

FIGURE 4-7 Here we see three “blank” images. You are asked to explain why…

1. Image A is completely clear.

2. Image B is somewhat grayish.

3. Image C is completely black.

FIGURE 4-8 There is a certain “fuzziness” to this image.

1. What exposure error(s) was (were) made here. List several possibilities if you are unsure exactly what happened.

FIGURE 4-9 This was the student’s first opportunity to process a film. She was a little excited and nervous. This film was fed into the automatic processor; the student waited and waited but to no avail. The film just was not coming out. The processor was turned off and opened, and the roller sections were removed. The “lost” film was found in the bottom of the processor.

1. How would you describe the overall appearance of this film?

2. What do you think happened?

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