3 Radiation Characteristics
CHAPTER LESSON PLAN & OBJECTIVES
Lesson 3.1: Radiation Characteristics
1. Define the key terms associated with radiation characteristics.
2. Describe the effect that the kilovoltage has on the quality of the x-ray beam and identify the range of
kilovoltage required for dental imaging.
3. Describe how kilovoltage affects the density and contrast of the image.
CHAPTER TEACHING FOCUS
• Students will have the opportunity to understand the concepts of x-ray beam quality and quantity.
Chapter 3: Radiation Characteristics 2
CHAPTER PRETEST
Have the students answer these questions prior to covering this chapter to understand where they stand
in relation to the content.
1) What refers to the average energy or penetrating ability of the x-ray beam and is controlled by the
kilovoltage peak (kVp)?
a) Quantity
b) Milliamperage c) Intensity
d) Quality
2) What affects film density and contrast?
a) Milliamperage
b) Kilovoltage peak c) Half-value layer
d) Inverse square law
3) What refers to number of x-rays produced and is controlled by the milliamperage?
a) Quantity
b) Intensity c) Quality
d) Kilovoltage
4) What is the total energy contained in the x-ray beam in a specific area at a given time?
a) Quantity
b) Intensity c) Quality
d) Milliamperage
5) What is used to explain how distance affects the intensity of the x-ray beam?
a) Half-value layer
b) Voltage c) Milliamperage
d) Inverse square law
6) What is placed in the path of the x-ray beam to reduce the intensity and remove the low-energy x-
rays from the beam?
a) Lead collimator
b) Kilovoltage c) Aluminum filter
d) Glass window
7) The distance from the source of the radiation to the patient’s skin is the target-_____ distance.
a) film
b) object c) surface
d) electron
Chapter 3: Radiation Characteristics 3
TEACH Lesson Plan
IANNUCCI AND HOWERTON: Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 5th Edition
CHAPTER PRETEST ANSWERS
1) d
In dental imaging, the term quality is used to describe the mean energy or penetrating ability of the x–
6) c
An aluminum filter is placed in the path of the x-ray beam to reduce the intensity and remove the low–
Chapter 3: Radiation Characteristics 4
TEACH Lesson Plan
IANNUCCI AND HOWERTON: Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 5th Edition
Classroom Preparation
Lesson 3.1: Radiation Characteristics
INSTRUCTOR PREPARATION
Textbook Objectives Covered
1. Define the key terms associated with radiation characteristics.
2. Describe the effect that the kilovoltage has on the quality of the x-ray beam and identify the range of
kilovoltage required for dental imaging.
National Standards Covered
ABHES DAI (Dental Assisting I – Basic)
• Section A: Curriculum, Competencies, Externship and/or Internal Clinical Experience:
• Dental Sciences: Radiography of the Oral Cavity. Courses in radiography are designed to integrate
ABHES DAII (Dental Assisting II – Advanced)
• Section A: Curriculum, Competencies, Externship and/or Internal Clinical Experience:
• Dental Sciences: Radiography of the Oral Cavity. Courses in radiography are designed to integrate
CODA Standards for Dental Hygiene Programs
• Standard 2: Educational Program:
• Curriculum content: Dental sciences content must include tooth morphology, head, neck and oral
Lesson Preparation Checklist
• Prepare lecture from TEACH lecture slides available on Evolve.
Materials and Supplies
• computer
Chapter 3: Radiation Characteristics 5
TEACH Lesson Plan
IANNUCCI AND HOWERTON: Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 5th Edition
Classroom Preparation
Lesson 3.1: Radiation Characteristics
STUDENT PREPARATION (6 hrs)
1
• Basic Terminology Crossword Puzzle, questions 1–17 (p. 15)
2
READ – Textbook (pp. 24-25)
ANSWER – Textbook
• Quiz Questions: Multiple Choice, questions 1, 2, 5 (p. 30)
• Completion: Contrast, questions 1, 2 (p. 19)
READ – Textbook (pp. 24-29)
ANSWER – Workbook Module 1: Radiation Basics
4
READ – Textbook (pp. 26–27)
ANSWER – Textbook
• Quiz Questions: Multiple Choice, questions 4, 7 (p. 30)
5
READ – Textbook (p. 27)
ANSWER – Textbook
• Quiz Questions: Multiple Choice, questions 8, 14 (p. 30)
6
APPLY – Workbook Module 1: Radiation Basics
• Critical Thinking Question 3 (p. 29)
• Short Answer: Inverse Square Law, questions 1-3 (p. 19)
READ – Textbook (pp. 27–28)
ANSWER – Textbook
• Quiz Questions: Multiple Choice, questions 15, 16 (p. 30)
8
READ – Textbook (p. 29)
ANSWER – Textbook
• Quiz Questions: Multiple Choice, questions 19, 20 (p. 30)
APPLY – Workbook Module 1: Radiation Basics
• Critical Thinking Questions 7, 8 (p. 30)
• Review Questions – Self-Study Examination
Chapter 3: Radiation Characteristics 6
50-Minute Lesson Plan
Lesson 3.1: Radiation Characteristics
LECTURE OUTLINE (25 min)
1
&
2
KILOVOLTAGE AND QUALITY: SLIDES 4-9 (pp. 24–29)
• Define terms related to the characteristics of radiation.
• Explain kilovoltage and the ways in which kilovoltage can affect the beam quality of x-rays.
3
KILOVOLTAGE AND DENSITY: SLIDES 10-12 (pp. 25-26)
• Define density and contrast and explain how different levels of kilovoltage affect them in regard
to x-ray images.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES (choose one or more to equal 25 min)
1
CREATE (20 min)
• Have the students create crossword puzzles using the definitions of the key terms as clues.
Have the students exchange puzzles and solve them.
• Appropriate Settings: Traditional classroom, flipped classroom
how they can make the radiograph of diagnostic quality. Have the students share their
findings.
• Appropriate Settings: Traditional classroom, flipped classroom
3
REVIEW (10 min)
• Choose two student volunteers; have one student define density and the other define contrast.
Have the rest of the class explain how these are affected by kilovoltage.
• Appropriate Settings: Traditional classroom, flipped classroom
POST & COMMENT (10 min)
• Post Critical Thinking Question 1 for this lesson on the Evolve discussion board. Students
should post their answers and conduct an online discussion in comments. Each student should
offer critical feedback to at least two other students.
• Appropriate Setting: Online
Chapter 3: Radiation Characteristics 7
TEACH Lesson Plan
LEARNING ACTIVITIES (choose one or more to equal 25 min) (Continued)
4
(Continued)
POST & COMMENT (10 min)
• Post Critical Thinking Question 2 for this lesson on the Evolve discussion board. Students
should post their answers and conduct an online discussion in comments. Each student should
offer critical feedback to at least two other students.
• Appropriate Setting: Online
in her films?
increase or decrease the distance between the x-ray machine and the film. Also demonstrate
what happens to the x-ray beam as you increase and decrease the distance.
7
decrease the x-ray beam intensity by half. Have the class open for discussion.
• Appropriate Settings: Traditional classroom, flipped classroom
SOLVE (15 min)
• On the board write several samples of inverse square law formulas to calculate. Let the
students complete the calculations by themselves first, then discuss them as a class.
CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS
1. A 26-year-old woman came to the office for her six-month check-up and four bitewing x-ray
images. All procedural steps were followed for bitewing exposure, but upon processing, the films
showed large areas of darkness. What is this type of error? What needs to be done in the future to
avoid it?
Discussion Guidelines: This is an error caused by too much kilovoltage, which results in a film that
2. A 7-year-old comes into the office for a routine check-up. You notice in his chart that he is due
for bitewing x-rays. When you bring the child back into the operatory, you explain to him what
procedure you will be doing today. Just as you begin to put the x-ray device into his mouth, he
starts asking many questions. You simply answer his questions but also inform him that it is very
important for him to keep still so you can take his picture. You finally get the film placed and are
getting ready to push the exposure button when he starts talking and moving around. What do
you as the dental radiographer do to ensure the dental x-ray images are of diagnostic quality?
Discussion Guidelines: Sometimes it can be very difficult to have a patient remain still as you take x–
Chapter 3: Radiation Characteristics 8
TEACH Lesson Plan
IANNUCCI AND HOWERTON: Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 5th Edition
Assessments
Chapter 3: Radiation Characteristics
ASSESSMENTS BY OBJECTIVE
1
Evolve Instructor Resources
• Test Bank: Multiple Choice, questions 1, 3
Workbook Module 1: Radiation Basics
• Basic Terminology Crossword Puzzle, questions 1–17 (p. 15)
2
Evolve Instructor Resources
• Test Bank: Multiple Choice, questions 2, 5-8
4
Evolve Instructor Resources
Evolve Instructor Resources
• Test Bank: Multiple Choice, questions 12, 15, 23
6
• Critical Thinking Question 3 (p. 29)
• Short Answer: Inverse Square Law, questions 1-3 (p. 19)
Evolve Instructor Resources
Workbook Module 1: Radiation Basics
• Critical Thinking Questions 7, 8 (p. 30)
Evolve Instructor Resources
• Test Bank: Multiple Choice, questions 16, 24
Workbook Module 1: Radiation Basics
• Completion: Range of kV and mA, questions 1, 2 (p. 18)
• Short Answer: X-Ray Beam Quality and Quantity, questions 1, 2 (p. 19)