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Angulation
The direction or angle at which the central ray and PID of the xray machine are aimed at the teeth and film
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Anterior
Front teeth of either jaw (incisor and canine teeth)
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Apex
The point or extremity of the tooth root (pl., apices)
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Bite-wings
A radiographic view that shows the crowns of the upper and lower posterior teeth and the alveolar bone crest of the maxilla and mandible
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Buccal
Surface of the tooth towards the cheek
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Central Ray
The middle of the primary beam (=central beam)
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Collimator
A device that helps eliminate peripheral radiation
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Cone Cutting
An error in PID placement that results in part of the film being unexposed
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Contrast
The difference in density between adjacent (radiolucent and radiopaque) areas of an image
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Density
The degree of blackness of an image
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Distal
Surface of the tooth towards the back of the mouth, away from the midline
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Elongation
An error in vertical angulation resulting in an image that appears to be too long
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Embossed dot
= identification dot; a circle on the corner of the xray film packet that corresponds to a raised area on one side of the film. It is used to determine which side of the film was struck by the xray.
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Exposure Time
The amount of time the xray beam is released during the taking of one radiograph
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Extraoral
A radiographic technique in which the film is placed outside of the mouth during exposure
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Foreshortening
An error in angulation resulting in an image of reduced height
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Horizontal Angulation
The direction of the xray beam in the horizontal plane (ie. parallel with the floor)
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Incisal Edge
The cutting edge of the anterior teeth
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Intraoral
A radiographic technique in which the film is placed inside the mouth during exposure
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KiloVolt (kV)
1000 volts; the unit of measure for the penetrating power of the xray beam
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Labial
Surface of the tooth towards the lips
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Lingual
Surface of the tooth towards the tongue
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Long Cone
Cylinder (PID) on xray machines where anode-film distance is 12 to 20 inches
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Mesial
Surface of the tooth towards the front; closest to the midline
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Mid-saggital Plane
= Midline; an imaginary vertical line or plane passing through the center of the body that divides it into right and left havles
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Milliampere (mA)
1/1000 of an ampere, the unit of measure of quantity of radiation
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Occlusal Surface
Surface of a premolar or molar that meets the opposing teeth in the closure of jaw (ie. biting surface)
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Overlapping
superimposition of the image of one tooth over part of another, produced when the central ray is not perpendicular to the film and teeth in the horizontal plane
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Periapical
Around the apex of the tooth (used to refer to radiographs that show the crown, root, and supporting structures of the tooth)
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PID
= Position Indicating Device; any device attached to the tubehead at the aperture to direct the useful beam of radiation; long or short, cylindrical or rectangular, open or closed (pointed) at tip
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Posterior
Teeth of either jaw behind the incisors and canines. ie. premolars and molars
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Primary Beam
the main flow of xrays from the xray machine
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Radiolucent
structures that are permeable to xrays, producing black areas on radiographs
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Radiopaque
structures that absorb xrays, produce light areas on radiographs
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Scattered Radiation
Xrays deflected from exposed tissue to adjacent tissue, or xrays deflected within the tubehead; weaker than primary radiation
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Short Cone
Cylinder (PID) on dental xray machines where anode-film distance is 9 inches or less
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Vertical Angulation
Angle made between the xray beam and a line parallel to the floor
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Xray
A high energy electromagnetic wave that can penetrate solid matter
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XCP
Extension cone paralleling instrument (made by RINN)
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XCP Technique
Long cone technique = right angle technique = paralleling technique. This technique consists of placing the film packet parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tooth and directing the central ray perpendicular to tooth and film packet
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