Dental Radiology
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X-ray Films:
The film used in dental radiography is photographic film that has been
adapted for dental use . A photographic image is produced on dental x- ray
film when it is exposed to x- ray that have passed through teeth and adjacent
structures .
We have 2 types of x- ray films ;
1- Intraoral x- ray film
2- Extraoral x- ray film
Intra oral x- ray film : in dentistry has four basic components:
1-Film Base; is a flexible piece made of cellulose acetate measures 0.2 mm
thick and is constructed to withstand heat , moisture , and chemical exposure .
The primary purpose of the film base is to provide a stable support for
the delicate emulsion , it also provides strength .
2-Adhesive layer :added to the film base before the emulsion is applied
and serve to attach the emulsion to the base .
3-Film Emulsion ;is a coating attached to both sides of the film base by the
adhesive layer to give the film greater sensitivity to x- radiation . The
emulsion is a homogeneous mixture of gelatin and silver halide crystals.
During film processing ,the gelatin serves to absorb the processing
solution and allows the chemical to react with the silver halide
crystals .
A halide is a chemical compound that is sensitive to radiation or light. The
halides used in dental X-ray film are made up of the element silver , either
bromine or iodine ,( silver bromide AgBr and silver iodide AgI are two
types of silver halide crystals found in the film emulsion) . The silver halide
crystals absorb radiation during x- ray exposure and store energy from
the radiation .
4-Protective Layer ;: is a thin , transparent coating placed over the emulsion .
It serves to protect the emulsion surface from manipulation as well as
mechanical and processing damage .
X- Ray film packet :
The intraoral x- ray film is a double – emulsion (emulsion on both sides ) ,
double – emulsion film is used instead of single – emulsion (emulsion on one
side ) film ,because it requires less radiation exposure to produce an image .
A film packet may contain one film (one – film packet ) or two films ( two –
film packet ) . A two – film packet produces two identical radiographs with
the same amount of exposure necessary to produce a single radiograph .
Identification dot
In one corner of the intraoral x- ray film , a small raised bump known as the
identification dot is found . The raised bump is used to determine film
orientation . After the film is processed , the raised identification dot is used
to distinguish between the left and right sides of the patient .
Paper film wrapper
The paper film wrapper within the film packet is a black paper protective
sheet that covers the film and shield the film from light .
Lead foil sheet
The lead foil sheet is a single piece of lead foil that is found within the film
packet and is located behind the film wrapped in black protective paper .The
thin lead foil sheet is positioned behind the film to shield the film from
back – scattered (secondary )radiation that results in film fog .
Outer package wrapping
The outer package wrapping is a soft vinyl or paper wrapper that hermetically
seals the film packet ,protective black paper , and lead foil sheet .This outer
wrapper serves to protect the film from exposure to light and saliva .
The outer wrapper of the film packet has two sides:
Tube side : is solid white and has a raised bump in one corner that
corresponding to the identification dot on the x- ray film . Whine placed in the
mouth , the tube side is of the film packet must face the teeth and the tube
head
Label side : this side has a flap that is used to open the film packet prior to
processing
X –Ray Films Type and size ;
1-Type I ; Intraoral x – ray film which called periapical film which used
to examine the apical area of the tooth and the surrounding structure . This
type present in different sizes from( 0 , 1 , 2 ) .
2-Type II ; Which called bitwing film and it used to examine the crowns of
both the maxillary and mandibular teeth on one film .The bite – wing film is
useful in examining the interproximal , or adjacent , tooth surfaces .This type
is present in different sizes from (0 , 1 , 2 ,3 , )
3-Type III ; Called occlusal film that used to demonstrate an area of greater
dimension than area appear in P . A film ,and this occlusal film has just one
size which is ( 3.4 ).
So that the intraoral film size and type have been standerized on a numerical
basis .
Intraoral Film Speed ;
It means the sensitivity of x- ray film to x- radiation , or the amount of
radiation required to produce a radiograph of standard density . Film speed ,
or sensitivity , is determined by the following :
1- the size of the silver halide crystals
2- the thickness of the emulsion
3- the presence of special radiosensitive dyes .
Film speed determines how much radiation and how much exposure time
are necessary to produce an image on a film .
So a fast film requires less radiation exposure because the film responds
more quickly , because the silver halide crystals in the emulsion are larger .
the larger the crystals , the faster the film speed .
.
Intraoral film speeds have been standerized on alphabetical basis .So film
speed will range from ( A) to ( F ),film speed ( A ) is slower while film speed
( F ) is faster one .
In general the faster film speed the much less amount of x- radiation required
to produce the photographic image, and this mean a reduction in patient
exposure .
Extraoral Film ;
Is one that is placed outside of the mouth during x- ray exposure . Extraoral
film are used to examine large areas of the skull or jaws .
We have 2 types of extaoral film :
1-Screen Film :
The majority of extra oral films are screen films ,.A screen film is a film that
requires the use of screen for exposure .The emulsion of the film is sensitive
to visible light and more specifically to blue light of visible light spectrum.
The screen film placed between 2 florescent screen in a rigid holder or
cassette, bound together in a uniform layer on a film base . When the cassette
is exposed to x- ray , the screen convert the x- ray energy into light , which in
turn exposes the screen film .
Films used in a screen film combination are sensitive to specific colors of
fluorescent light . some screen films are sensitive to blue light , whereas
others are sensitive to green light .Blue – sensitive film must be paired with
screen that produce blue light , and green – sensitive film must be paired with
screen that produce green light .
The screen film must be in intimate contact with fluorescent screen and any
space between them will result in un sharp image in the radiograph . Intimate
film screen contact is obtained through the use of spring or clamps .
The sizes of screen film include 5 x7 , 8x10 and 10x12 inches.
2- Non –Screen film :
Is an extraoral film that dose not require the use of screen for exposure .The
non – screen film is exposed directly to x- rays than to the light , because the
emulsion is sensitive to direct x- ray exposure rather than fluorescent light .
Non screen film either have one emulsion layer or may have a double
emulsion like intraoral film , but with greater thickness than intraoral film , so
a non screen film requires more exposure time than screen film so is not
recommended for use in dental radiography .
The non screen film place in a cardboard holder or envelope and the size of
the film used are 5x7 , 8x 10 inches.
Film Properties : These include
1-Density :
Is the degree of blackness present in the processed film .It is measured in
terms of light transmission on a percentage or logarithmic scale . for
examples if a film permit only (1\10)of a beam light to pass through it , the
film is said to have a density of (log 10 =1). If the film is blacker and allow
only (100) of a beam of light to pass through it , the film said to have density
of (log 100=2).Basically , diagnostic radiography uses a film density range
of (0.25-2).Film density best shows by sensitometric or by H and D curve,
this curve is obtained by plotting film density against exposure time .
Factors affect film density :
1-Exposure time :increase exposure time will increase the film density
2-Milliamper: increase mA value cause increase film density .
3-Kilovoltage :increase kV cause increase density
4-Developing time : increase developing time cause increase density
5-Distance : increase distance between source of radiation and the film
cause decrease film density .
2- Contrast :
The difference in the degrees of blackness (densities) between adjacent areas
on a dental radiograph is termed contrast .
High contrast image :image of short scale contrast ,it has black and white
with few gray shade
Low contrast image : image of long scale contrast , have a wide range of
gray shade with stable contrast differences.
Factors affect of contrast :
1- kV : increase kV of x- ray machine will decrease the contrast
2- Processing solution temperature : increase the temp. cause increase the
contrast .
3- Resolution :
Also called details , definition , sharpness.
It is the ability of a film to produce sharp outline of an object .
Factors affect on Resolution
1- Focal spot size : it must be as small as possible in order to produce sharp
image
2- Size of film grain : increase the size of the film grain produce less sharp
radiographic image .
3- Movement of the patient or tube or film during exposure cause un sharp
image
4- Source – film distance : which should be as greate as possible , otherwise the
image will be un sharp
5- Object – Film distance ; which should be as small as possible to produce sharp
image
6- Screen-film contact: poor contact cause un sharp image
4- Latitude:
refers to the range of useful densities that are recorded on the film .
Factors affect on Latitude:
1-kVp: increase kVp of x- ray machine will increase the latitude
2- Exposure time : reduce exposure time will reduce the latitude