Clinical Tip #6

Always use a thyroid collar and lead apron when taking a radiograph on a patient. Be sure to disinfect and carefully hang the apron and collar after use. Never fold the apron or collar. This can lead to cracks in the lead, causing leakage in the barrier.

Definitions

Administrative radiographs: Radiographs taken for reasons such as teaching films or for compensation by insurance. The reasons are not related to a patient’s state of oral health.

Collimation: (2 ¾ inches) It limits the size of the area exposed by the primary beam. It also reduces the amount of scatter.

Film holder: The holder aligns the x-ray beam with the film in the patient’s mouth.

Filtration: The filtration system removes the long (soft) non-penetrating …show more content…
Lead apron: Always should be worn by the patient during radiographs. It reduces radiation to the gonads by 94%, and is inside the apron is .25mm of lead. It should not be folded, but hung up after use to avoid cracking of the lead.

Localizing ring: Localizes the radiation to a specific spot focused on the film or sensor.

Primary radiation: X-rays that arrive directly from the target of the x-ray tube.

Radiation history: A patient’s previous radiation history including therapeutic radiation, medical, and dental diagnostic.

Retakes: Retaking film due to poor technique or other error from the operator. Each retake doubles the amount of radiation the patient receives per film.

Secondary radiation: Radiation derived from any matter being struck by primary radiation.

Selection criteria: Selection of individual radiographic needs of each patient due to clinical conditions and historical data.

Thyroid collar: Decreases radiation significantly to the thyroid by covering it with .25mm of lead insulation.

Tube head drift: When after an operator positions the dental x-ray head directed at their patient, the head of the machine moves or