TEACH Lesson Plan
IANNUCCI AND HOWERTON: Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 5th Edition
31 Descriptive Terminology
CHAPTER LESSON PLAN & OBJECTIVES
Lesson 31.1: Descriptive Terminology
1. Define descriptive terminology, describe why the dental professional should use descriptive terms,
and differentiate between descriptive terminology and diagnosis.
2. Compare and contrast the terms radiolucent and radiopaque.
3. Do the following related to how to describe radiolucent lesions:
• Identify radiolucent lesions on a dental image in terms of appearance, location, and size.
CHAPTER TEACHING FOCUS
• Students will have the opportunity to learn descriptive terminology, its importance, why it is used by
dental professionals, as well as the differentiation between descriptive terminology and diagnosis.
Chapter 31: Descriptive Terminology 2
TEACH Lesson Plan
IANNUCCI AND HOWERTON: Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 5th Edition
CHAPTER PRETEST
Have the students answer these questions prior to covering this chapter to understand where they stand
in relation to the content.
1) __________ allows dental professionals to intelligently describe and discuss what is seen on dental
images and to communicate using a common language.
a) Diagnosis
b) Descriptive imaging c) Descriptive terminology
d) Dictation equipment
2) A(n) __________ is the identification of disease by examination or analysis.
a) x-ray
b) diagnosis c) treatment plan
d) radiograph
3) Dental caries appears _________ because the area of the tooth with caries is __________ dense
than surrounding structures.
a) radiopaque; less
b) radiopaque; more c) radiolucent; less
d) radiolucent; more
4) Which of the following terms is used to classify a radiolucent lesion?
a) Ground glass
b) Moth-eaten pattern c) Multifocal confluent
d) Target lesion
7) The term ________ refers to a radiolucent lesion located around the crown of an impacted tooth.
a) periapical
b) inter-radicular c) pericoronal
d) edentulous zone
8) The term _______ refers to a well-defined, localized radiopaque area surrounded by a uniform
radiolucent halo.
a) ground glass
b) focal opacity c) target lesion
d) multifocal confluent
9) Which of the following is an example of soft tissue opacity?
a) Osteitis deformans
b) Florid osseous dysplasia c) Chondrosarcoma
d) Sialolith
10) An image appears ________ where the tissues are soft or thin.
a) black or dark
b) radiopaque c) white
d) light
Chapter 31: Descriptive Terminology 3
TEACH Lesson Plan
CHAPTER PRETEST ANSWERS
1) c
Descriptive terminology allows dental professionals to intelligently describe and discuss what is seen
on dental images and to communicate using a common language.
p. 368
6) b
Radiopaque lesions occur not only in bone but in soft tissue as well.
p. 374
Chapter 31: Descriptive Terminology 4
TEACH Lesson Plan
IANNUCCI AND HOWERTON: Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 5th Edition
Classroom Preparation
Lesson 31.1: Descriptive Terminology
INSTRUCTOR PREPARATION
Textbook Objectives Covered
1. Define descriptive terminology, describe why the dental professional should use descriptive terms,
and differentiate between descriptive terminology and diagnosis.
2. Compare and contrast the terms radiolucent and radiopaque.
3. Do the following related to how to describe radiolucent lesions:
• Identify radiolucent lesions on a dental image in terms of appearance, location, and size.
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 theoretical
CODA Standards for Dental Assisting Programs
• Standard 2: Educational Program:
• The curriculum must include content at the in-depth level in dental radiology. Students must
Chapter 31: Descriptive Terminology 5
TEACH Lesson Plan
IANNUCCI AND HOWERTON: Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 5th Edition
National Standards Covered (Continued)
CODA Standards for Dental Hygiene Programs
• Standard 2: Educational Program:
Lesson Preparation Checklist
• Prepare lecture from TEACH lecture slides available on Evolve.
Materials and Supplies
• computer
Chapter 31: Descriptive Terminology 6
TEACH Lesson Plan
IANNUCCI AND HOWERTON: Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 5th Edition
Classroom Preparation
Lesson 31.1: Descriptive Terminology
STUDENT PREPARATION (5 hrs)
1
READ – Textbook (p. 368)
ANSWER – Textbook
• Quiz Questions: Short answer, questions 1-4 (pp. 379–380)
APPLY – Workbook Module 6: Film Mounting, Normal Anatomy, and Interpretation Basics
• Critical Thinking Question 4 (p. 274)
2
READ – Textbook (pp. 368-369)
ANSWER – Textbook
• Quiz Questions: Matching, question 9 (p. 380)
• Review Questions – Self-Study Examination
Chapter 31: Descriptive Terminology 7
50-Minute Lesson Plan
Lesson 31.1: Descriptive Terminology
LECTURE OUTLINE (35 min)
1
DESCRIPTIVE TERMINOLOGY: SLIDES 5-8 (p. 368)
• Discuss descriptive terminology, describe why the dental professional should use descriptive
terms, and differentiate between descriptive terminology and diagnosis.
2
RADIOLUCENT AND RADIOPAQUE: SLIDES 9-10 (pp. 368-369)
• Compare and contrast the terms radiolucent and radiopaque.
radiopaque lesions.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES (choose one or more to equal 15 min)
1
REVIEW (15 min)
• Divide the class into groups, and have each group make a list of as many descriptive terms
used in dentistry as it can. Have the students share their lists with the class. Make a master list
on the board.
• Appropriate Settings: Traditional classroom, flipped classroom
3
CREATE (15 min)
• Divide the class into small groups, and have each group create a diagram showing unilocular
lesions and another showing multilocular lesions. Have the groups present their diagrams to
the class.
• Appropriate Settings: Traditional classroom, flipped classroom
Chapter 31: Descriptive Terminology 8
TEACH Lesson Plan
IANNUCCI AND HOWERTON: Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 5th Edition
LEARNING ACTIVITIES (choose one or more to equal 15 min) (Continued)
3
(Continued)
REVIEW (10 min)
• Divide the class into small groups. Provide each group several radiographs that display
different types of radiolucent lesions. Have the students document the appearance, location,
4
CREATE (15 min)
• Divide the class into small groups, and have each group create a diagram showing focal
opacity, target lesion, multifocal confluent pattern, irregular/ill-defined opacity, ground glass
opacity, mixed lucent-opaque, and soft tissue opacity radiopaque lesions. Have the groups
CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS
1. After viewing a radiolucent periapical lesion on a processed dental image, what should the
dental radiographer record in the patient’s chart?
Discussion Guidelines: All lesions viewed on a dental image should be documented and described in
terms of appearance, location, and size. The appearance of radiolucent lesions can be classified as
2. In dental imaging, a number of different terms can be used to describe the appearance,
location, and size of a lesion. Why would you want to utilize descriptive terminology to discuss
and describe what is seen on a dental image?
Discussion Guidelines: Descriptive terminology allows dental professionals to describe and discuss
Chapter 31: Descriptive Terminology 9
TEACH Lesson Plan
IANNUCCI AND HOWERTON: Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 5th Edition
Assessments
Chapter 31: Descriptive Terminology
ASSESSMENTS BY OBJECTIVE
1
4
Evolve Instructor Resources
• Test Bank: Multiple Choice, questions 12-18
Workbook Module 6: Film Mounting, Normal Anatomy, and Interpretation Basics
Evolve Instructor Resources
• Test Bank: Multiple Choice, questions 1-3
Workbook Module 6: Film Mounting, Normal Anatomy, and Interpretation Basics