Dent 545 Midterm (White) Name_____________________________________

October 2, 2006

For all questions: Circle the correct response on exam booklet and enter this response
on the answer sheet. Fill in name on answer sheet.

1. Atom A has 24 protons. Atom B has 36 protons. (Both are stable atoms). When
comparing these two atoms, Atom A will have:

a. more electrons than Atom B

b. a lower atomic number than Atom B
c. a higher binding energy than Atom B
d. more neutrons than Atom B
e. none of the above

2. An occlusal film would be the film of choice for which of the following situations?

a. Identify interproximal caries

b. Endodontic treatment of a tooth
c. Localize objects buccolingually
d. Identify early pathology around the root apex
e. Diagnose changes in the alveolar crest

3. According to the basic principles of the paralleling technique, the film is placed in
the mouth ___________________ to the long axis of the tooth being
radiographed, and the central ray of the x-ray beam is directed
________________________ to the film and the long axis of the tooth.

a. parallel; perpendicular
b. parallel; parallel
c. perpendicular; parallel
d. perpendicular; perpendicular

4. Which of the following statements relating to film composition is correct?

a. The film base is made of a transparent rubber material, making it more

comfortable for the patient
b. The film base has a slight reddish tint, helping to mask any blood that
might have gotten on the film
c. The emulsion contains phosphor crystals which fluoresce when struck by
x-rays
d. The supercoat helps to adhere the emulsion to the film base
e. The film has a layer of emulsion on both sides of the film base
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5. A bitewing film helps the clinician with the diagnosis of:

1. Interproximal caries
2. Periapical lesions
3. Periodontal disease

a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. 3 only
d. 1 and 3
e. 1, 2 and 3

6. If the frequency of an x-ray is increased:

a. the wavelength will be longer

b. the energy will increase
c. the x-ray will be less penetrating
d. it will be more apt to travel in an elliptical path
e. its mass will increase

7. The purpose of the reflecting layer found in intensifying screens is to prevent x-

rays from penetrating through the back of the cassette.

a. True
b. False

8. An increased _________________ distance can reduce image magnification.

a. target-object
b. object-film Either a or c acceptable
c. target-film
d. operator-patient

9. The main difference in the technique between a bitewing film taken with tabs or
taken with the XCP instrument is:

a. The horizontal angulation of the PID should be +10 when using the tabs.
b. The horizontal angulation of the PID should be + 10 when using the XCP
rinn.
c. The vertical angulation of the PID should be +10 when using tabs.
d. The vertical angulation of the PID should be +10 when using XCP rinn.
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 10. As discussed in class, for which of the following anatomical situations
would the panoramic film be the best choice for getting the most accurate
diagnostic information ?

a. Impacted third molars

b. Shallow palate
c. Ankyloglossia
d. Shallow floor of the mouth
e. The presence of small mandibular tori

11. The heating of the filament in an x-ray tube:

a. results in the release of protons from the filament

b. is controlled by the autotransformer
c. only occurs during the negative phase of the alternating current cycle
d. occurs in the cathode of the x-ray tube
e. determines the energy of the x-rays produced

12. Which of the following types of screens would require the greatest amount of
exposure to the patient?

a. Fast (Rapid)
b. Par (Medium)
c. Detail (Slow)
d. Window

13. When overlapped contacts appear on film, the cause is incorrect horizontal
angulation.

a. True
b. False

14. According to the “Threshold Theory” for a dose-response curve:

a. there is a maximum dose beyond which no damage is expected

b. there is an increase in cell death below a certain dose
c. there are several steps or “thresholds” which identify the likelihood of cell
death, mutations, etc.
d. there is no permanent damage to the cells below a certain dose
e. any dose, no matter how small, will result in permanent damage to the cell
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15. Which of the following statements is/are true about ghost images:

a. A ghost image is an opaque shadow of an object (jewelry, anatomy)

located on the opposite side of the patient.
b. The ghost image is created when the object is located between the tube
head and the center of rotation.
c. The ghost image is created when the object is located between the center
of rotation and the film.
d. a and b are correct.

16. The purpose of the line focus principle is to:

a. allow the x-rays to be focused to a point

b. produce a sharper image
c. reduce the number of x-rays produced during an exposure
d. facilitate the heating of the filament to produce more electrons
e. keep the target from becoming negative during the alternating current cycle

17. If you are using manual processing to develop your films, how long should you
leave the films in the developer if the temperature is 68 degrees:

a. 2 minutes
b. 3 minutes
c. 5minutes
d. 8 minutes
e. 10 minutes

18. Size 1 film is always positioned with the long portion of the film in a
____________ direction, and size 2 film is always positioned with the long portion
of the film in a ________________ direction. Paralleling Technique.

a. vertical; vertical
b. horizontal; horizontal
c. vertical; horizontal
d. horizontal; vertical

19. The basic principle of a bitewing film is to place the film parallel to the crowns of
the teeth in an antero-posterior direction and to direct the x-ray beam through the
contacts of the teeth.

a. True
 b. False

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20. Of the 360 mrem per year of annual radiation exposure (both natural and
artificial), approximately how many mrem’s are produced by radon?

a. 30 mrem
b. 80 mrem
c. 100 mrem
d. 120 mrem
e. 200 mrem

21. A direct current (constant potential) x-ray machine:

a. produces higher maximum energy x-rays than an alternating-current x-ray

machine using the same kVp setting
b. allows for shorter exposure times than an alternating-current x-ray
machine when using the same mA and kVp settings
c. doesn’t require the special electrical outlet that is needed for alternating-
current x-ray machines
d. uses only the negative phase of the alternating current cycle

22. An 8" x 10" screen film is normally used for:

a. an occlusal film
b. a panoramic film
c. a cephalometric film
d. a transcranial film
e. a lateral oblique jaw film

23. A cone cut occurs when:

a. the film is underexposed

b. the film is overexposed
c. the PID was not properly aligned with the ring of the periapical film
holder
d. the exposure button was not depressed for a sufficient amount of time

24. A premolar bitewing should cover the distal of upper and lower canine, both
premolars, first molar and at least a portion of second molar.

a. True
b. False
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25. In which of the following attenuation interactions does the primary x-ray lose all of
its energy when ejecting an electron from its orbit?

a. Coherent scattering
b. Compton scattering
c. Photoelectric effect

26. In which of the following combinations of x-ray machine components are all three
part of the high-voltage circuit?

a. Exposure switch, mA selector and Step-up transformer

b. Exposure switch, Auto-transformer and Step-up transformer
c. Timer, Step-up transformer and Filament
d. mA selector, Step-down transformer and Filament
e. Timer, kVp selector and Step-down transformer

27. When processing films, a film that is too dark will result if:

a. the temperature is too low

b. the solutions are not replenished properly (too weak)
c. it is fixed for too long a time
d. it is left in the developing solution too long
e. the developing solution is too cool

28. Elongated images refer to images of the teeth that appear ____________.
Elongation of images results from _______________ vertical angulation.

a. too long; excessive

b. too long; insufficient
c. shortened; excessive
d. shortened; insufficient

29. The Frankfort Plane passes through the inferior border of the orbit and the top of
the external auditory meatus or tragus and should be parallel to the floor when
aligning a patient for a panoramic film.

a. True
b. False

30. Free radicals are more damaging than ions when they interact with DNA.

a. True
 b. False

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31. What will be the effect on the x-ray beam when the kVp is changed from 65 kVp to
80 kVp?

a. The maximum energy x-ray produced will be 80 keV

b. The average energy of the x-ray beam is the same for both kVp settings
c. The number of x-rays produced is the same for both kVp settings
d. The average wavelength of the x-rays in the beam will increase (get longer)
at the higher kVp setting
e. Less total filtration will be required at the higher kVp setting

32. When duplicating films, the longer the light is left on, the darker the duplicate film
will be.

a. True
b. False

33. Using size # 2 film, a total of _____________ anterior film placements are
normally used with the Bisecting Technique.

a. four
b. six
c. seven
d. eight

34. When the Frankfort Plane is tipped up when taking a panoramic film, the image
obtained will show:

a. a squared-off mandible and palate superimposed over the maxillary

teeth
b. shortened mandibular incisors
c. a V-shaped mandible
d. wider and blurred anterior teeth

35. In which of the following anatomical variants would you most likely utilize a tongue
blade to aid in taking the film?

a. Tori
b. Ankyloglossia
c. Impacted third molars
d. Shallow palate
e. Abnormally long maxillary canine
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36.. In adults, size ____ film is used in the occlusal examination.

a. #0
b. #1
c. #2
d. #4

37. Which of the following is not a component of the developing solution?

a. Developer
b. Activator
c. Preservative
d. Restrainer
e. Acidifier

38. The appearance of a patient’s finger on the film is called a Hemangioma.

a. True
b. False

39. Which of the following types of interactions of x-rays with atoms is an inner-shell
electron ejected?
 a. Coherent scattering
b. Compton scattering
c. Photoelectric effect

40. There are several methods for obtaining radiographic information in a patient who
has limited mouth opening due to trismus. Which of the following methods would
be best?

a. Periapical film with hemostat

b. Occlusal film
c. Panoramic film

41. The high-voltage circuit determines how hot the filament will get.

a. True
b. False
maxilla
42. If you use rectangular collimation, the patient would be
exposed to less radiation than he would be if you used a 6 cm
diameter round PID. (Exposure factors remain the same). mandible
a. True
b. False

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43. The focal trough is the three-dimensional curved zone or image layer in which
structures are reasonably well defined.

a. True
b. False

44. Mr. Jones presents with a good quality panoramic film taken 5 weeks ago. The
examination reveals that he is missing all four first premolars and all four third
molars, which is confirmed by the panoramic film. The rest of the teeth are
present (24 teeth). The teeth are all in contact, with no edentulous spaces. The
majority of the teeth have extensive caries and/or restorations and you have
decided to take periapical films of the entire mouth, along with posterior
horizontal bitewings. (You will be using the paralleling
technique with # 1 films anteriorly, # 2 films posteriorly).

How many periapical films would be needed for Mr. Jones?

a. 9
b. 10
c. 11
d. 13
e. 15
45. When using a step-wedge for a quality control test, a positive result occurs when
the steps on two films do not line up.

a. True
b. False

46. Which of the following x-ray machine components would provide inherent filtration
of the x-ray beam that exits the PID?

1. Glass (beryllium) window of x-ray tube

2. Insulating oil in x-ray tubehead
3. Lead collimator
4. Copper sleeve in x-ray tube
5. Leaded glass of x-ray tube

a. 1 only
b. 1 and 2
c. 1, 2 and 5
d. 2, 3 and 5
e. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5

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47. If you change the exposure factors on an x-ray machine from 5 mA, 12 impulses
and 70 kVp to 10 mA, 8 impulses and 70 kVp, what will be the effect on film
density? (No change in patient size).

a. Film density will be the same for either setting

b. Film density will increase (get darker) when you change from 5 mA/12
impulses/70 kVp to 10 mA/8 impulses/70 kVp
c. Film density will decrease (get lighter) when you change from 5 mA/12
impulses/70 kVp to 10 mA/8 impulses/70 kVp

48. X-rays passing through bone will produce more development centers in the silver
halide crystals than will x-rays passing through soft tissue.
 a. True
b. False

49. When the bisecting technique is used, the central ray is directed at 90 degrees to
the:

a. film
b. long axis of the tooth in the same arch
c. long axis of the tooth in the opposing arch
d. imaginary bisector

50. Using a metal with a high atomic number for the target of an x-ray tube is
important for effective x-ray production ( increased x-ray energy). Which of the
following responses best explains why this is true?

a. There are fewer electrons in the target atoms to get in the way of the
electrons from the filament
b. It conducts electricity better, providing a constant potential across the x-ray
tube
c. The majority of the x-ray beam is made up of characteristic x-rays and
characteristic x-rays are more energetic when produced in a target with
high atomic number
d. There are more protons in the nuclei of the target atoms which can
slow down the incoming electrons from the filament more effectively,
providing more energetic Bremsstrahlung x-rays
e. There are more electrons in the K-shell which will increase the energy of
the Bremmstrahlung x-rays produced