Exposure
and
Technique
Errors
Chapter
22
IN THIS CHAPTER
• Technique errors
• Exposure errors
• How to fix them
TECHNIQUE
ERRORS
FFP Faulty film placement
BB Teeth not on bite block
FDP Faulty dot placement
1/8” IOES +/- 1/8” inadequate occlusal
edge space
OPNP Occlusal plane not parallel to edge
of film
FFP
BB
FDP
1/8 inch
OPNP
TECHNIQUE
ERRORS
HA Horizontal angulation
CC Cone cut
RD Radiographic density
AC Apex cut off
FD Film damaged
HA
CC
RD
AC
FD
TECHNIQUE
ERRORS
VA vertical angulation
FR film reversed
PP processing pitfall
D diagnostic film
VA
FR
PP
UNEXPOSED
FILM
Film appears clear
Film was not exposed
FILM EXPOSED TO
LIGHT
Film appears black
Film was accidentally
exposed to white
light
OVEREXPOSED FILM
The film appears
dark
The film was
overexposed ex:
excessive
exposure time,
UNDEREXPOSED FILM
The film appears
light
The film was
underexposed ex:
insufficient
exposure time,
CORRECT FILM PLACEMENT
● The edge of the PA film must be placed parallel
to the incisal or occlusal surfaces of the teeth
and extend 1/8 inch beyond the incisal or
occlusal surfaces
FlLM PLACEMENT
● PREMOLAR BITE-WING
CORRECT INCORRECT
FILM PLACEMENT
● MOLAR BITE-WING
● INCORRECT CORRECT
INCORRECT HORIZONTAL ANGULATION
(HA)
● Overlapped contacts appear on a bite-wing exposure
● When the contacts are opened, a thin radiolucent line is
evident between the proximal surfaces of the teeth
INCORRECT FILM PLACEMENT
● Failure to see the apices on a PA radiograph resulting in an
excessive margin of film edge (black band)
● Ensure that no more than 1/8 inch of the film edge extends
beyond the incisal-occlusal surfaces of the teeth
INCORRECT FILM PLACEMENT
● The occlusal plane appears tipped or tilted on a
radiograph because the edge of the film was not
placed parallel to the incisal-occlusal surfaces of
the teeth
● This occurs in the digital method (bisecting
technique)
INCORRECT VERTICAL ANGULATION
(VA) ● FORESHORTENING
● Caused from excessive VA (too steep)
INCORRECT VERTICAL ANGULATION
● ELONGATION
● Caused from insufficient VA
CONE-CUT
FILM BENDING
FILM CREASING
Phalangioma
DOUBLE EXPOSURE
● Double image appears on the film
● The film was exposed in the client’s mouth twice
MOVEMENT
● Blurred images appear on the film
“PENUMBRA”
● The client moved during exposure of the film
REVERSED FILM
● Light images with a herringbone pattern appear
on the film (“tire-track” or “waffle image”)
Ghost Image
● Patient preparation error.
● Metallic objects such as eyeglasses, earrings, necklaces, dentures, orthodontic
retainers are not removed before a panoramic film is exposed.
LEAD APRON ARTIFACT
LEAD APRON ARTIFACT
● Patient preparation error.
● Lead apron placed incorrectly or
used with a thyroid collar.
● Results in a radiopaque cone-
shaped artifact.
● Makes the film undiagnostic.
Curve of Spee
Curve of Spee
REVERSE SMILE LINE
Patient positioning error:
Clients chin is tipped up.
The hard palate and floor of the nasal cavity is
superimposed over the roots of the maxillary teeth.
A “reverse smile line” (curved downwards) is seen on a
radiograph.
REVERSE SMILE LINE
Curve too steep
Chin too low
TEETH ANTERIOR TO THE FOCAL TROUGH
TEETH ANTERIOR TO THE FOCAL TROUGH
● Patient positioning error:
● Client’s teeth are positioned too far forward on the
bite-block or anterior to the focal trough.
● Anterior teeth appear narrow and out of focus.
● Dental radiographer must have the client to bite
end to end in the groove of the bite block and
stabilize the head by adjusting the forehead support
so the client doesn’t slide forward.
QUIZZ : what to know!
• History
• Equipment used and techniques
• Safety
• Exposure errors
• Quality assurance
• Processing
• Errors
• mounting