Hygiene Atlas

Atlas · Plate IX · Dental Radiography · 07

Technique errors

Each error has a cause you can correct. Too little vertical angulation elongates teeth, too much foreshortens them, and a horizontal angle that misses the contacts overlaps them. A PID not centered over the receptor leaves a clear cone cut. Movement blurs the image, a bent receptor stretches it, and a double exposure stacks two images.

High-yield facts · 8

  1. Elongation: too little vertical angulation (bisecting) or receptor not parallel.T7
  2. Foreshortening: too much vertical angulation.T7
  3. Overlapped contacts: central ray not directed through the interproximal spaces (horizontal angulation error).T7
  4. Cone cut: clear (unexposed) curved or straight area because the PID was not centered over the receptor.T7
  5. Missing apices: receptor not placed far enough, or too little vertical angulation.T7
  6. Blurred image: patient, receptor or tube head movement.T7
  7. Double exposure: same receptor exposed twice; shows two superimposed images.T7
  8. Bent receptor: stretched, distorted image; with film, a bent corner can crack the emulsion.T7

Facts are written in our own words; each tag links to its source. Values marked "sources vary" differ between references, so check the one your program uses.