TEACH Lesson Plan
IANNUCCI AND HOWERTON: Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 5th Edition
8 Dental X-Ray Image Characteristics
CHAPTER LESSON PLAN & OBJECTIVES
Lesson 8.1: Dental X-Ray Image Characteristics
1. Define the key terms associated with film image characteristics.
2. Differentiate between radiolucent and radiopaque areas on a dental image.
3. Describe a diagnostic dental image.
CHAPTER TEACHING FOCUS
• Students will have the opportunity to learn the visual image characteristics of density and contrast.
Chapter 8: Dental X-Ray Image Characteristics 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) What refers to the portion of a processed radiograph that is dark or black?
a) Density
b) Radiolucent c) Contrast
d) Radiopaque
2) What provides a great deal of information, exhibits proper density and contrast, has sharp outlines,
and is of the same shape and size as the object radiographed?
a) Radiograph
b) Density c) Diagnostic image
d) Milliamperage
3) What refers to that portion of a processed radiograph that appears light or white?
a) Density
b) Radiolucent c) Contrast
d) Radiopaque
4) A dental radiograph that has very dark areas and very light areas is said to have:
a) high density.
b) high contrast. c) low density.
d) low contrast.
5) What is determined by the thickness, density, and composition?
a) High density
b) Low contrast c) Film contrast
d) Subject contrast
6) What device can be used to demonstrate short-scale and long-scale contrast?
a) Stepwedge
b) Scale of contrast c) Penumbra
d) Scale darkness
7) What is the fuzzy or blurred area that surrounds an x-ray image?
a) Latent period
b) Halo c) Umbrella
d) Penumbra
10) If the mA is increased and the exposure time is kept constant, the resulting films will:
a) be lighter.
b) be darker. c) remain the same.
d) have a herringbone pattern.
Chapter 8: Dental X-Ray Image Characteristics 3
TEACH Lesson Plan
IANNUCCI AND HOWERTON: Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 5th Edition
CHAPTER PRETEST ANSWERS
1) b
Radiolucent refers to that portion of an image that is dark or black.
p. 72
8) a
Sharpness (also known as detail, resolution, or definition) refers to the capability of the receptor to
reproduce the distinct outlines of an object—in other words, how well the smallest details of an object
are reproduced on a dental image.
p. 76
Chapter 8: Dental X-Ray Image Characteristics 4
TEACH Lesson Plan
IANNUCCI AND HOWERTON: Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 5th Edition
Classroom Preparation
Lesson 8.1: Dental X-Ray Image Characteristics
INSTRUCTOR PREPARATION
Textbook Objectives Covered
1. Define the key terms associated with film image characteristics.
2. Differentiate between radiolucent and radiopaque areas on a dental image.
3. Describe a diagnostic dental image.
4. List the two visual characteristics of the radiographic image.
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 Assisting Programs
• Standard 2: Educational Program:
• The curriculum must include content at the in-depth level in dental radiology. Students must
CODA Standards for Dental Hygiene Programs
• Standard 2: Educational Program:
• Curriculum content: Dental sciences content must include tooth morphology, head, neck and oral
Chapter 8: Dental X-Ray Image Characteristics 5
TEACH Lesson Plan
IANNUCCI AND HOWERTON: Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 5th Edition
Lesson Preparation Checklist
• Prepare lecture from TEACH lecture slides available on Evolve.
Materials and Supplies
• computer
Chapter 8: Dental X-Ray Image Characteristics 6
TEACH Lesson Plan
IANNUCCI AND HOWERTON: Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 5th Edition
Classroom Preparation
Lesson 8.1: Dental X-Ray Image Characteristics
STUDENT PREPARATION (6 hrs)
1
READ – Textbook (pp. 72–78)
ANSWER – Workbook Module 2: Equipment, Film, and Processing Basics
• Basic Terminology Crossword Puzzle, questions 1–12 (p. 51)
2
READ – Textbook (p. 72)
3
READ – Textbook (p. 72)
ANSWER – Workbook Module 2: Equipment, Film, and Processing Basics
• Short Answer and Multiple Choice: Dental X-Ray Image Characteristics, question 5 (p. 52)
4
READ – Textbook (p. 72)
ANSWER – Workbook Module 2: Equipment, Film, and Processing Basics
• Short Answer and Multiple Choice: Visual Characteristics, questions 1, 2 (p. 52)
5
7
READ – Textbook (p. 74)
8
READ – Textbook (pp. 74–75)
ANSWER – Textbook
• Quiz Questions: Multiple Choice, questions 13-17 (p. 80)
ANSWER – Workbook Module 2: Equipment, Film, and Processing Basics
• Short Answer and Multiple Choice: Visual Characteristics, questions 3-16 (p. 52)
ANSWER – Textbook
• Quiz Questions: Multiple Choice, questions 21-23 (p. 80)
Chapter 8: Dental X-Ray Image Characteristics 7
TEACH Lesson Plan
IANNUCCI AND HOWERTON: Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 5th Edition
STUDENT PREPARATION (6 hrs) (Continued)
12
• Shadow Casting Activity 4 – Distortion, questions 1-4 (pp. 61-62)
READ – Textbook (pp. 76–79)
ANSWER – Textbook
• Quiz Questions:
• Multiple Choice, question 24 (p. 80)
• Fill in the Blank, questions 25-35 (p. 81)
ANSWER – Workbook Module 2: Equipment, Film, and Processing Basics
APPLY – Workbook Module 2: Equipment, Film, and Processing Basics
• Shadow Casting Activity 1 – Sharpness, questions 1, 2 (pp. 55-56)
All
REVIEW – Evolve Student Resources
• Additional Case Scenarios
Chapter 8: Dental X-Ray Image Characteristics 8
TEACH Lesson Plan
IANNUCCI AND HOWERTON: Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 5th Edition
50-Minute Lesson Plan
Lesson 8.1: Dental X-Ray Image Characteristics
LECTURE OUTLINE (15 min)
1
&
2
KEY TERMS, RADIOLUCENT AND RADIOPAQUE AREAS: SLIDES 5-6 (pp. 72–78)
• Discuss the key terms associated with film image characteristics.
• Compare radiolucent and radiopaque areas on a dental image.
4
VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS: SLIDE 8 (p. 72)
6
HIGH AND LOW CONTRAST: SLIDE 12 (p. 74)
• Discuss the difference between high contrast and low contrast.
7
FILM AND SUBJECT CONTRAST: SLIDE 13 (p. 74)
• Describe film contrast and subject contrast.
8
GEOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS: SLIDE 17 (pp. 75–76)
SHARPNESS, MAGNIFICATION, AND DISTORTION FACTORS: SLIDES 18–21 (pp. 76–79)
LEARNING ACTIVITIES (choose one or more to equal 35 min)
1
&
2
REVIEW (20 min; 15 min)
• Go around the room and have each student use one of the key terms in a clinically relevant
sentence in order to define the term. Continue until all terms have been used; if students
POST & COMMENT (10 min)
• Post Critical Thinking Question 1 for this lesson on the Evolve discussion board. Students
3
DISCUSS (15 min)
• Put several examples of dental radiographs on the overhead projector. Have the students
discuss as a class whether the radiographs are of diagnostic quality. If they are not, have the
Chapter 8: Dental X-Ray Image Characteristics 9
TEACH Lesson Plan
IANNUCCI AND HOWERTON: Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 5th Edition
LEARNING ACTIVITIES (choose one or more to equal 35 min) (Continued)
appropriate examples of paired films with significantly detectable differences in density that
were achieved by changing only the milliamperes. Be sure to discuss what other variables may
• Appropriate Settings: Traditional classroom, flipped classroom
REVIEW (20 min)
5
DISCUSS (15 min)
• Divide the class into small groups, and have the groups discuss the influencing factors, how
they affect density and contrast, and what effects they make on dental radiographs. Have the
groups share their findings with the class for discussion.
• Appropriate Settings: Traditional classroom, flipped classroom
6
Have the students discuss which radiographs display areas of high and low contrast. Then,
have the students discuss how to adjust these areas. Have the groups share their findings with
the class.
• Appropriate Settings: Traditional classroom, flipped classroom
REVIEW (15 min)
• Divide the class into small groups, and distribute several examples of dental radiographs.
7
DISCUSS (15 min)
• On the overhead projector, show the students different examples of dental radiographs that
have development time or temperature errors. Have the students discuss in groups whether
those radiographs have increased or decreased contrast. Then, have the groups share their
reasoning with the class.
• Appropriate Settings: Traditional classroom, flipped classroom
• Appropriate Settings: Traditional classroom, flipped classroom
9
DISCUSS (15 min)
• Divide the class into small groups. Provide each group several examples of radiographs. Have
the students identify if the radiographs have high contrast, low contrast, no contrast, short–
scale contrast, or long-scale contrast. Have each group present their findings to the class for
• Appropriate Settings: Traditional classroom, flipped classroom
10
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
11
DISCUSS (15 min)
• Divide the class into small groups, and distribute several examples of radiographs that display
errors in sharpness, magnification, and distortion. Have the students discuss which error each
radiograph has.
• Appropriate Settings: Traditional classroom, flipped classroom
• Appropriate Settings: Traditional classroom, flipped classroom
Chapter 8: Dental X-Ray Image Characteristics 10
TEACH Lesson Plan
IANNUCCI AND HOWERTON: Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 5th Edition
CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS
1. A new patient comes into your office and states that he or she has not been to the dentist in
almost 10 years. After a comprehensive evaluation, the dentist prescribes a full series of
radiographs. The patient informs you that he or she is worried about having that many x-rays
taken at one time. The person is fearful of the risks of radiation exposure. What can you do to help
ease the patient’s mind?
Discussion Guidelines: Although the risks of radiation exposure involved in dental radiography are not
2. You are using a stepwedge film to evaluate the quality of the developer solution. You note that
the middle density on the daily film is much lighter than the middle density on the stepwedge film.
What is the problem, and how do you solve it?
Discussion Guidelines: A stepwedge is a device that is constructed of layered aluminum steps. When a
Chapter 8: Dental X-Ray Image Characteristics 11
TEACH Lesson Plan
Assessments
Chapter 8: Dental X-Ray Image Characteristics
ASSESSMENTS BY OBJECTIVE
1
Evolve Instructor Resources
• Test Bank: Multiple Choice, questions 1-4
Workbook Module 2: Equipment, Film, and Processing Basics
• Basic Terminology Crossword Puzzle, questions 1–12 (p. 51)
2
Workbook Module 2: Equipment, Film, and Processing Basics
• Short Answer and Multiple Choice: Dental X-Ray Image Characteristics, questions 1-4 (p. 52)
3
Workbook Module 2: Equipment, Film, and Processing Basics
• Short Answer and Multiple Choice: Dental X-Ray Image Characteristics, question 5 (p. 52)
4
Workbook Module 2: Equipment, Film, and Processing Basics
• Short Answer and Multiple Choice: Visual Characteristics, questions 1, 2 (p. 52)
5
Evolve Instructor Resources
• Test Bank: Multiple Choice, questions 5-7
6
Evolve Instructor Resources
• Test Bank: Multiple Choice, questions 8, 9
7
Evolve Instructor Resources
• Test Bank: Multiple Choice, questions 10, 11
Evolve Instructor Resources
• Test Bank: Multiple Choice, question 12
Workbook Module 2: Equipment, Film, and Processing Basics
• Short Answer and Multiple Choice: Visual Characteristics, questions 3-16 (p. 52)
10
Evolve Instructor Resources
• Test Bank: Multiple Choice, questions 13-15
11
Evolve Instructor Resources
• Test Bank: Multiple Choice, question 16
12
• Critical Thinking Question 2 (p. 78)
Evolve Instructor Resources
Chapter 8: Dental X-Ray Image Characteristics 12
TEACH Lesson Plan
IANNUCCI AND HOWERTON: Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, 5th Edition
Simulations
Chapter 8: Dental X-Ray Image Characteristics
SIMULATION BY OBJECTIVE
Radiography Laboratory – Stepwedge Activity (15 min)
10
Equipment Needed
• stepwedge
DEMONSTRATE
• Divide the class into groups. Take the groups one by one into the radiography laboratory and