Technical and Processing

Errors

By
Dr./ Mohamed Salah AbdEl-Motamed

Lecturer of Oral Radiology

 Errors

* Films lacking diagnostic quality should be avoided for the

following reasons:
1) Faulty radiographs interfere with accurate interpretation.
2) Retakes expose the patient to unnecessary radiation.
3) Retakes waste the time of the dentist and his auxillaries.
4) Retakes, waste film which cost money.
Causes of unsatisfactory radiographs:
1) Errors during technique.
2) Errors during processing.
1- Errors during Technique
These errors may occur during:
I) During handling of patient.
II) During handling of film.
III) During cone positioning.
IV) During exposure.
I) Faults during patient positioning:
1) Blurred image:
An image lacking sharpness and definition but with
normal dimensions. It is due to movement of patient.
2) Distorted image:
An image with abnormal dimensions, unequal magnification. It
is due to excess bending of the film by the patient.

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3) Crowns not showing:
Due to slippage of the film by the patient toward the apices.
4) Apices not showing:
Due to slippage of the film by the patient toward occlusal
surface.
II) Faults due to cone position:
1) Errors related to vertical angulation.
a) Flat angle elongation of the image (C.R.  object)
b) High angle Shortening of the image (C.R.film)
2) Errors related to horizontal angulation:
Horizontal over lapping of the teeth due to improper
horizontal angulation as central rays should pass parallel to
interproximal spaces.
3) Errors related to point of entry: (partial image- cone cut).
Improper centralization of the cone on the film.
IIII) Faults due to film position:
1) Specific area is not showing not being in the center of
the film.
2) Crowns are not showing due to the film not extending
beyond the occlusal plane by 2-3 mm.
3) Apical ends of the teeth are not showing because film is
not extending beyond the apex or flat vertical angulation.

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 4) Distortion: bending of the film by operator to eliminate
pt. discomfort especially in lower premolar area and upper
central incisor area.
5) Double image due to exposure of the film twice.
6) Blurred image due to movement of the film.

IV) Faults due to exposure parameter:

1) Density errors:
(I) Low density:
(1) Kvp
(2) MA
(3) Exposure time
(4) TFD
(II) High density:
(1) Kvp
(2) MA
(3) Exposure time
2) Contrast errors:
i) Low contrast.
- High K.V. short W.L high power of
penetration low contrast.
- Scattered radiation.
ii) High contrast
- Low K.V.

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 2) Processing errors
These errors may be classified into:
i) Physical errors: errors due to mishandling of the film
before its immersion into the chemicals.
ii) Chemical errors: caused by one of the steps of
chemical treatment of the film.
A) Physical errors:
1) Black appearance:
a) Black spot: due to contamination of the working bench by
developer drops during unwrapping of films or during
removal of films from cassettes.
b) Black line: contamination of the clips of the hangers with
developer which rolls over the film.
C) Black streaks: due to excessive friction between intraoral
films and their packets during forceful removal or due to
friction between extra-oral films and screen during forceful
removal. This action will result in creating an electric charge
(Static electricity) which will expose the film and produce
black streaks or tree-like appearance.
d) Black crescent line: excessive bending of the film or finger
nail pressure during removal of film which will result in
excessive ionization of AgBr in this area.
e) Black smudge: wet fingerprint contaminated with developer
touching the film before processing.

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 2) White appearance:
a) White spot: contamination of working bench by fixer drops
during unwrapping or removal of film.
b) White line: contamination of the clips of the hanger with
fixer which rolls over the film before processing so removes
the undeveloped crystals in this area giving the white color.
c) White patch: Saliva leakage into cardboard intraoral packets
during exposure followed by delayed processing (1-2 days)
resulting in sticking of black paper with emulsion which will
cause tearing of emulsion upon removal giving this white
patch.
d) White crescent line: sharp clip of hanger removing part of
the emulsion before processing or during developing.
e) White written letters: excessive pressure by a ball point pen
while writing the patient's name on the emulsion leading to
tearing of emulsion taking the form of letters.
b) Chemical Errors:
1) During Developing
1) Partial Image:
Part of the film is not developed due to the incomplete
filling of the tank, is not completely filled by the developer
(straight lines) or partially immersed film in developer.
2) Blank Image due to:
a- Put the exposed film at first in the fixer before developer.

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b- Unexposed film is processed so will result in removal of all
of the AgBr.
c- Lead Surface of extra-oral film towards the cone during
exposure then processed.
3) Faint Image: This occurs during developing due to low
concentration of developer, low temperature of developer and
decreased developing time.
4) Dark Image: High concentration of developer, high
temperature of developer and increased developing time.
5) Black Spots: Improper stirring of developer resulting in
sticking of one of the undissoved crystals of developer on
film during developing.
6) White Spots: Presence of air bubble in developer, due to
improper agitation of developer, so the bubble will prevent
the action of developer at this area.
7) White Patch: Two films overlapping on each other in the
hangers during developing, so these two contacting surfaces
will not be acted upon by developer.
8) Yellowish Brown discoloration: Due to oxidized developer,
which will give brown color on film.
9) Low Contrast images: Under development due to:
( conc., [Link]. time)

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 II) During Rinsing
1) Reticulation: This is presented in the form of cracking or
wrinkling of the emulsion (network of wrinkles) due to
sudden changes in temperature between newly prepared
developer (warm) and cold rinsing water.
III) Errors during fixation:
1) Blank image: prolonged time of fixation (3-4 days)
resulting in removal of both developed and
undeveloped crystals resulting in clear image
2) Faint image: over fixation: (1-2 days) resulting in
removal of some of the developed crystals.
3) White spots: presence of undissolved crystal of fixer
due to improper stirring so it will cause over fixation
in this area.
4) Black spot: improper agitation of fixer resulting in
presence of air bubbles which will prevent action of
the fixer at this spot.
5) Dark image: low conc. Of fixer, decreased fixed
time or very low temperature.
6) Black patch: over lapping of 2 intraoral films in
fixer.
7) Reticulation: sudden change in temp. Between
rinsing water and fixer.
8) Yellowish brown discoloration: this may be caused
by improper fixer (decreased fixing time) or an

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 exhausted fixer which has to be followed also by
improper washing too.
IV) Errors during washing:
1) Reticulation: due to acute changes between temp. of fixer
and the washing water.
2) Yellowish brown discoloration: improper washing
(accompanying improper or exhausted fixation) will not
remove the yellowish brown agent formed between the
fixer and AgBr crystals leaving them on the image to give
discoloration.
V) Errors during dry
1) Reticulation: due to over drying which will cause cracking of
the emulsion.
2) Dust particles or scratches on final images: due to under
drying which will result in sticking of dust particles or ease of
scratching of emulsion.
Fogged Film
Cloudy appearance of an image which may be partial or
complete: it is due to one or a combination of the following:
1) Radiation.
2) Light.
3) Chemicals.
4) Distortion (deterioration).

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Light fogging:
1) Light leakage into the dark room.
2) Improper safe light: cracking of safe light bulb or safe
light filter or improper filter or watt.
3) Prolonged exposure of the film to safe light.
4) Sudden turning on of the headlight.
5) Short distance between film and safe light.
Radiation fogging:
Improper protection of the due to exposure to 2ry radiation
(overall darkerning).
Distortion (storage fogging)
1) Temp of the storage room is too high.
2) High humidity.
3) Out dated films (beyond expiry date).
4) Paints or fumes in the storage room.
Chemical fogging:
- Weak developer.
- Developer contamination.
- Dirty processing tanks.