Do you remember studying the atom at

school? What do you remember about

it?
• Atoms are the basic unit of chemistry. They consist of 3 smaller things:
•Protons - these are positively charged (+)
•Electrons - these are negatively charged (-)
•Neutrons - these have no charge

• These 3 smaller particles are arranged in a particular way. In the center is

the Nucleus where you find the positive Protons and neutral Neutrons.

• In orbit around the nucleus are the Electrons. These are found in a series
of orbits (depending on the atom) with differing numbers of electrons.
3.0 Radiation Principles

PowerPoint #3
Key Terms of Radiation Physics
Components of x-ray unit
• What is the relationship between atoms and
dental radiography?

• We are going to find out…….

 3.0 Radiation Principles
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
3.1 Describe the physics of radiation (in terms such as
atomic structure) as it pertains
to the production of x-radiation
3.2 Define ionization and ionizing radiation
3.3 Using the electromagnetic spectrum, describe the
relationship between x-radiation and other radiation
3.4 Relate the characteristics of x-rays to their use in
dentistry
 Resources needed for this Class
Dental Radiography Principles and Techniques Textbook
Chapter 2 Pages 8-25
 Key Terms
• Atoms contain energy and is mostly empty
space
• Atoms are made up of:
– A central nucleus and orbiting electrons
– The identity is determined by the composition of
the nucleus and the arrangement of orbiting
electrons
 Key Terms
• Matter is anything that occupies space and
has form or shape
– Has many forms, including solids, liquids, and
gases
– Composed of atoms grouped together in specific
arrangements called molecules
– The fundamental unit of matter is the atom
 Key Terms
• Electrons are tiny, negatively charged particles
– Have very little mass, approximately 1/1800 as
much as a proton or neutron
– Electrons travel around the nucleus in well-
defined paths known as orbits or shells
– The shell located closest to the nucleus has the
highest energy level
 Key Terms
• Protons are accelerated particles with a mass
of 1 and a charge of +1
• Nucleus is composed of protons and neutrons
– Protons have positive electrical charges
– Neutrons carry no electrical charge
– The number of protons inside the nucleus equals
the number of electrons outside the nucleus
 Key Terms
• Molecules are two or more atoms joined by
chemical bonds, or the smallest amount of a
substance that possesses its characteristic
properties
 Energy
• Energy is defined as the ability to do work
• Although energy can neither be created nor
destroyed, it can change form
• All things in this world are composed of
energy and matter
 Energy
• The energy that holds the nucleus together is
called nuclear-binding energy
• The energy holding electrons, negatively
charged particles, in their shell is known as
electron-binding energy
 Atomic Structure
• The atom consists of two parts:
– a central nucleus
– orbiting electrons
• An atom is identified by the composition of its
nucleus and the arrangement of its orbiting
electrons; at present, 105 different atoms exist
 Atomic Structure
• The arrangement within the atom is similar to
that of the solar system
• The atom has a nucleus as its center or sun,
and the electrons revolve (orbit) around it like
planets
• The electrons remain stable in their orbit
unless disturbed or moved
• X-rays can disturb the orbiting electrons
 Fig. 38-3 Diagrammatic
Representation of an Oxygen Atom

Copyright © 2005 by Elsevier Inc. All rights

reserved.
 Nucleus
• The nucleus, or dense core of the atom, is
composed of particles known as protons and
neutrons
• Protons carry positive electrical charges,
whereas neutrons carry no electrical charge

Copyright © 2005 by Elsevier Inc. All rights

reserved.
 Nucleus
• Dental x-rays do not affect the tightly bound
nucleus of the atom and are only changed in
direction or scattered
• Dental x-rays cannot make atoms radioactive;
thus patients do not give off x-rays after the
x-ray machine stops producing x-rays
 Electrons
• Electrons are tiny negatively charged particles
that have very little mass
• Electrons orbit around the nucleus of an atom
• The orbit path of an electron is called an
electron shell
• Each shell can contain only a specific number
of electrons

Copyright © 2005 by Elsevier Inc. All rights

reserved.
 Electrons
• The electrons are maintained in orbit by
electron-binding energy, a force similar to
the force of gravity on earth
• The electrons remain stable in their orbit
around the nucleus until x-ray photons collide
with them
• A photon is a minute bundle of pure energy
that has no weight or mass

Copyright © 2005 by Elsevier Inc. All rights

reserved.
 Ionization
• X-rays have enough energy to push electrons
out of their orbits and produce ions (an atom
that gains or loses an electron and becomes
electrically unbalanced) in a process called
ionization
 Ionization
• The production of ions, or the process of
converting an atom into ions
• When an electron is removed from an atom in
the ionization process, an ion pair results
– The atom becomes the positive ion
– The ejected electron becomes the negative ion
 Ionization
• Ionization is the process by which electrons
are removed from the orbital shells of
electrically stable atoms through collisions
with x-ray photons
• When an electron is removed from the atom,
an ion pair results
 Ionization
• Normally, most atoms are neutral
– A neutral atom contains an equal number of
protons and electrons
• An atom with an incompletely filled outer
shell attempts to capture an electron from an
adjacent atom
 Ionization
• If the atom gains an electron, it has a negative
charge
• If the atom loses an electron, it has a positive
charge
• An atom that gains or loses an electron and
becomes electrically unbalanced is called an
ion
 Ionization
• Radiation is capable of producing ions by
removing or adding an electron to an atom
– Classified into two groups
• Particulate radiation
• Electromagnetic
radiation
 Ionization
• The harmful ionizing effect of x-rays in
humans can result in a disruption of cellular
metabolism and can cause permanent damage
to living cells and tissues
Fig. 38-4 A molecule of water (H20) consists of two atoms
of hydrogen connected to one atom of oxygen
(From Haring J, Jansen L: Dental radiography: principles and techniques, ed 2, Philadelphia, 2000, Saunders.)

Copyright © 2005 by Elsevier Inc. All rights

reserved.
 X-Radiation
• Radiation used to produce dental radiographs
has the ability to cause damage to all types of
living tissues
• Any exposure to radiation, no matter how
small, has the potential to cause biologic
changes to the operator and patient
 X-Radiation
• All ionizing radiations are harmful and
produce biologic changes in living tissues
• The amount of x-radiation used in dental
radiography is small; however, biologic
changes do occur
 X-Radiation
• X-rays are a form of energy that can penetrate
matter. Like visible light, radar, radio, and
television waves, they belong to a group called
electromagnetic radiation
• Electromagnetic radiation is made up of
photons that travel through space at the
speed of light in a straight line with a wavelike
motion

Copyright © 2005 by Elsevier Inc. All rights

reserved.
 X-Radiation
• The shorter the wavelength, the greater its
energy
• Because of the high energy of short
wavelengths, they are able to penetrate
matter more easily than are longer
wavelengths
• X-rays have unique properties that make them
especially useful in dentistry
 Role of the Dental Hygienist
• The dental hygienist must have a thorough
knowledge and understanding of the
importance and uses of dental radiographs
• The dental hygienist must understand the
fundamental concepts of atomic and
molecular structure and have a working
knowledge of ionizing radiation and the
properties of x-rays

Copyright © 2005 by Elsevier Inc. All rights

reserved.
 Role of the Dental Hygienist
• The dental hygienist must understand how the
harmful effects of radiation occur and how to
discuss the risks of radiation with patients
• The dental hygienist must have a thorough
understanding of the characteristics of
radiation to minimize radiation exposure to
both the dental patient and the operator
 Review Questions
1. What are atoms made up of?

Atoms are made up of a central nucleus and

orbiting electrons
 Question
2. Matter is anything that occupies space and
has form or shape. List 3 forms of matter.

Solids
Liquids
Gases
 Question
3. State what you know about electrons.
Electrons are tiny negatively charged particles
that have very little mass
Electrons orbit around the nucleus of an atom
The orbit path of an electron is called an
electron shell
 Question
4. True or false?
The longer the wavelength, the greater the
energy it has
False
The shorter the wavelength, the greater the
energy it has
Any Question