Radiation Safety for Patients and Operators
Exam ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
Question: Which of the following is an accurate statement about safe operating procedures?
Pregnant operators must not expose dental images.
Dosimeters are mandatory for operators.
All dental staff members should wear dosimeters.
ALARA applies to patients but not operators. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔All dental staff members should
wear dosimeters.
Question: All of the following are considered critical organs that can be affected by x-radiation from
dental imaging procedures except:
inner ear.
lens of the eye.
thyroid gland.
skin. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔inner ear
Question: You have added an extension to your PID. The length of the PID is changing from 8 to 16
inches. How does this affect the intensity of the x-ray beam? What adjustment will you need to make to
keep the density of your images consistent? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔The resultant beam will be one-
quarter as intense. You will need to increase the exposure time.
Question: In addition to the patient's name, what other information should be placed on the film
mount? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Date of exposure
Question: Which statement regarding exposing dental images is correct? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Each
patient should be evaluated for need.
1
,Question: What is the purpose of including a lead collimator inside the dental tubehead? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔To restrict the size and shape of the x-ray beam
Question: What is the primary example of a patient protection technique used before x-ray exposure? -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Proper prescribing of dental images
Question: Where should the thermometer be placed for manual processing? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔Developer solution
Question: Which of these is not a reason to understand ionizing radiation?
Ionizing radiation causes harmful effects to humans.
Ionizing radiation causes damage to the cellular metabolism.
Ionizing radiation causes damage to cellular metabolism and causes harmful effects to humans.
Ionizing radiation is not harmful. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Ionizing radiation is not harmful.
Question: Which source produces the most annual radiation exposure to persons in the United States? -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Radon
Question: Which of the following is a true statement regarding radiation and patient protection?
X-rays are routinely prescribed for 6-month recall patients.
Round collimators are preferred over rectangular collimators.
A patient may hold the image receptor in place when XCPs are not available.
The benefit of dental x-rays outweighs the risk of ionizing radiation. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔The benefit
of dental x-rays outweighs the risk of ionizing radiation.
Question: What cell would be considered to have high radiation sensitivity? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔Small lymphocyte
Question: Which PID would provide the most protection against radiation exposure for the patient? -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Lead-lined, rectangular
2
, Question: The coin test is used to determine__________ - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔safety light adequacy.
Question: Which statement would not be a function of the Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and
Safety Act?
Mandating the number of dental images for specific treatment.
Establishing guidelines for the proper maintenance of x-ray equipment.
Requiring persons who take dental images to be properly trained and certified.
Outlining requirements for the safe use of dental x-ray equipment. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Mandating
the number of dental images for specific treatment.
Question: What component of the tubehead protects the patient by removing long-wavelength, low-
energy x-rays? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Filter
Question: During the production of x-rays, how much energy is lost as heat? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔99%
Question: The sharpness of a dental image is influenced by all of the following factors except one.
Which is the EXCEPTION?
Focal spot size
Film composition
Patient movement
Target-to-image receptor distance - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Target-to-image receptor distance
Question: Before radiation exposure for a minor, informed consent _____________________. -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔must be obtained from a legal guardian
Question: The sensitivity of a film or film ___________ determines how much radiation and how much
exposure time are necessary to produce an image on a film. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Speed
Question: All of the following can be found in the cathode except one. Which is the EXCEPTION?
Tungsten target
3
Exam ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
Question: Which of the following is an accurate statement about safe operating procedures?
Pregnant operators must not expose dental images.
Dosimeters are mandatory for operators.
All dental staff members should wear dosimeters.
ALARA applies to patients but not operators. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔All dental staff members should
wear dosimeters.
Question: All of the following are considered critical organs that can be affected by x-radiation from
dental imaging procedures except:
inner ear.
lens of the eye.
thyroid gland.
skin. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔inner ear
Question: You have added an extension to your PID. The length of the PID is changing from 8 to 16
inches. How does this affect the intensity of the x-ray beam? What adjustment will you need to make to
keep the density of your images consistent? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔The resultant beam will be one-
quarter as intense. You will need to increase the exposure time.
Question: In addition to the patient's name, what other information should be placed on the film
mount? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Date of exposure
Question: Which statement regarding exposing dental images is correct? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Each
patient should be evaluated for need.
1
,Question: What is the purpose of including a lead collimator inside the dental tubehead? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔To restrict the size and shape of the x-ray beam
Question: What is the primary example of a patient protection technique used before x-ray exposure? -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Proper prescribing of dental images
Question: Where should the thermometer be placed for manual processing? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔Developer solution
Question: Which of these is not a reason to understand ionizing radiation?
Ionizing radiation causes harmful effects to humans.
Ionizing radiation causes damage to the cellular metabolism.
Ionizing radiation causes damage to cellular metabolism and causes harmful effects to humans.
Ionizing radiation is not harmful. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Ionizing radiation is not harmful.
Question: Which source produces the most annual radiation exposure to persons in the United States? -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Radon
Question: Which of the following is a true statement regarding radiation and patient protection?
X-rays are routinely prescribed for 6-month recall patients.
Round collimators are preferred over rectangular collimators.
A patient may hold the image receptor in place when XCPs are not available.
The benefit of dental x-rays outweighs the risk of ionizing radiation. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔The benefit
of dental x-rays outweighs the risk of ionizing radiation.
Question: What cell would be considered to have high radiation sensitivity? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔Small lymphocyte
Question: Which PID would provide the most protection against radiation exposure for the patient? -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Lead-lined, rectangular
2
, Question: The coin test is used to determine__________ - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔safety light adequacy.
Question: Which statement would not be a function of the Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and
Safety Act?
Mandating the number of dental images for specific treatment.
Establishing guidelines for the proper maintenance of x-ray equipment.
Requiring persons who take dental images to be properly trained and certified.
Outlining requirements for the safe use of dental x-ray equipment. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Mandating
the number of dental images for specific treatment.
Question: What component of the tubehead protects the patient by removing long-wavelength, low-
energy x-rays? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Filter
Question: During the production of x-rays, how much energy is lost as heat? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔99%
Question: The sharpness of a dental image is influenced by all of the following factors except one.
Which is the EXCEPTION?
Focal spot size
Film composition
Patient movement
Target-to-image receptor distance - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Target-to-image receptor distance
Question: Before radiation exposure for a minor, informed consent _____________________. -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔must be obtained from a legal guardian
Question: The sensitivity of a film or film ___________ determines how much radiation and how much
exposure time are necessary to produce an image on a film. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Speed
Question: All of the following can be found in the cathode except one. Which is the EXCEPTION?
Tungsten target
3